Racer X-8

Yeah, looking back, it flooded 11/28/04. That's aboit 55 days ago.

So, you have the new style plugs?

Do you have the new starter? New battery?

You're in a warm climate and it's been warm. Cold weather can't even be a contributor in your case. Must be a weak, battery? Was it sluggish? Lately, mine cranks like it doesn't want to, like it's being made to, you know what I mean? What they're saying here is that the new starter and stronger battery really spins that ring gear!

demob05

That's 82psi for both rotors?... sounds like it's below the minimum specs, if test was performed acurately.

Ice Blue

They replaced the battery when it flooded last time and plugs. So yes new style plugs. The batt was cranking like normal when I was unfolding first. But it died before I could finish the unflood :-/. No the starter is original but I am out of warranty 57k. I hooked up batt through cables and a charger and finished the unflood removed the plugs and all. Took a little ether to get it going. It was hard to unflood I had to actually get it to pop over with no fuel pump fuse in and then stick it in quickly or it would flood out again. That got it and some ether with fuse out start helped it turn over. I tested the alt after and it was putting out 13.7V.

demob05 - I would not doubt my ability. So yes correct reading on all faces.

Racer X-8

Ooo, yeah, the RX-8 Service Manual says 120 psi standard, 98.6 psi minimum. There is a proceedure to follow though. For instance, the oil in there to aid in sealing the apex seals is pretty critical to good test results. And stuff... (etc.) Not to criticize your abilities. The very least, some ppl don't know...

CERAMICSEAL

Like I've been saying here over and over again: it's important to state the cranking rpms in order to know whether compression figures are within specs or not.
Iceblue, do you know what flash you're on? I would have your new battery re-checked also.

swerver

Okay,
I've read literally 300 replies to this flooding issue and I have to admit, it gives me pause. I'm looking to buy an 8 but now I'm starting to wonder (but thats a thread that had been beaten to death).

I imagine a scenerio when I loan my car to someone and have to give a 30 minute lecture (without scaring the hell out of them) about avoiding a flooding situation. But alas, I'll have to grapple with these decisions myself.

My questions?

1) Would it do any good to hedge my bets and immediately get hotter sparkplugs and a "more juice" battery??

2) If by some misfortune, I do flood the machine and manage to get it cranked again (following all the great advice here), do I need to still run it down to the Mazda dealership for diagnostics, oil change, etc, etc.....????

Thanx to everyone, this thread has been very enlightening. And for what its worth, I'm gonna follow RotaryGod's advice to the letter.......................

swerver

Okay,
I've read literally 300 replies to this flooding issue and I have to admit, it gives me pause. I'm looking to buy an 8 but now I'm starting to wonder (but thats a thread that had been beaten to death).

I imagine a scenerio when I loan my car to someone and have to give a 30 minute lecture (without scaring the hell out of them) about avoiding a flooding situation. But alas, I'll have to grapple with these decisions myself.

My questions?

1) Would it do any good to hedge my bets and immediately get hotter sparkplugs and a "more juice" battery??

2) If by some misfortune, I do flood the machine and manage to get it cranked again (following all the great advice here), do I need to still run it down to the Mazda dealership for diagnostics, oil change, etc, etc.....????

Thanx to everyone, this thread has been very enlightening. And for what its worth, I'm gonna follow RotaryGod's advice to the letter.......................

msrecant

1. They can only help, but it doesn't guarantee a fix. Not sure yet that even with the new starter we have a true fix (looks possible though). You still need to avoid short trips.

2. Always take it to the Mazda dealer after a flood. They check for CAT damage and they should make sure you have the latest PCM update, battery, plugs and starter.

CERAMICSEAL

If you do decide to buy a used one, yes, get the new plugs, a new high amp battery and the new starter if possible. Make sure the car has the latest computer flash update. The chance of a flood at that point would be slim to none. You could even loan it to your grandmother.

RotaryGoober

I would like to see a new poll on this issue. These numbers do not represent an accurate, and up to date view of the situation. This poll includes all the early cars, with early flashes, cheap batteries, low rpm starters and a somewhat uninformed owners group. Pick a current date, say last summer sometime, include only the folks with a reasonably current flash and then do the poll. The starter and Plugs issue may skew the numbers a bit but no where near as much as the number of different flashes that this vehicle has had. There is a huge difference between the 8 of August 03 and the 8 of today. An more accurate poll might help potential buyers instead of scaring them away.

