Ya I started doing the de-flood on startups and that helped like nothing else. Though yesterday I had the same issue you had when I got outta work, was still stumbling a bit so I pulled an old trick I do with the carburetted 7 I have, soon as it starts I give a little on the accelerator and hold it just below 3k for a moment then let off, and sure enough idles down perfectly. Now I haven't been getting any smoke or anything tho just lots of condensation due to all the rain we've been having so I get the little mist off the pipes on startup.

Glad to hear that it was just low fuel and not a bad engine, I used to have that issue with my old Jeep whenever I would go below a quarter of a tank.

 

Today was FUN coming home from work.

I jumped on the highway, and was immediately halted by a traffic jam. So I sat for about 40 minutes, inching forward. Finally cleared the wreck, and then I start getting fuel pump issues. Anything past about 5K rpm's made it fall flat.

Then it got worse.

Stopped at the gas station real fast, and let it run while I ran in. Came out, turned out of the gas station and it sputtered out....dead.

Pulled off the shoulder, and tried to crank it. Nothing, when I floored the pedal to do the fuel cut, it didn't sound any different from when the car was cranking normal.

No fuel.....at all.

Luckily, I was close to home, so if I had to tow it, a friend with a chain could have helped me. Instead, I sat for 20 minutes, and prayed to the rotary gods. Luckily, it fired up, and made it home.

If I can't get my hands on a pump within a week, I am bringing the Volvo to DGRR. What sucks, is I will be out of town for the next few days.

Dammit........again.

 

Have you checked with curtis james for one? I am almost sure he would have one...

If not, it shouldn't be too hard to engineer a walbro or similar replacement into the pump assembly with some creative cutting and such. I did it for my denali which has a similar pump assembly that is one plastic unit and supposedly not serviceable.

 

https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-major-horsepower-upgrades-93/fuel-pump-solution-all-failure-modes-176491/

 

Got a pump, but could not get the ring off yesterday. And of course, Autozone didn't have the Fuel Pump Service rental. Napa is closed Sundays here.

So today I am going to Napa to get the tool, and hopefully get it swapped out tonight. I need to shake it down fast, since DGRRX is Thursday. If the 8 isn't going to cooperate, then the Volvo will need a cleaning and oil change.

Not enough time!!!

 

Ya my issue turned out to be my fuel pump as well lol. I hope this does it for you, that run would be amazing amounts of fun in the 8.

 

New fuel pump is in. That was fun. What the hell is the point of that dumb *** plastic ring???

Anyway, got it off, old pump out. Had to disassemble the old pump and get the strainer for the new pump. I accidentally ripped the sock on the new one trying to remove it to clean it. But, I got it apart, cleaned the sock, reassembled, and re-installed it. Getting that stupid ring back on was just as much a pain as removing it.

Moving on. She fired up, a little slow though. Let it run a while, checked for leaks, none. Took it for a spin, and did some pretty aggressive runs through the gears. She drove fine, no issues that I could tell. Got home, and **** it down. A few minutes later, she fired right back up again.

So, tomorrow, I am taking it to work to do a real world test. Temps are supposed to be around 85 tomorrow, and it is mostly 80mph+ on the way to work and back. So, by the time I get to work, the pump should be nice and hot, and I will see if there is still an issue.

 

Holy crap!

It fired right up, with no need to do the 'deflood' procedure before hand. I actually simply forgot to hold down the gas pedal. I jumped in, hit the key, and vroom!

Let's hope this upturn trend continues.

 

Alright, small update.

The RX-8 stayed home for DGRRX, the Volvo decimated!

I have been daily driving the RX-8 for the last week and a half, and I have figured out how to get it to start it every time. All I do is rev it to about 4.5K and then cut the key off. It works, whatever.

Otherwise, new brakes are going on all around, and I am going to pull the plugs and check them out. It has been maybe 2000 miles since I started really driving it, and I have another set of plugs just in case.

Also, I lose/eat about 6oz of coolant per week, oil consumption is normal. I am debating using the Rotary Aviation OMP adapter when the new engine goes in. We will see...

 

Pulled the plugs yesterday, after maybe 800 miles. The front housing, Leading position plug had a brownish liquid on it. Looks like I have a small coolant seal leak. Yippie!!

Being that I don't really give a ****, since I will replace the entire engine, and upgrade the radiator at the same time, I am going to block the heater core, and use some Bars Ceramic Head Gasket repair 'magic bottle'. I know people hate that **** in a rotary, but I have friends that have run it for over 2 years in their rotaries before developing any recurring issues.

Pics of the plugs (3rd from the left is the L1 plug)

 

hope that works, I'll be watching for results :p

The fuel pump made a huge difference in my car and I haven't found a loss in coolant yet just a busted *** coolant tank sensor that shows low even if the tank is visually full.

 

Alright, a few days ago, I did the Bars Leak Head Gasket Repair in the magic bottle to the RX-8.

Happy to report that it has not had any issues since done. No more misfires upon start up, and it fires right up every time. I blocked off the heater hoses to the heater core, and the heat still works great.

Time will tell how long it will hold up. Could be a week, or it could be a few years (like it did for my friends' old TII). No more champagne bubbles in the reservoir either.

 

hey that's what I should go! I don't have enough $$ for an RX8, but I don't mind restoring one. Plus I have the forum and probably a few members that are close to me.. Hmm.

 

UPDATE:

Everything is going good. Still kicking, and no issues have come back. Finally got that pesky TPMS light to go away. Simple as taking it to a local tire shop and they reset all of them. For some reason, even with the proper PSI in the tires, they still would need to be 'warm' before the light would go off, then it would come back on with every start.

I reached behind the manifold and unplugged the Secondary Air Injection solenoid, cleaned the contacts, and plugged it back in. 2 days later the CEL went out, and now all is good.

Now, I just need to find some sunvisors.

 

good to hear, ya I ran bars in mine for a bit but the coolant seal on my rear rotor finally let go. Was a sad day and a long tow home (3hrs to be precise) but as of this past weekend I have a new Atkins built engine in the car and she's about ready to hit the streets again.

 

She is running pretty strong now. I even got a hair up my *** and did the linseed oil restore on the lower plastics around the exhaust and the front center chin piece. They look new again.

If the motor blows, it blows. I hope it lasts at least until after summer. Its too damn hot in TN to replace a motor in July. Lol.