OK, im new to the whole rotary scene but this car is really a dream car for me and I really just want to get it running right.

I bought a 1984 RX-7 GS with a 12a. 180,000 miles. It sat for 4 years so i pumped some ATF into the chambers, turned the engine over to get the oil to coat, then fired the engine up. I got tons of smoke, but it calmed down after the A burned thru.
Here is my problem now though:
It runs as if someone has stuffed a potato in the exhaust. Its choking. It has a top speed of like 60mph...downhill and is just incredibly slow...like not highway safe.
Now, I have notived that the secondaries dont open on the carb when my friend floors the car to full throttle. I have tried opening the secondaries manually with a screwdriver and it seems like the engine wakes RIGHT up.

So my question is: what's wrong with my car?
Is there a solenoid on the carb that's fried and not opening the secondaries? Is the exhaust clogged beyond acceptable engine breathing conditions?

Or is the worst case scenario true....is it running off of only one rotor?

The car doesnt smoke now and it idles, but it sounds like a lawnmower and doesnt rev quick. Also, it gets EXTREMELY hot. YOu can see heat shadows when driving the car, a lot is coming from under the car.


Any help would be GREATLY appreciated.


Anthony

 

Fuel filter. If it sat for that long, you need to replace serveral things;

1. Oil
2. Spark plugs
3. all gas in the gas tank
4. all filters (gas oil air)

5. carb will NEED cleaning. you will be amazed how much better it runs after fuel filter / carb cleaning.
6. eventual carb rebuild will be in order.
7. Oil all linkages and springs on throttle/choke shafts

 

Could your exhaust be clogged....i once had a clogged cat converter and the car ran as thou i was pulling a house trailer. some have claimed that atf will clog a converter, and do the things that DBOGGSRX7 mentioned, if it sat that long you will need to baby her back to life.

 

my fb bogged exactly like yours is doing now ...i changed the fuel filter, fuel pump, and unclogged my cat converter...now she runs AMAZING!!!!!!

 

That should get you working good again, if not pull the cat and replace it with a "test pipe"





And the reason the Secondays did not open with your buddy reving the car, is they are vacum operated and only open under load.

 

You can eliminate the "only running on one rotor" scare by simply pulling your plugs and inspecting them. Are they all an even shade of tan or light grey, with no moisture? If so, your engine doesn't need to be torn down. But if either the two plugs from the rear rotor OR the two plugs from the front are wet and oily somebody sold you a bad car. This engine is toast and they knew it. The "sounds like a lawnmower" comment sounds ominously familiar and doesn't give me cause to be optimistic.

The overheat comment is even more alarming. If your temp guage went over say, 3/4 of the guage face the rotor housings have warped and it's only a matter of time before your coolant seals leak. Engine replacement time...

 

well the car runs REALLY hot, but then again...im not used to rotaries.

The temp gauge never even got to halfway, so that's a good sign.

when i first was trying to get the car started i pulled the plugs before trying to start it so i could pump some ATF into the chambers; the fronts were dry and tan...but the rears were oily and wet. I cleaned them off and put them back and have run the car now. I never re-checked the plugs....im having a really bad feeling
I might need another 12a but i cant find ANYONE with one that's affordable

 

if you wanna try something put your 2 good plugs in the leading holes and the 2 oily plugs in the trailing side and see what happens.