Hey friends....question....

My 1985 GSL-SE has been running great...no problems. The other day I ran the fuel tank down very close to empty and at about the same time started having issues. The car starts and idles relatively normally, but when I give it gas it sputters and "coughs" and I have to work the gas pedal to keep from stalling. Out on the road I can drive it, but again, when I hit the gas it sputters and sometimes stalls. Even when I get the RPM's up it's struggling and not smooth.

I am not a mechanical expert, but is it possible that by running the gas tank so close to empty that the fuel filter got clogged a bit with crap? I have, of course, put gas in the car as well as poured a container of Sea Foam into the tank. It just seems that the engine isn't getting a consistent supply of fuel when I hit the gas pedal.

Any advice would be appreciated! Thank you.

 

Yes it's very possible your filter may have gotten clogged up with junk from the bottom of your tank, I would start there for sure.

 

definately fitler +1 although sometimes it can be the pump too and if its really clogged the pump will usually follow since it has been straining its self n when it sees no clog due to changing the filter it over runs and burns its self out cuz of all the amperage its used to see but most likely is the filter

 

Got a fuel pressure tester?

 

check the filter first, see what the gas looks like that comes out of it... is it super dirty?

I think this killed my fuel pump recently as well. Ran the tank to E and I think sucked up extra sediment. A pretty easy fix too. Check filter first, then if it still has issues is probably pump.

I guess it could be other stuff, but eliminating those two will most likely point you in a good direction.

 

Do you run her on the regular?

When was the last time you seafoamed it?

 

Another possibility is a clogged fuel jet in the carby. If the problem only occurs when you give it more than a slight touch on the accelerator pedal, this is what I'd be leaning towards.

Because there is a separate supply of fuel (bowl) for each rotor, if one of the jets gets clogged, that rotor will get no fuel while the other gets enough and the engine will die. This only occurs when you open the throttle a bit, because the idle/transition circuit provides fuel on very light throttle to BOTH rotors.

I would advise removing the carby and taking the top (air horn) off to look inside the fuel bowls. There could be a lot of crap in there that needs to be emptied out. Then just take the jets out and clean them. Most likely one of the main fuel jets is clogged, but while you're at it I would suggest cleaning the emulsion tubes as well.

 

He said it was a GSL-SE, No carb involved here.

I agree with the others, Replace the fuel filter and check the old one to see how much debris is inside.

 

Thanks guys...will get new fuel filter today.

 

oops lol my bad. disregard my post.

 

Definitely the fuel filter replace and it will be just fine.

 

While working at the pump remove the inlet hose and clean the small cone shaped strainer in the pump it will prob be filthy.

 

Turns out that the fuel filter did not fix the problem, but since the fuel coming out of the old one was filthy it was time for a change anyway.

I then took the car to my nearest RX-7 expert at Advanced Rotary Performance and he did some tests....he thinks it's a faulty Throttle Position Sensor. Does that sound like an accurate diagnosis???

 

could be,id check continuity on the pump fist to make sure its with in spec, but the tps's are adjustable , check it with a multimeter before sourcin a new one. check to see the resistance value is consistant with opening and closing the tp all the way thru n if it is then just adjust it with the car warmed up to temp at idle. if not then start lookin for a good one

 

although tps's usually dont act up from runnin the gas low, but there is a sock(filter) on the bottom of the pump itself that could also be ur culprite(although kinda rare) but sounds like a volume test might be in order!