Hi Guys,
I have a 2005 RX-8 6 speed with 35k miles. Ever since I got it, I noticed that it's sometimes hard to start when hot, but only after sitting for an hour or so. Compression is fine (have the twisted rotors and the rotary compression tester.com versions) I wonder if I have leaky fuel injectors since when it does start (warm start), there is a bit of smoke from the exhaust, and it smells like raw fuel.

My bigger concern is that I had a P0455 code a year or so back, and I cleared it, and it hasn't come back until a few months ago AFTER I had the fuel retaining rings, etc recall done. I've cleared the code last week and it's now "pending" again, but today when I filled my car up 75% filled, and parked it in the garage, the garage smelled of gasoline an hour later. I didn't overfill the tank, and I can't see any fuel on the ground. I'm nervous to drive this since I'd rather not drive a car that could catch on fire.

I'm going to pull the rear seats and check to see or smell any leaks from the area that the dealership worked on, but what else could be causing a P0455?

Another thing, I changed the plugs, coils, and wires 3000 miles ago, I replaced the air filter too. I swear this car doesn't seem as fast or powerful compared to my old 2004 RX-8. Both had similar compression too.

 

I had an issue where there was a slight leak at the pump and so when the car sat the line lost pressure so when you restarted the car, it took an extra second or two. I didn't smell because my car is turbo and catless and runs on the rich side.

 

Of course it leaked a lot more after I started messing with it and it actually ended up being a warped nipple on the top of the pump assembly.

 

Good



Bad

 

The fuel smell appears to be coming from the passenger side rear. I removed the fuel tank access plates on both the driver and passenger rear seats, and the driver's side is as dry as can be. The passenger side is also dry, but smells like raw gasoline while the driver's side doesn't smell at all.

I had the recall for the fuel tank rings done September 27th 2017 at Northshore Mazda in Danvers, MA. It seems that the technician working on it didn't secure the foam insulating pads very well. One was melted and rested on the exhaust. Suprised I never smelled it.

Any thoughts on where this fuel smell is coming from? Seems like it would be easier to drop the fuel tank and check out all the connections to the evap canister and crap that sits on top of the fuel tank below the seat.

 

Just take it back to the dealer.

 

The dealer towed it today. Fuel smell is still pretty bad and now is inside the cabin even when the car was sitting in the garage the past few days. They will hopefully get to look at it tomorrow. I’ll keep this updated.