I just bought an '88. It turns over fine, but won't start consistently. After trying for quite a while, I got it to start, but it idled up then immediately died. After a few more tries, it started again and I kept it running with the gas pedal. I then noticed that it was showing no oil pressure, so I immediately let it die again. The guy I bought it from says that he was driving it and it got hot so he parked it. My uneducated guess at this point is oil pump, but I'm open to suggestions if you all have any. (I'm working on pulling the sending unit off another RX-7 we've got to see if thats the issue with the gauge not moving).

Did I ask this in the wrong place?

Having to keep it running with foot on the gas, sounds just like a vacuum leak.



Is the gauge pegged at 0, or is it low?

pegged at zero. I had seen a couple of mentions of this problem being linked to vacuum leaks, but they were all turbos. Didn't realize this could plague an NA as well. Any known trouble areas I should start with?

Do the ghetto compression test. Remove one leading spark plug. Turn the motor over by hand using a 19mm socket wrench on the main pulley. Turn it in the normal direction of rotation. You should hear three puffs of air, one per combustion chamber. If it wheezes like an old man, or skips a puff there is a compression problem. Do the same with the other rotor housing.



What do the spark plugs look like?



Is it eating coolant? Do a coolant pressure test. What is in the oil filter? Check for vacuum leaks.

Yep, most definitely occurs in n/a cars as well. Anywhere between the air flow meter to the engine, if there's a leak it will have a similar symptom. However, if you haven't removed anything recently (intake manifolds, intake assembly, etc.), it's most likely a old, cracked vacuum hose or cap. They get brittle and hard over time.