My 8 has flooded on me a couple times. The first time I had it towed. This time I was at my brother's shop and we found what I think is the easiest way to solve the problem.

Put a battery charger on your battery to give it some help, and then remove the fuel pump fuse. Then crank the engine until it starts. You may have to play with exactly when to re-insert the fuse, but that will do the trick!

I called Mazda to see what they do and they said they just put a charger on the battery and crank it until it starts.

I pulled the plugs first and cleaned them all, but that didn't do it. When we pulled the plugs again, they looked the same as when we pulled them originally.

So by eliminating extra fuel from adding to the problem, removing the fuse allows you to burn the fuel that is already there and not continue to flood the car.

I am pretty sure it is a fuel pump relay, but it is in the fuse panel under the hood.

Hope this helps!!!
Jim

 

Jim you need to spend more time here, one post since 7/2004
The quickest way to deflood a MT 8 I have read is to push start it in 2nd gear THREAD. But I have never flooded so I can say I have tried it. Your tip is also slight variation of the Mazda procedure in the Engine No Crank TSB which has been around for a while.

 

I know I haven't written much, but that's because there is so much information that I didn't feel like I had anything to offer until now.
Push starting sounds okay, but is not always an option when you are by yourself on a dirt road.
Anyway, it's just something that worked for me that I had not found on any of the searches I did on this site.

 

Also, I just read the TSB and it has you pulling the plugs and disconnecting several things. All you need to do with this one is hook a charger to the battery, disconnect the fuel pump relay and crank until it starts. Once it starts easily, put the relay back in. No need to pull plugs. Like I said before, you may have to experiment with exactly when to reconnect the relay.

 

Part of the current flash is that fuel flow is shut off when you hold the pedal to the floor while cranking. So, in principle, there is no need to pull the fuse. Just floor it while cranking.

Even with a charger hooked up, don't overdo the cranking. The starter can still overheat. Kettering's breakthrough in starter design was the realization that a starter did not need to be sized for continous operation. They're still designed for brief use.

Ken

 

Another option if your alone would be this DIY
https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-do-yourself-forum-73/diy-deflooding-under-5-mins-55517/

 

I totally agree with not overcranking!!!

The flooring it thing didn't work for us, and I am pretty sure I have the latest flash. I had the one when they checked the spark plugs, flashed it, and checked the cat.

Just trying to help...not worried about actually being the "easiest" or the best way to solve this problem!

 

not sure if it has been mentioned but how bout a toggle switch in line with the fuel pump fuse?

i had this this in my old car but only as theft deterent device. i hardwired a switch to go inline of the fuel pump fuse. when switched off the car would crank but with no fuel delivery. turn the switch on and the fuel pump would continue to function.

im still new to the rx8 and dont really know what works and what doesnt but when im having trouble starting i turn the key for 2 seoconds to try to crank, turn off, turn the key to the last position before it cranks, push the gas pedal all the way down for like 30-45 seconds....... let go.....then recrank the car...i may be a lil rough to start but the car will crank up no problem. it could all be in my head but it seems to work and i have not yet been stranded.

wat also works is the info ive read on revving to 3k before shutting off to help with the flooding, but what i also do is hold the pedal for the 30-45 seconds after the engine is off. seems to work. i tend to do alot of stop and go driving since i get volunteered to deliver papers between our offices. so for a while they always wondered why i was late. since i was sitting in the car waiting for a mirale i took it upon my self to figure somethin out lol.

 

Jim,

Why wouldn't the TSB for this problem advise to just disconnect the relay which is much easier to do as opposed to disconnecting the eccentric shaft position sensor. Seems that maybe the fuel relay doesn't actually cut off the fuel. Just asking.
Dave

 

this happend to my rx7 a couple times.... what i would do is clean up the spark plugs and started up with 2 batteries, i forgot how the bateries are connected douh.... i will ask my cuz, anyway thanks for the tips.

 

If you use 2 batteries, make sure they are connected in parallel (pos to pos and neg to neg). Connecting in series will give 24 volts and will probably fry something...

 

Instead of using a battery charger , can you just jump start the car?

 

my 7 did this ALOT. but there is a way that almost ever 7 owner knows. its called the "un-flood procedure" haha. but what you do is take out the injector or fuel pump fuse, crank it 10 seconds with the throttle floored, wait 30 seconds( ensures the start wont over heat) crank it another 10 seconds with it floored, then put the fuse back in, and crank it again. should sputter and start. takes about a minutes or 2 and makes you look retarded in a parking lot. deffinatly worked on the 7, havent had to do it on the 8.

 

Ok I tried the pull the fuses thing, and it was a no go. Got close but wouldn't start. Kinda sucky to come home to find that your parents moved the car and flooded it so my mom is paying to have Mazda get it back going again.

 

My RX-8 flooded. I tried the DIY tricks where you pump wiper fluid into the maintenance ports. No go. Then I tried drawing motor oil into those ports. No go (no vacuum). Then I used a syringe and injected motor oil into them. No go. Finally, I got a friend with a tow rope to pull me (ps. look in the manual how to hook a tow rope to the car.) 2nd gear and 20 feet later, it was running. It would have been easier to just push the car such a short distance, if you're on an incline.