The Gsl-se was caught in Hurricane enesto and water got up about 1/4 way into the car... The car will not start. Am I out of luck? New engine? The car has 189,000 miles on it, new paint job... looks great but the flood looks to have done it in.. Tell me what you think I should do..Any ideas on starting it?? Can water get into the gas tank if it water went up to the lower part of the interior seat?? Help!! thanks....chris

 

Unless the gas tank has a leak water would only be able to enter from the same place gasoline does: the filler neck.

But electrical wiring would have been submerged and therefore shorting out if still wet. Guess what? Your fuel pump is electric and located under the car just forward of the tank. Also, the wiring harness that supplies electric power to all things electrical in the aft portion of the car runs down the right-hand side of the car under the carpet. There is a coupler in this harness located under the drivers' side storage bin.

This coupler would have been submerged and will likely still be soaking wet. No power to the fuel pump due to a shorted coupler = an engine that will crank over until the battery dies but will not start. Disconnect this coupler and blow it dry. If there is visible signs of arcing at the coupler replace it with one from the wreckers.

BTW, your engine's fine. The water wasn't high enough to enter the intakes and besides, even if water enters the engine during a flood the rotaries won't hydro-lock--- yet another advantage of the rotary design vs. piston engines.

 

I would have to say that your ECU probably got wet if the water got upto the seat.
If the engine cranks but simply wont start I would crank it for a while, pull the plugs out and see if theres any gas on them...If there is gas getting to the engine I would then move on and see if the spark plugs have spark. If you have both gas and spark, then I would assume your engine is flooded and just needs the standard de-flooding measures.
If de-flooding the engine doesnt help, then describe in detail whats occuring and we will be able to better help you.
Dont give up though, the -SE's must live on.... Good luck!

 

This reminds me of this one time that I was following a car down a dark street in the rain, and out of no where the car ahead slows down to a crawl. I continued on just wondering why the car ahead was driving so slow until I realize Im basically in a lake! The guy in front of me made it through but since I was going so slow I only made it half way! I remember the feeling when my car stalled and I realized I was in the middle of the biggest puddle ever. I opened my door to asses the situation and saw that not only was the water right upto the door but any little waves in the water were breaking over the door sill into the car. I paniced and shut the door wondering what the hell I was gonna do. The car wouldnt start and I wasnt about to get out, so I had the great idea to use the starter motor to back me out.... Sure enough I turned it over in reverse and it has just enough juice to push me back out of the puddle. I could hear the exhaust bubbling as I backed up and was really worried that the car was messed up. I called my parents to come get me and tow me home because I thought the car definately needed some help to run again, but something told me to try starting it again, and to my surprise after using the starter to roll me back about 30 feet it still had enough juice to crank it over and fire it up. Let me tell you how happy I was when it fired up. It was one of the most exciting moments in the history of my RX-7s. I really couldnt believe that so much water had no such effect on the car.

I just thought it was a suitable place to tell my story, and hopefully youll have almost as good luck as me! Keep at it!

 

any pics

 

Does It Crank Over?

 

Have You Gotten Anywhere On Your RX? Im Interested To Know How Its Going.

 

I am going to see what I can do based on what everyone is telling me and i will post..

 

i think you would need a new computer for sure.

 

Yeah, forgot about the ECU--- if the water was that high it would have flooded this as well.

For the guy with the flooded car, the ECU is located under the passengers' floor mat up front and on an angle close to the firewall.

Simply remove the floor mat, lift the carpeting and you'll see a metal panel that's bolted down right where the passengers' feet rest. Unbolt this panel and you'll see the ECU. Then it's just a matter of un-bolting the ECU from the floor and unplugging the harness. Installation is the reverse procedure, simple as that.

But don't go to Mazda for the replacement unit or you'll get financially ***-raped. Instead, pick one up at the wreckers for a fair price.

 

if you need the ecu, i have one. defiatly replace the ecu. also, as stated above, check the fuel pump. if you are unsure about the tank, drain it and refill with fresh gas and disconnect the feed line from the engine and when you get her cranking, put the feed line in a coffee can and crank until only good fuel comes out. also, replace the fuel filter after you do this. once we get an update we can help you more.

 

BTW, there is a tank drain plug at the bottom of the tank. Simply get an appropriate wrench and unscrew it.

 

should be a 14mm. its towards the center of the tank

 

Yeah, that sounds familiar.

 

thanks guys

 

any pics