2004 Mazda RX-8 Turns Over Won't Start

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CHEWBACCA34
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I have an '04 RX8. Went out to start it and the first time it turned over a coulple times then got series of clicks. Let it sit for about 1/2 hour tried again and it turned over then the turn overs got slower but still no start. So I hooked it to a battery charger and did a battery test (read about 12v). The charger manaual said around 12.8v is a charged battery so I let it charge for an hour or so then the charger read closer to 13....tried again but no start.

Just wondering if it's the batter. It's been sitting in our garage for about a month because of the cold weather (I started it about 1 1/2 weeks ago and started fine).

Thanks for any and all help.
Jan 27, 2007 at 4:28 AM
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COSMO
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Do you smell gas at all.....rx-8's are prone to flooding when started and stopped with out a full warm up period and driving.

How many km's on it and where are you located ?

Cosmo....Mazda TEch
Jan 27, 2007 at 11:05 AM
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CHEWBACCA34
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I smelled it a little when I initially tried. but not really since then, but I haven't really tried to start it over and over because I didn't want to flood it. It's got 24,000 miles.
Jan 27, 2007 at 11:29 AM
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CHEWBACCA34
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Just tried starting again (3 times) and started to smell gas faintly.
Jan 27, 2007 at 11:33 AM
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COSMO
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more than likely flooded....You need a helper with some of this

First thing to try. Remove the fuel pump and circuit relays (this will cut the fuel to the engine to help deflood it), next hook up a battery charger on high, then turn the key on and push the gas pedal to the floor once and release, then crank the engine for 10 sec apx. LET the starter cool for another 20 secs then repeat (remember than one pump of the gas pedal, this tells the PCM that the engine is flooded and not to overfuel the engine). Try doing this a few times (it might even try to start without the relays in....if so reinstall while its trying to start).

After you have tried cranking it a few times (apx 6 times or so)......re-install the relays, do the one pump, and cranks the motor.....if it starts catching FLOOR IT and keep it above 3000rpm for a few mins....it will probabyl smoke really bad.

IF THIS DOESN'T WORK


take your spark plugs out(through the LF wheel well) and clean them off and dry them out. Next disconnect the CKP sensor and remove the fuel pump and circuit relay. Crank the engine with the plugs out (make sure the CKP is disconnected!!!)

After cranking it for a bit you will see no fuel mist coming from he spark plugs holes.....at this point put your plugs back in OR even better put new plugs in.

Let me know how it goes

Cosmo...Mazda TEch
Jan 28, 2007 at 3:00 AM
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THAWIZANATOR
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yea iv got the same problem but seems to be worse then the others on here..... i'll start with sunday i started up my car to move it across the street it ran fine and then early this moring when i got up to go to work it wouldn't start i tried and tried and tried and it wouldn't so i went to bed instead of waking everyone up in the house and waited to get online to check out on here and see what i can do and well i have been at this for about 6 hours now i have been tryin to deflood the car i took out the 20amp fuse and the relay for the fule pump and have been turning it over to try to clear out the cylender/tube/whatever it is *LOL* sorry not familar with rot. motors but her the past two times i have been tryin to turn it over white smoke was coming out of the exauhst not alot though and when i put the relay and fuse back in i could smell raw gas this was before the white smoke sorry bouncing back and fowrth would starter fluid help get my car started at all??? or should i keep on tryin to start it for a little while longer and then put the puse and relay back in and keep on tryin to start it?
Oct 29, 2007 at 9:06 AM

Suggested Repair

Treat it as a flooded rotary. Remove the fuel pump and circuit relays, connect a charger, press the accelerator once, and crank in short bursts with cooling time. If it starts, hold above 3000 rpm until it clears. If not, remove and dry or replace the plugs, disconnect the CKP sensor, and crank with fuel disabled until no fuel mist comes from the plug holes, then reinstall the plugs and relays and try again.

Conversation Summary

A 2004 Mazda RX-8 with 24,000 miles cranked but would not start after sitting in cold weather. Battery voltage was about 12 volts and rose after charging, but it still would not start. The owner smelled a little fuel. A Mazda technician said RX-8s flood easily if not fully warmed up and outlined a deflood procedure: disable fuel, crank with one accelerator press, then hold high rpm if it fires, or dry or replace the plugs and crank with the CKP sensor disconnected if needed. Another owner reported the same no-start and white smoke while trying to clear fuel, but no further expert reply addressed starter fluid.

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