So these cars flood very easily. So you can't shut them off cold. At first this doesn't seem like much of a problem, you can get around that. So I had the ingenious idea of simply getting a detachable key ring for my ignition key, then I can unlatch the key when its running, get out, lock the car with the remote, and run into a store or wherever. Much to my disappointment, the remote won't let you lock the car when its running. The remote started idea is too dangerous for me, plus my driveway is on a bit of an incline and i'd have to wake up in the morning and have my car to in my neighbors yard because i didn't leave it in gear and the ebrake slipped, or have it be in their house because I did leave it in gear and remote started it.

Any other solutions, I really would be happy to be able to leave the key in and lock the doors with the remote, is that something that could be done custom easily or would that mess with the security system?

 

If you did that, someone who wants the car break the window, get in and drive off.

If you even drive 1 mile, the car would have warmed up (I know this because my office is 1.1 miles from my house, and the car is warmed up by the time I get there). Once warm, you shouldn't have the flooding issue.

These two items can also help:

1) You should get the M flash if you haven't already.
2) Try the rev-to-3k-rpm and switch off.

 

My town isn't exactly a bad town, no one's goona smash my window and jump in and steal my car. I'm talking about running into the post office, not going to see a movie with it running. What is this M flash thing?

 

Why is this in the audio forum? Most modern cars will not allow the doors to be locked if the key is in the ignition. If the car is running they also wont allow the remote to work. Carry a second key with you and then get out, lock the door by hand with the car running, and then when you come back use your other key to unlock the door. And best of all, ITS FREE.

 

Its in the Audio AND Electronics Forum.
Most modern cars will not allow the doors to be locked if the Key is in the ignition AND the door is open. This is the only car i've ever been in that won't let you use the remote while the car is running. The 2 key solution is a nice pain in the ***. I'm going to see if a local custom electronics guy can make my remote work all the time. That will be much easier.

 

And this is exactly where it should be.

The second key suggested above is as good an idea as any, but no matter where you live, I would think long and hard about leaving the car running unattended. You're risking losing your '8 to avoid the inconvienance of driving around the block.

The flooding issue is greatly overexagerated, and 99% of us have never had a problem even without special measures. But the "M" flash is Mazda's fix for the problem, and those that have had it done have not been able to flood the engine even when specifically trying.

 

I just picked up my car last week, is it already flashed or is it still something they'd have to do? Is it a free thing too?

 

You can leave it at my house and I will gladly keep it warmed up for you

 

Same here... :D

 

Like Omicron said, you are greatly over reacting to the possibility of flooding the engine.....I've had mine for 6 months and usually once a week i have to get up and move the car out of our driveway so my girlfriend can get her car out because she leaves for work before me.

I start it up, back it out of the driveway, park it in the street, and shut it off. All in the span of 20 seconds or so. Have never flooded it and never had a hard start.

Ive had rotary cars since 1990 and have NEVER flooded one. Based on the experiences of others who flooded in this forum, I should have definitely flooded mine at least once when i move my car out of the driveway in the morning.

I didnt get the M flash until last Tuesday so all of this was pre M flash.......

Food for thought..........................

 

I'll also add that the slight flooding potential that exists is going to be even further reduced by the warmer weather- the engine is warming up 'enough' within a minute or so. Since you just bought your 8, you didn't go through any wicked cold weather yet- it does take a little more driving to bring the car to operating temp when it's below zero.

I drove mine all winter, and saw temps of -15F, and had no flooding issues, although I always let my cars warm up at least little before shutting them off. Now that the M flash is out addressing the fuel being injected on startup, I think we've probably heard the last of flooding as a problem.

 

I often wonder (and have posted here) about the wear and tear of a startup, VS. keeping the car running for 3-4 mins while you run in a 7-11, etc (someplace you can keep an eye on the car- or have a passenger in there) I thought the greatest engine wear was on startup, or was that just cold startup?

 

Short drives in general are bad for any motor when it hasn't had a chance to fully reach operating temp. Acids build up from moisture and combustion by-products (sulphur mainly) if the motor can't build up enough heat to burn it off (and this is not just when the water/coolant reaches operating temp). You do also have more wear on a cold startup as the various metal parts haven't warmed up properly yet, combined with low oil pressure. Once the car is fully warmed up, I think the only wear and tear from starting/stopping/restarting a warm engine is on the starter motor.

 

You can always install a turbo timer/auto timer.

Anytime I need to just run into the house while the car is already running I just pull the key out, run in and out and put the key back.. or as a anti-flooding measure you can move the car, set it for 2 minutes and not worry.. just leave.

 

That sounds cool can you link me to more info?

 

Well the risk of damage on start up I believe does not apply to the rotary engine, but only a piston engine. The problem occurs when the crank starts to spin and has no oil pressure to hydrodynamically center itself in the bearings thus wearing the bearings and the crank for a second if that, but since on the rotary we dont have a crank I do not think that is a problem

 

Not so, the eccentric run dry would suffer the same fate.

 

http://www.rxecret7.com/apx405-a011.html

lots of other brands make them too, there probably isn't a plug in harness for the RX-8, but you can hard wire it.

 

damn
that website is EXPENSIVE

 

my 8 has never flooded on me since ive had it. but since the m flash i dont even think about it being a problem

 

I have always like the turbo timer idea and on my 91 MR2 turbo I had one. There is a draw back. You can't arm the alarm with the remote until the car shuts down. You can lock it with the key but as the car is running you can't set the alarm. You can get an aftermarket alarm that will shut the car down with the alarm armed such as the Compustar or others with remote start.

I have never had a problem with flooding either but I have had some times where my car hesitated to start for about 3-6 seconds. I just kept on the ignition and didn't give up until it started. I wouldn't try for longer than 8 or 10 seconds though. I have state this before and I think this is why people are flooding the engine. If the car doesn't start up within the first 2 seconds I think that most people are giving up and trying to restart it. Do this and just about any car will flood after 3 or 4 tries. Everytime you try to turn the car over the EFC will shoot more fuel into the rotors. You will flood it pretty quickly. That is why when my car hesitated I didn't give up. Now I have the "M" flash and haven't had any problems since.

It was also up to -25* F here this winter and I drove my 8 all winter long. I think I gave it plenty of opportunities to flood.

 

Hows it handle in the snow :-/ ?