I was racing my 84 mostly stock (except headers and exhaust) rx-7 the other day (I took a 2000 Eclipse off the line). When I got home and got out of my rx to open the garage it sounded like it was idling low. I looked at the tach and it was down around 550 or so rpm's. The next day it was again idling low as I drove it about 15 miles and on the way back it was begining to stuter a little when I would take off from a stop light, but not too bad, barely noticeable. Well, the next day it was definetely worse and as I drove it back home there was a definite problem with accelerating and idling, although it revs up fine once it's past the 2,000 rpm or so mark. I checked the fuel pump, plug wires, spark plugs, air filter, but it seems like it is something more in depth. I then checked the timing, which I had never done before but I assume I did it right. The timing mark was about 1" and a quarter away from the pin and I couldn't even advance the distributor to half way to where it wanted to be. But when I did advane it that way the idle started to come up. What could this be? Should I check the compression? Would the compression indicate a blown apex seal? I really appreciate any help I could get right now as I am in a huge dilema without a car for school and work. Thankyou.

Do the compression check and get back to us.



Yes it will tell you if the engine is blown.

i had similar symptoms with mine. check all your wiring, coils, plugs, and inside the dizzy to make sure the wires inside arent chopped out at all and shorting out. make sure the ignitors are earthing out properly against the dizzy. if the dizzy was turned all the way and still not enough to set the timing you may have to take the dizzy out and turn it a cog then slip it back in. and yeah advancing the timing will make the idle rise.

just a few things to check before you break out in a cold sweat.

good luck