Hello, I have a 1981 RX7 with the 12A engine. The car idles rough and very low, almost to the point where it will die. The acceleration is terrible and the rpms respond slowly when it's given gas. You can also hear "pops" in the exhaust, they dont really sound like back fires. Anyways I'm new to the rotary engine and have tried a few things but can't seem to get it running any better. I fear its the apex seals but like I said I know very little about the rotary engine. So I was hoping that maybe someone on here might have a clue to whats causing all these problems?



I thought at first it might be my catalytic converter so I cut it off but still runs the same. also replaced the fuel filter, cleaned the carb, and plugged a few vaccum lines in that were dissconnected when I bought the vehicle. (Car had these problems when I bought it) The lady I bought the car from had it worked on at a shop, but I have not been pleased with what they did to the car. I have found fuses crammed in vaccum lines, and other misc. parts super glued to stay in place... So I'm not sure whats going on.



I'm going to do a compression check this weekend as well as check the timing. any other suggestions of tests or things to try?



thanks

Dakota



P.S. what compression should a stock 12A have?

 

that sounds a lot more like your fuel pump has gone out. without it you can get it to start but it's going to bog and generally run like **** lol. pull the fuel line off the carb and turn the key forward. you should have fuel pumping out of it. if not, you need to replace it.

 

I say check the fuel pump as previously stated and fuel filter then theres also a check valve in the return line by the carb that can get crudded up, then check your spark plugs they are generally good for 15k miles, 8k at most for me cause i run premix, but then theres the ignitors coils in the driver side fender if one fails it will still run but like crap cause you wont have as much of a complete burn, not like a rotary has a complete burn anyways but yeh check those and let us know