zenrx8

iTrader: (4)

Exactly right, except for some reason it hasn't worked for. Don't know why, might be something with my reflashed ECU; I have a supercharger on my motor. Pulling the fuse has always worked for me, but you're right, just holding the pedal to the floor may do the trick.

MegDecker

I have an 04 RX-8 that is in the shop right now needing massive repairs.
I had a short in my IGNITION COIL PACK and when trying to start the engine was flooded. So here is what the shop is charging me:

DIAGNOSTICS: Includes DEFLOODING, COMPRESSION TESTS, CLEAN INTAKE & CHANGE OIL & FILTERS
$190 Labor
$24 Parts
Sub Total: $214

REPLACE IGNITION COIL PACK-Shorted
$205.16 Parts
$142.50 Labor
Sub Total: $347.66

REPLACE PLUG WIRES
$88.34 Parts
REPLACE SPARK PLUGS
$81.96 Parts
$47.40 Labor
Sub Total: $217.70

Rotary TSB (When Engine is/has been Flooded): FLUSH ENGINE TO CLEAN APEX SEALS
$25.87 Parts
$380 Labor
Sub Total: $405.87

REPLACE BATTERY (Tests at 100 CCA)
$107 Parts
$24.95 Labor
Sub Total: 131.95

$100 Deductible from my extended warranty which is covering the following repairs:
REPLACE R&L ENGINE MOUNTS
REPLACE COOLANT TANK
($700 Warranty Work)

SHOP SUPPLIES: $39.90

TAX: $94.72

My Out-Of-Pocket Expense TOTAL
$1551.90

HELP!!!! Does this sound right?? Is there anything I can do without having done right away or can have mechanically inclined friends do cheaper??

Any advice would be so greatly appreciated!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank You, Thank You for your time!!!!

rhjames

Meg Decker - how many km on the clock.

If less than 90,000, it sounds way overboard.

rhjames

I've tried this with no success (accelerator pedal to the floor). On two occasions, we got it going after 45 mins by pulling the fuse and repeated starts with the started motor smoking.

atl04rx8

I've never flood my engine ever since i own the car back in October, But my local Mazda dealer flooded my car today.

GaMEChld

Never succeeded in deflooding ever. I always end up pull starting.

Deathwatch

"OUCH! that sucks"

Deathwatch

I got my car started btw, I bought 4 gauge jumper cables and cranked the heck out of my car while pressing the throttle, then I turned it over, and yup made a horrible sound along with the engine knocking. Mements later it ran fine. Save money by not going to the stealership. woo whoooo!!!!!

evolvo

I'm planning to buy one does 2006 year made or 40th ann. ed. differ about flooding issue ?

Huey52

iTrader: (2)

It's a rotary engine thing, specifically the improper sealing of the apex seals and thereby low compression upon flooding. Model year is not relevant.

The future 16X is expected to improve upon this innate 'condition' (I don't want to say flaw, since with minimal attention it can be avoided).

Any internal combustion engine can be flooded, but the rotary with its large sealing surfaces requiring add'l lubrication is especially prone.

GaMEChld

Yeah I haven't flooded due to my fault in a long time. It flooded recently, but that was an unlucky problem. The car failed to start because a cable slid along through normal vibration and driving until it made contact with my turbo and melted the in-wire fuse. So attempting to start the car while it was physically impossible to start somehow flooded it. After replacing the fuse, the engine was flooded, thus I pull started it as usual.

But I haven't flooded due to cold shut down in a long long time. Once or twice will learn you your lesson.

MegDecker

I called Mazda customer service and they said Mazda will cover flushing the engine after flooding twice during the life of your RX-8. (Unfortunately mine has already been flushed twice and this makes 3!!)

rhjames

So what are people doing now to avoid flooding - any progress in recent months. My dealer's latest advice was to just raise the engine to over 3,000 RPM before a cold stop to burn out the fuel. These days, I'm giving a couple of minutes idle, and hitting 6,000 RPM for about 5 sec.

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

RX-8's are still flooding?
do you guys have the upgrade starter / battery? Are you letting the car warm up a bit before shutting it down? (especially in the colder parts of the country / world)

RX8SaxMan

I bought my car in January 2005 and just flooded it for the first time last week @ 83,000 miles. It was a nasty flood too, and took me 2 days to get it started again. I refused to have it towed to the dealer since I'm out of warranty and I don't even want to know what they would have charged me. Hopefully it was just an isolated incident and isn't something that will happen more often now that my Renesis is pretty high on miles.

Huey52

iTrader: (2)

Same as always:

1. Don't shut down unless warmed.
2. If you must shut down before fully warmed, rev to 3k, hold for ten seconds, and shut off as the engine's spooling down (to burn off surplus fuel).

Simple.

scremn8

yes i admit i flooded my car more then 4 times, cause i'm too lazy to let
it warm up when moving it. and yes i have a darn good battery.
but i've also had my car for almost 5 years..
deflooding is easy but you most be patient

MegDecker

Even if your car is out of warranty, contact Mazda Customer Service (the 800 number is on the Mazda website) and they can arrange to have your engine flushed at no cost to you.

New Yorker

Mine's almost 3 years old and has never flooded. Turn the key and it fires right up, every time.
What am I doing wrong?!?

RX8SaxMan

What does the "flush" consist of? I already ran the Mazda Engine Cleaner through it after the flood (using the TSB directions). Is there anything else they do?

GaMEChld

do they even do that as part of flood repair?

rhjames

Give it time. I had mine for a couple of years with no problem - turned it off cold. Then one day it just happened. It just wouldn't start. The road service tried also, and in the end towed it to the service centre.

I suggest you follow the advice given here as insurance.

rhjames

So what's easy about it? Tow starting is a paid if there's no other car available. I've had smoke coming off the starter motor twice before I got it going. Do you have some special trick?

RX8SaxMan

Sometimes deflooding can be easy, but it definitely wasn't for me. I tried the pedal on the floor method immediately when I realized it was flooded, but it didn't help me at all. I had to take my spark plugs out, dry them, clean them, crank out the excess gas, inject some oil into the chambers, crank it some more, recharge the battery overnight because all the cranking drained it, put the plugs back in, crank it more with the pedal floored and everything reconnected, crank it more with foot off the pedal, and FINALLY it started with a huge cloud of white smoke.

And New Yorker, don't risk it. I had my 8 for almost 4 years without a single flood and I thought I was impervious to it too. My flood came after moving my car out of the garage and shutting off cold. Just follow the flood-prevention guidelines and you'll be good.

Huey52

iTrader: (2)

Same here, soon completing 4 years old. It's what you're doing RIGHT!