Back in 2004 when I bought a brand new RX8..... 3 days after I bought it it would
   not start. I tried all sorts of things but no luck. Called the dealer and he sent a truck
   to pick it up. Took him a week to get it started. Mazda then had to re-flashed the EFI program
   in all RX8's. That fixed it.

   Turns out it is rather easy to flood the rotary engine with fuel.

   Recently I had taken the plugs out on the TTC engine and my
   helper turned on the Motec and electric boost fuel pump.
   Then he pressed the starter button. A lot of fuel vapor came out
   of the spark plug holes. NOT GOOD. The Motec was injecting fuel.
   A lot of the fuel remained in the engine I am sure.

   Then we tried to start it after putting the plugs back in. No way
   would it start. We ran the battery down trying.

   The apex seals collected all the fuel and oil in the engine and forced
   it into the spark plugs holes shorting out the plugs.

   The TTC mechanical fuel pump will not supply fuel when the engine is being
   turned over by the starter. It is also a good idea to use the emergency
   fuel shut off valve and turn off the fuel supply when you are cleaning
   moister or fuel out of the engine with the plugs out.

   In the past 18 or 19 years we have received many messages where people
   found the engine hard to start. I suspect it was the same problem.

   Take the plugs out and make sure you do not have a supply of fuel
   to your fuel injection or your carburettor. Turn the engine over and
   hold a paper towel in front of the spark plug hole. If there is any
   wetness of any kind the engine is not ready to start. Only warm
   dry air coming out is acceptable.

   Once you have that condition the engine will start after you reconnect
   the fuel supply.

   Same goes for water of course.

   Paul Lamar

This was one little glitch that scared away many customers! How can something
so simple get by the final test phase before the car is sold?
Steve Carlisle

I suspect Mazda does not do  as much testing as Toyota Does.
You have to find a lot of novices as well as highly experienced people to do the testing.

In the old days people sometimes pumped the throttle pedal to start the car.
Exactly the wrong thing to do with a rotary.

Paul Lamar


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