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 has happened to my RX8 a couple of times after I accidentally flooded the engine.  Isn't part of the problem that when the excess fuel washes out the oil, some or all of the compression is lost?

Scott Gettings

That could be Scott. I did not think of that.

Did you get your EFI computer re-flashed? If not take it in and ask them to update
it.

Paul Lamar

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