1987 RX7 Starting Problem (Novice)

[azpaz]

I recently bought a 1987 RX7 with 96K miles. Everything worked fine until I let it sit for about five days. The temperature did get into the 20's at night. I went to start it and the starter is turning, the fan blade is turning, but it almost sounds as though it is free wheeling with no engine compression. The battery is fine. Is it possible for the starter not to be engaging the flywheel? That's what it sounds like. But the fan is turning so I'm confused.This is my first rotary and I am unfamiliar with this sound. Any suggestions would certainly be appreciated.Thanks.John

[fcdriver]

You should do a compresion check to be sure if you have compresion since the fan blade is turning.

[azpaz]

Originally Posted by fcdriver

You should do a compresion check to be sure if you have compresion since the fan blade is turning.

I hope that is not the problem. It did start at different times. It's just that after sitting for some days, it started doing this. Thanks for the advice.John

[drftk1d]

do what he says, it cant hurt.

[89tracerman]

hey i live in AZ too. if you decide to sell your car ill buy it. i need a parts car

[89tracerman]

Do you see lots of black smoke coming out of the exhaust? if you see black smoke its flooded!!
so try this
open the hood disconect the injector fuse, crank the engine for a few seconds, if the car feals like its going to turn on stop cranking and connect the injector fuse then try to turn it on and it should
and if it dosent turn on, another thing it could be is the spark plugs replace them. an RX7 has 4 plugs 2 leading and 2 trailing

[azpaz]

Originally Posted by 89tracerman

Do you see lots of black smoke coming out of the exhaust? if you see black smoke its flooded!!
so try this
open the hood disconect the injector fuse, crank the engine for a few seconds, if the car feals like its going to turn on stop cranking and connect the injector fuse then try to turn it on and it should
and if it dosent turn on, another thing it could be is the spark plugs replace them. an RX7 has 4 plugs 2 leading and 2 trailing

Thanks. I'll try that. I called my friend (previous owner) and he said that it happened one other time and he had it towed to a shop. They couldn't find a problem and sprayed some starter fluid in and it started but pumped lots of smoke out the tailpipe. He said he thought it had something to do with the colder weather. Thanks again.John

[89tracerman]

hey you should try this site its full of AZ RX7 owners you could get lots of help and if you need some parts you could save some $$$ on shipping

[azpaz]

Originally Posted by 89tracerman

hey you should try this site its full of AZ RX7 owners you could get lots of help and if you need some parts you could save some $$$ on shipping

Thanks!!! That is right here in AZ. Appreciate it.John

[R0J0]

haha k its not the cold i live in canada and it dropped to -30 last night.... i dont have a block heater and i leave it outside, so dont blame the weather mine started so... i get the not starting everynow and then but it has to be electrical and thats gay possibly the plugs like that guy said or the distributor plates are ugly. BUT DONT BLAME THE COLD!!!!!! cause you dont know cold

[J-Rat]

That car is FLOODED!!!

[ShortyDTP]

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

But it does sound like the car is flooded. so try what 89tracer is advising you!!

[azpaz]

After a week of trying the fuse removal procedure,I did the ATF procedure. It finally started, but only after quite a few tries. The thing that worked was that once it started rapid firing with no start, I decided to floor it and keep it floored. That did the trick. It belched blue for quite a while but it starts and I'm happy. I had the oil changed but I have a question. I couldn't drive the car up onto the ramps because the car is too low. How do you get it up to change the oil? Incidentally, thanks to all who responded with suggestions. John

[fcdriver]

Just jack it up or pull it over a ditch or put a 2x6 board infront of the ramps to give it less of a grade.

[azpaz]

Thanks, I'll try that.