1983 RX-7 "basic" model, stick shift, moon roof, A/C, manual windows (G, GS, S, gee whiz...I don't know).

Car's been driving great! We just finished installing a new CD player and new speakers and new speaker wires. Car started fine so took a 20 mile trip after dark. Made a quick stop. Returned to (still warm) car shortly thereafter and cranked but wouldn't start.

Let it cool down 30 minutes, tried again, wouldn't start and got worse with each crank. Push started and ran fine.

5 minutes down the road, started bogging at high rpms. Drove, started dying, lights dimmed, lost all power, no lights, pulled over.

Dash lights and everything lit up fine but not enough power to start. Jump started, idled fine for a few minutes then bogged down. Let sit.

Click but no start.

Called AAA for a tow home.


Feel free to try to solve this one (we read a hundred threads of "similar" problems).

OK Columbo, some things we've done over the last year:

New;
Sterling carb (has no choke)
Fuel filter
Fuel hoses
Carter fuel pump
Holley FPR
Fuel pressure gauge
Removed rats nest and all related parts (no vacuum leaks)
Positive and negative battery cables
Additional ground cable
Full Racing Beat exhaust system
Battery
Starter
Radiator
Thermostat
Racing Beat air cleaner and filter
All coolant hoses
Dizzy cap and rotor
Plugs and wires
Fuses (and replaced fusible links with fuses)
Shocks/struts
Master/slave clutch cylinders and braided line
Driveshaft
Belts (and Yoohoo belt)
All fluids

Whaddaya think the problem was (or problems were)? I'll post the solution later today or tomorrow after some people have had time to guess (yes, we fixed it - yeah!).


DD

 

So this is a quiz, eh? Don't do quizzes without a cookie.

 

k. Here ya go.



DD

 

I don't want a demolished cookie if I am going to play a game for a cookie.

 

LOL, Halloween is over. I'm going to sit this one out for a while and see what ideas come up. Should be interesting.

 

Well I would bet my money on 2 of the most comon power problems in all RX7's running or not. Leading Ignitor and altinator.

 

I would have said fuel filter, but he said it was new.

 

Alternator belt, alternator, battery cables corroded, battery failure, fuseable link....

Scott (Do I get a cookie?)

 

i was thinking alternator

 

I'll go with alternator. The engine will run off the battery until the battery is drained. Charge it up and see if it will start.

- David

 

...i know what it is......i had the same thing happen to me...its either the alternator or battery....how new is the battery cause when it happened to me the battery was two days off the shelf....problem was the battery had sat on the shelf for 5 months when i bought it.......(damn Autozone...never going back!!!)

 

My cookie's on the alternator being toast.

 

alternator, i had very similar problems on my SE. It did the same exact thing, just like you said, but i made it home instead of tow. Then i replaced the alternator and it was great, ran fine and it was all good.

 

Way too easy DD. Come back when you have a real challenge.....

 

Jeez...I guess that WAS too easy. "thekyl" was the first to answer and he was right...so he gets the cookie pictured above. It was the alternator.

And just about everyone else correctly diagnosed the problem too!!!.

Very impressive.

Thanks for playing,

DD

 

lol that pic is hilarious!