CERAMICSEAL

If you start the new poll RG I'd participate and beg others to do the same. We would also expect the moderators to understand the purpose of said thread.
Amen!

Go48

If you envision loaning your car to someone, you should not purchase an RX-8. They will not appreciate the importance of your 30-minute instructions.

RedSheDevil

i have R flash and mine still flooded...and not because of a short trip either. it just did.

CERAMICSEAL

Were all the other things I mentioned (Which you neglected to quote) also taken care of? Did you have the new plugs and starter?

RedSheDevil

no, im going in for service tomorrow. i have stock everything under the hood. mines an 04 with a build date of 06/03.

sorry if i neglected to quote your entire post, i did not realize you were saying ALL of the items needed to be done for the flooding not to occur.

CERAMICSEAL

IMHO, it wouldn't be impossible but rather much closer to the likelihood of your typical piston engine. The main cause is the general design (Geometry, rotor speed, moving chambers trying to almost blow out the flame etc; I could go on). The other things outside of design (And the enhancements being currently offered by Mazda to counter these flaws) that can still lead to flooding would be a current draw running your improved battery charge down, poor state of tune e.g. your new plugs being left in long enough to become worn and in-effective and last but not least compression or lack thereof.
So again, the chances of flooding with proper cranking speed and better spark plugs is greatly reduced. I wouldn't even bother with the fear of moving it short distances while I would recommend a battery tender for those that don't drive their 8s frequently.
Happy motoring (Or rather rotoring).

RedSheDevil

got the new starter and plugs. i guess the battery had already been replaced (i bought her used so i dint know). WOW! what a difference!! no rar rar rar before turning over. she purrs like a kitten now!!!

txflash

You can add me to the list of rx8's that have been flooded. I did get new plugs, starter, and a battery when they finished working on it.

Ice Blue

I am going to buy another compression tester and see. I have had it for a wile and those numbers are just to low for me to believe. So far no more flooding but it did choke once when it didn’t pop over.

msrecant

Just got back from the dealer. I have been having problems with slow cranking if the car sits for a week or two. The service writer got me the TSB upgrade (plugs, battery and starter), although I was due plugs anyway for the 30 months service.

Boy, the new battery/starter cranks like a champ.

Rotor Rocket

According to my mechanic buddies at Country Mazda in Huntington, LI, NY, there have been no cars flooded after the installation of the new starter, larger battery, the new style plugs and the latest flash. Anyone hear the same where you are?

msrecant

05WHITERX8 reported similar experiences (https://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php...8&postcount=16) where he works. Only one flood and that was short trip. I have seen one post on another forum where someone flooded an RX8 with all mods, but the owner was able to use the dechoke procedure to get it started again.

GhostRidr

Yep, happened to me this past weekend for the first time. I've had my (used) '04 for 8 months now (AT version). The fun part? I was 320 miles from home on a weekend getaway when it happened. It was about 7am in the morning when I started it to move the car out of the way to get to my friends vehicle. It was cold (I'd say 45 deg), so I let it warm up for about 5 minutes before shutting it off. That night when i came back, sure enough it wouldn't start. Did the deflooding procedures--wouldn't work. Here I am, supposed to be drivng back home to work on Monday, and now I've got to get it towed to the nearest Mazda dealership (which was an hour away). The dealership (Craine in Little Rock, AR) was real good at getting me back on the road quickly, and upgraded my starter, battery, and plugs. It was still very frustrating though. Everyone at work is getting a good chuckle at me this morning on my "new" RX-8 leaving me stranded like that. And now when the car turns over, it's taking longer to start (flooding leftovers?), scarring me actually.

One thing else.. While waiting on the car to get fixed, I was talked to one of the salesmen, and he starts saying, "You know how the car revs when you first start it?" I'm like, hu? He gets into a one (standard), and the car revs like 3 or 4 times on it's own when it starts up. I'm like, "My car doesn't do that." "Oh, you have an automatic, it won't, you need to do that yourself then." He said it didn't matter that it was reving on a cold engine, because of the oil injection. So, what the hell is that all about?

chr1s

shouldn't be flooding leftovers. When you flood an engine you "foul" the plugs, so installing new plugs should have remedied the situation.

Did they flash your PCM as well? They should have.

If you really got the new starter, it should sound very, very different. Close to a motorcycle starter.

I got the TSB last weekend and my car now starts on the first crank - every time.

chr1s

I have a standard and mine doesn't do that. It revs at startup to about 3k, then settles to 2, then eventually idles at 1.