bd83fb

Recently back in September I purchased a 1983 RX7 with the intentions of giving it a good home. For $950.00 it was a steal, clean title and all. I will upgrading the carb, exhaust, and other little things. It has the 12a, and is a 5 speed. 114k miles on it. The body is 99% rust free the only bit of rust being a small fingernail sized area on the hatch. The underbody is also very clean as the car has always been stored during the winter.


I put it in storage where I used to start it up almost every week (did this for about 3 weeks) until it just got too cold and didn't want to start anymore. I literally spent 15-20 mins trying to start it one day and just gave up. After researching I'm pretty sure it's flooded, but at the same time I'm not so sure. It cranked, and the battery had power. I also added a bottle of Stabil fuel stabilizer before I put it in storage. I'm almost scared to try to start it in this weather because I don't want to aggravate any symptoms.


The thing is, I do not want to have to call a tow truck to get this thing back to my house when it comes time to take it out of storage. I drove it there when I put it in, and I'd like to drive it back out at the end of March.

Someone mentioned pouring Seafoam down the carburetor has worked for them "everytime". Anyone else have any remedies?


All fluid (oil, coolant, etc.) will be changed as soon as it is out of storage.

Also should I just wait to start it up? Deep inside I feel like I caused it to flood by starting it up and letting it run for only 10-20 mins at a time.

Here is a picture of it along with my daily driver (1997 i/h/e Prelude).

codytheoutlaw

iTrader: (2)

well if its just flooded, the gas will evaporate in about 10 minutes and it will be fine again. it sounds like its just too damn cold it it doesn't want to start. that's how mine gets when its below freezing.

deadphoenix52

iTrader: (2)

not on a rotary.

http://rx7.com/techarticles_unflood12A.html

be sure to never shut the engine off cold. ALWAYS let it warm up to operating temperature.

codytheoutlaw

iTrader: (2)

i have never heard of that. hmm.

Kentetsu

Yep. Flooding in a rotary is a damn near permanent situation once it happens. Letting it sit, even for a month, will not correct it. You would not believe how many people flood their motor, take it to a mechanic, and are told that the motor has no compression (true) and needs to be replaced (false). This is probably the number one reason these cars go to the junkyard.

There are many documented methods to deflood a rotary. Many are very involved and take a long time to do, some may actually cause damage to your motor in some people's opinion (auto tranny fluid), and some are so simple that people just don't believe it when they hear it.

My old motor had 213,000 miles on it and was slightly down on compression. Combine that with a race carb, and you get a lot of experience deflooding rotaries.

By far, the easiest method is to pour an ounce of Seafoam down the carb. This worked for me every time, and the engine ran even better after doing this than it did before flooding. Like a nice refresh or something.

Good luck, and post your results whatever method you choose.

.

Dcashdollar

iTrader: (8)

All I did when my 7 got flooded was pull the plugs and cleaned them off. It sure does shoot a lot of gas out the back when you start it up though.

Silver82

I can't remember when the 1st gen 7's switched over to an automatic choke, but my 82 has a manual choke and in cold weather it can be very interesting getting it started. The motor is very finicky about the choke position. I have had to jump the battery on numerous occasions, but it has always started eventually. Just be very sparing off the gas. I tap the throttle 3 times, then try to start it without the choke on. If it starts, then I pull the choke on. That usually works and if it doesn't, then I crank it over without any gas being given to it.

Keeble

iTrader: (3)

i just pump the gas about 3 times and hold it wide open, always starts

bd83fb

Thanks everyone. I am not taking it out for about another 2 months just due to the fact that Ohio winters are pretty unpredictable and I have a feeling it's going to snow heavily sometime.

I am going to definitely try some of the above methods and i will be sure to update when the time comes, as to which method worked for me.

OtakuRX

iTrader: (1)

the 7 hasn't had a flood issue as bad as the 8, but when she does flood, I just pull the fuel pump fuse and that normally does it. Fires right up and get a couple good backfires and she's ready to go.