1987 RX7 Starting Problem (Novice)

[J-Rat]

Originally Posted by ShortyDTP

He he..... AZ is taking over the AF / RX7 forum!!!!

WERD!!

[Roxoan]

Ok, I'm having the exact same problem with my 88 RX7. I went on vacation for 6 days, when I came back it wouldn't start. The engine rotates, fan moves, but doesn't start. The plugs are getting a spark, and I just changed them yesterday, they were old anyway.

The car is flooding.

I know very little about injection cars, and even less about rotarys. Where are the injection fuses?

What was that ATF method?

I need to get it started, I just moved and need transportation to get a job soon.

Thanks in advance.

[azpaz]

Originally Posted by Roxoan

Ok, I'm having the exact same problem with my 88 RX7. I went on vacation for 6 days, when I came back it wouldn't start. The engine rotates, fan moves, but doesn't start. The plugs are getting a spark, and I just changed them yesterday, they were old anyway.

The car is flooding.

I know very little about injection cars, and even less about rotarys. Where are the injection fuses?

What was that ATF method?

I need to get it started, I just moved and need transportation to get a job soon.

Thanks in advance.

I know what that is about. I am off to the doctor's but I will give you a speedy answer. I you can't find it, get back to me and I'll be more specific. Go to google.com and search for "Unflooding RX7". Scroll down a bit and examine the articles. One will focus on your model and will detail both procedures and is very professional. Let me know how you do finding it or other. John

[Roxoan]

Thanks but so far neither of methods detailed has worked.

I've done the fuse removal thing at least 20 times, and tried the ATF adding thing twice.

I've used a straw and my finger to add the fluid to the two leading plug holes. Is there something better I could use?

It doesn't even sound like it's trying to turn over.

Any more suggestions?

[azpaz]

Originally Posted by Roxoan

Thanks but so far neither of methods detailed has worked.

I've done the fuse removal thing at least 20 times, and tried the ATF adding thing twice.

I've used a straw and my finger to add the fluid to the two leading plug holes. Is there something better I could use?

It doesn't even sound like it's trying to turn over.

Any more suggestions?

I used a rubber ball syringe and a plastic tube. Charge the battery. I put two batteries in tandem for full power. For me when it sounded like it was firing rapidly I floored it and kept it there. It finally started. This is about all I know. Incidentally, the fuse I pulled was the one on the furthest inside. The fellow who owned this car before me said that the one time this happened to him the shop he took it to sprayed some starter fluid into the intake and that did the trick. I personally don't know if that is good or not. Did you clean and dry the plugs when tryng the ATF procedure? John

[J-Rat]

Originally Posted by Roxoan

It doesn't even sound like it's trying to turn over.

Any more suggestions?

This might be a point here... IS the motor turning over? Because if its not, you can put a gallon of ATF in there (and for future reference, I would caution AGAINST the use of ATF, and I would use Marvel Mystery Oil), and your not going to get ANY results...

[azpaz]

Originally Posted by azpaz

I used a rubber ball syringe and a plastic tube. Charge the battery. I put two batteries in tandem for full power. For me when it sounded like it was firing rapidly I floored it and kept it there. It finally started. This is about all I know. Incidentally, the fuse I pulled was the one on the furthest inside. The fellow who owned this car before me said that the one time this happened to him the shop he took it to sprayed some starter fluid into the intake and that did the trick. I personally don't know if that is good or not. Did you clean and dry the plugs when tryng the ATF procedure? John

If when you try to start it, is the fan in front of the motor turning. If it is then it is turning over. If it is turning over and the engine just seems to be free spinning, then it is probably flooded again.

[Roxoan]

Yeah, the engine rotates just fine, the fan is moving. It make no noise like it's trying to start.

I've seen two articles about unflooding, the 1st one only said to remove the top fuse, the 2nd one said to remove the top two fuses. The rest of the steps were basicly the same. It doesn't seem to make a difference which I try.

[azpaz]

I would probably do the ATF or mystery oil thing again. Remove furthest fuse. Remove, clean and dry plugs.Place a rag over the plug holes. Floor accelerator and turn over engine for 20 sec. Inject 1 oz of ATF into each bottom plug hole. Wipe out entrance to plug holes to keep ATF from wetting tips of plugs when reinstalled. Install Plugs and wires. Install fuse. Don't touch accelerator pedal and attempt to start for 15 sec at a time. The engine should sound like it wants to start. If after a few tries, it doesn't start, let it rest for a while. Try starting it again without touching the accelerator. If it gets to the point where it sounds like the engine is firing rapidly but won't start, keep it going and try keeping the accelerator floored till it starts. If that doesn't work, try again. If that fails, then something else might be wrong.John

[Roxoan]

After trying all of these things numerous times, it still doesn't sound like it's trying to start. I tried spraying starting fluid down the intake after I did the unflodding method; nothing.

I'm completly lost on what to do and I don't have the money to have someone 'fix' it, even if there was someone in my area that knew jack about them.

[azpaz]

Originally Posted by Roxoan

After trying all of these things numerous times, it still doesn't sound like it's trying to start. I tried spraying starting fluid down the intake after I did the unflodding method; nothing.

I'm completly lost on what to do and I don't have the money to have someone 'fix' it, even if there was someone in my area that knew jack about them.

I would start a new inquiry at some of the other Rx7 sites as well. See if your state has a club. Maybe somebody lives nearby who would help a buddy. I wish I could help more.John

[J-Rat]

Does the Exhaust smell like fuel? Have you checked for spark?

[Roxoan]

I've checked for spark a few times, all good.

I'm not entirely sure if the exhaust smells like fuel, haven't checked, but it's always ran fairly rich and you could smell fuel. I know you can smell it from under the hood.

Some mechanic guy agreed to come and help get it started the other day, he said it wasn't getting compression, because it was spinning so fast and that it was the timing belt. I didnt' think rotary motors had timing belts o_O? He said he'd put a new one on for under 200.

The mechanic that's currently working on my supra said that it sounds like a temparture sensor. Of course he's spent roughly 3 months putting a head gasket on my supra, but he hasn't actually started on it.

I don't know what to do on with the car, I need to get a job, and for that I need transportation and I don't have the money really to get it fixed.

[GringoEJS]

I have had plenty of RX-7s and this sounds familiar. First of all, your mechanic doesn't sound too reliable. Second, borrow a cheap compression tester and check it yourself (to eliminate a bad apex seal). If both chambers (front and rear) are showing even pulses, then I would almost be positive it is just flooded. Try pulling out all 4 plugs, remove the EFI fuse, and floor the gas pedal and crank it over (I will crank it over for 10 seconds 3 or 4 times) to clear out the chambers. Then I would clean and dry the plugs, put the fuse back in, hook the car up jumpstart style with another running car (to eliminate draining the battery) and try again. Sometimes it has taken 15 minutes of continuous cranking over and pulling the fuse before it fires up, but it has always worked.
Also, if you have any tools, the BHG on your Supra is a fairly easy job. My girlfriend and I can get it done in about 9 hours labor. The head can get decked at O'Reilleys for about $45 and a headgasket can be bought from GasketPro.com for $42 or so. In 3 days you could get it done yourself.
Good Luck

[ShortyDTP]

awww he know he's rotarys!!