Kelle

My sons girlfriend has an 87 Non-Turbo RX 7. It was running fine one night and the next it wouldn't start. Everything turns on gages, sterio etc. It turns over but it sounds weird almost like something is not engaging. It's not the starter, we know what that sounds like. My son who works on piston engines but has not experience with rotary engines, says it seems like it's not getting any compression. A guy at the battery store said he had an RX7 that did the same thing and to try tow starting it 25-30 mph. Unforntunately he didn't get a chance to tell my sons girlfriend how long it last, why it did it or anything. She going back today to see if she can talk to him again but if he isn't there Has anyone ever had this problem before and know what the heck is causing it???

gazellis

The first thing you may want to check is if it is flooded. RX-7's flood easily. And they won't unflood themselves, they need a little help. If an Rx-7 is not alowed to come up to operating temp before turning it back off, it can flood. Look out for this.



You can tell them to remove the EGI fuse in the fuse box near the driver's side strut tower. Have them hold the pedal down and crank it 6-7-8 times then put the EGI fuse back in. Then try starting it. It may take a couple of times if it is badly flooded. If that does not work, than putting ATF in the spark plug openings and letting it sit for a while may do the trick.



If it is not getting compression than that is a totally different story.

Baldy

So, does it just crank and crank, but not actually start?



nevermind, good explanation gazellis

Kelle

It's not flooded. It's cranks and cranks but doesn't sound normal for a car that just cranks and doesn't ever start. I'm sorry it is really hard to explain how it sounds in words and I'm not a complete idiot when it comes to cars. It's a higher pitched sound that what it sounds like when it's cranking over. I don't know. This is frustrating. We called the Mazda dealer here and they didn't even know what to tell my son. Course that was probably more intentional, at least I'd hope since they are the ones that are supposed to fix those cars.

What would it sound like if there was no compression? He hasn't had a chance to do a compression check yet so I may be jumping the gun here.

FCmaniac

hmm, I was thinking starter engaging flywheel with a higher pitched sound but you are saying it is cranking normal and the starter is not an issue.



I would try the unflood procedure anyway. You'd be surprised how easily they flood. Tell me why you think it is not flooded? What signs are leading you to think that?

Kelle

Because you don't have to touch the gas for it to start and you can't smell gas, would you smell it? I think my son would know if it was flooded too.

Baldy

The RX-7 can get flooded just by driving a short distance and then shutting off the car before it reaches full operating temperature. I never touch the gas when starting my car, but I've flooded it on several occasions. You have to unflood it by performing the procedure outlined above. When doing this, it is likely that you would then smell gas.

twstdmtl

Rotaries are a different beast. It will not sound like a piston engine trying to start. I killed a battery trying to start my 86 non-turbo one time and it did not smell like it was flooded. It smelled a little rich but rotaries always run a little rich. So it may not be as evident as you think. Anyway, the the simplest thing first is what gazellis said, try to unflood it a coupla times. If you do not have a manual or need clarification we are here

gazellis

I have owned my RX-7 since I purchased it new in 1987. I have never had to touch the gas to get it to start. It is EFI. Never, Never, Never. You don't have to do that. Once it gets started you may have to give it gas to rev it up but I have never pumped the pedal like on a Carbed engine to get it running, never.



And no, if it was flooded, you would not necessarily smell any gas at all.

Kelle

Ok. Sounds like tonight we'll be checking to see if it's flooded then. Thanks for all the feedback. I'll let you know what happens!