Roommates Rx-7 Won't Start

OK lemme try and explain what happens as best I can.. when he tries to start the car.. it just kind of sounds like there is no spark.. engine tries to start.. but won't completely start up.. It died with a puff of smoke coming out the back.. battery is fine, fluids are fine etc. When turning the key it just makes a wrrrr sound but won't start up fully.. anybody got any ideas what could be wrong?

poss. fuel injectors?

poss. fuel injectors?

hrmm we will check it out.. just very baffling.. can smell something everyime we try to start it too.. smells like gas but not exactly..

either low compression or a bad starter or flooded. Give me details about the car, year, model, etc...

Mine did the same exact thing, it was just flooded, roll it down a hill or push it really fast, and then drop the clutch (in gear with the key turned) and it might start back up.

It's flooded. Pull the EFI fuse. Crank the car over for 15-20 seconds with the gas pedal floored. Then replace the fuse and start normally. It should start. If it's badly flooded repeat the process.

.. or if you want to make it quick and easy to deflod the car, push the gas pedal all the way in when starting. It automatically cuts the fuel when you do this. Blow out the gas and dtry again.

another thing i found that worked alright was choking it. you ahve to take the filter box off, and cover it with a piece of cardboard or something, and while you start it, after a few turns of the engine, take the cardboard or whatever you're covering the intake with off. there'll be a surge of air, and it should help it start. it's kindof a ghetto solution, and i'd probably try the other guys ideas first, but it's a good last resort. it won't always work on teh first try.

.. or if you want to make it quick and easy to deflod the car, push the gas pedal all the way in when starting. It automatically cuts the fuel when you do this. Blow out the gas and dtry again.
I never heard that before. But I did hear to NEVER touch the gas. :eek7:

.. or if you want to make it quick and easy to deflod the car, push the gas pedal all the way in when starting. It automatically cuts the fuel when you do this. Blow out the gas and dtry again.


FYI, that only works on S5 cars (89-91)

Jarrett

Did you check your fuses?

Look under the dash on the drivers side kick panel. There is a fuse box there. There is a 15 amp fuse in there that is called the engine fuse. If it blows it shuts down the fuel and coils.

Sometimes they blow. I had mine blow for no reason on my 89GTU on my 88TII it blew but it was because my K&N filter cone was rubbing against the fuel pump relay curcuit. It rubbed a wire bare.

Good luck.

OK here's the story directly from my roommates mouth..

He was doing approximately 35mph and the speedlimit was 45 so he gradually started accellerating(not flooring) and all of a sudden he heard a what sounded like a suddle backfire and then lost all power from the motor. He tried to do a rolling start since the car still had momentum with no luck.. Now whenever the car is started it just sounds like it's turning over but just doesn't catch.. and we can smell the gas.

car has about 100,000 miles and is a 93 TT

Oh boy, time for the ghetto compression test. Pull the trailing plugs, disable the ignition system (pull the fuses). Feel the pulses of air from each rotor. There should be 3 EVEN pulses out of each rotor. If one has 2 weak ones, and one strong one, you have a bad motor.

Jarrett

kinda sounds like hes screwed to me... too bad it wasn't just flooded

kinda sounds like hes screwed to me... too bad it wasn't just flooded


I told you guys what it was... Like 10 posts ago... but did you listen to me... NO... don't listen to Dayna...


:wink:

What about when there is no compression? Used a snap-on compression tester and got no compression from one of the cylinders.. is this possible? also noticed the spark plugs are covered in thick black gunk.. definately don't think it was oil either..was a lil thicker than gas..

If he heard a pop and lost all power, then he needs a rebuild. He blew an apex seal.

Used a snap-on compression tester and got no compression from one of the cylinders.. ..


We in the rotary Community prefer to call them:
"Epichroidal Chambers"

:iceslolan

Uh... dont forget that the upper and lower spark plugs holes share the same chamber, so dont leave one open when you try to compression test it either..

Hey Steel, do you have an rx7? If so are you a member of RX7 club?

if it wont work at all, ya got a problem, cuz a wankel will start if you plugged the coils in upside down or backwards. now, it could be an oil flood, cuz oil gets lumped throuhg little resevoires in the output crankshaft, and oil burning is a common problem. if not, get new apex seals or new rotors, cuz one of the two might be cracked. either that, or its just being retarded, cuz they do that too.

if it wont work at all, ya got a problem, cuz a wankel will start if you plugged the coils in upside down or backwards. now, it could be an oil flood, cuz oil gets lumped throuhg little resevoires in the output crankshaft, and oil burning is a common problem. if not, get new apex seals or new rotors, cuz one of the two might be cracked. either that, or its just being retarded, cuz they do that too.


I doubt it is the case in this situation, but if that engine indeed oil Flooded the owner deserved it... Oil Flooding is typically a result of lack of maintenance..... One of the cardinal sins of owning a rotary,

yep cuz my roommate bought the car relatively cheap.. and only got to drive it 2 times before this happened.. he didn't want to get his money back either because he planned on rebuilding the motor anyway.. just a shame that he only got to drive it 2 times.. guess he'll have to break the motor down..

Hey Steel, do you have an rx7? If so are you a member of RX7 club?

Yes and yes. Under the same handle and avatar.

What model do you have?

87 GXL.

have you tested for spark yet? be sure you test both coil packs too..
and have you pulled the spark plugs yet to see what they looked like?
if you want , send me more info on what you have tried so far and looked at so far. I am an ASE master technician for one of the shops in the area i am located in, and would love to help you diagnoe the problem, but just need a little more info.

I told you guys what it was... Like 10 posts ago... but did you listen to me... NO... don't listen to Dayna...


:wink:


:rolleyes:

Its called a blow apex seal, TIME FOR A REBUILD!!!

Hope you got money:)

:rolleyes:
:smooch: :wink: