FD from hell

[racer_in_black]

Here's the story, I bought an FD that had just had a small fire in the engine which I hear is pretty common around 60k to 80k miles. I've replaced the complete wiring system, ecu, fuel injectors, hoses, solenoids and other things that were affected by the fire. It still doesn't run, I've had it for over two years. It's pretty F#@!ing frustrating. All I can do is read about other peoples FDs and I can't even get mine started. It's been way to long for me not to be able to get it started. I've taken it to the dealer twice, first time they said it was going to be 5000 to fix it and the second time I took it in they said it was just going to be 14000 for parts alone because they found new things. That pissed me off real good and decided not to take it to them which is pretty much what I've read everybody advising. "Don't take it to the dealer." Either way, summer is right around the corner (again) and I really want to get it up and running. Anybody have any ideas of what I can do to get it running.

[MBTN]

You gotta be more specific. Exactly why isn't it starting? Does it crank? Are you getting spark, fuel and air?

[racer_in_black]

It sounds like it wants to start but it doesn't crank over.

[gigglesnirt]

you need to become friends with a mechanic my mom was dating one guy that loves mazdas and toyotas, and he does all her work for a packet of cigerettes and some beer

[racer_in_black]

I've heard otherwise, not to let your basic mechanic get hands on these types of cars because of the simple fact that most mechanics don't really know how to work on rotory engines

[Soyo]

well he did say the guy loves mazdas, so I'm guessing he knows rotarys since the rx-7 is like the flagship sportscar for mazda... just a hunch

[Aruba27]

is it turning slow or fast?

[racer_in_black]

It's cranking like I hear most cars crank right before they turn on but it just doesn't. It doesn't sound like a lazy powerless crank, it's normal.

[MBTN]

Perhaps it's flooded, although I do not know if FD's are prone to flooding. Did you also check the compression?

[racer_in_black]

I didn't check the compresion on it. My friend changed the spark plugs and said pretty much what you said that it flooded. If it floods, is it because of the ECU, timing or what? Thanks for the replys by the way.

[3rdWrldRcr]

This sounds like a detonation problem. Perhaps it was run to rich/lean and the plugs are fouled. Also, check and make sure your battery, alternator, and starter are all in good condition. It may sound like im giving all the obvious tips but sometimes its the smallest things that cause the biggest problems. Rotary motors are very touchy. One wrong move and boom you're forking out an arm and a leg for seals, housings, rotors, etc...

[MBTN]

Bottom line is check the compression. If it's flooded pull the fuel injection fuse and crank it for 20 seconds. Put the fuse back and see if it starts. I know this technique works on FC's, maybe it's the same on the FD

[Soyo]

how much did it cost you to repair what was lost in the fire? just curious cuz I'm looking into buy a FD that caught on fire, depending on how much it is to fix

[racer_in_black]

I bought pretty much everything from the dealer except the fuel injectors and the ECU. I spent about 2K. The fuel injectors would have been another 1200 from the dealer and I forget what price they told me on the ECU. That was a small fire though, it was turned off pretty quickly.

[Aruba27]

just curious, is the car a 93? shouldn't the dealership cover some of the damage done to the car due to the recall on teh cooling system?