I am in the process of returning an old car (1984 RX-7) back to the road. My wife's boss has this car that has been dormant for about 10 years (aside from the occassional lap around the block). Now it hasn't moved for months and it won't start. He said that they put gas in the carb and it would run for a bit and die. They checked the spark (good), the wires and plugs look almost new. This tells me that its a fuel delivery problem (fuel pump or fuel filter). Am I correct in this assumption? Are there any other suggestions? Most importantly, after I get this beast started, what concerns should I have since it has been sitting for such a long, long time. I am new to rotary so any advise would be appreciated. Also, the car has 93,000 miles on a original motor (never rebuilt). He told me that it smoked a little (tail pipe) before it croaked. BTW he isn't the most talented mechanic, he switched the battery wires around so when we tried to crank it, something fried. Do you think that might have toasted the solenoid or relay? Thanks again.

 

Check the fusable links, and definatly get a new fuel filter, and check the old one for rust or corrosion. Maybe even drop the tank and have it cleaned and lined. I would check the oil, and all the other normal stuff. Check tranny fluid, and rear end fluid. Good luck, thats about all I can think of off the top of my head.

~T.J.

 

Oh, and a little (or maybe a lot) of smoke out the tail pipe is normal until the car is warm, its a trademark of the rotary engine . Also, you could search on here for the "ATF tratment" and give her that, after sitting for a while its had a chance for some serious carbon build up. Thats what happened to mine, 80K on original motor, but the carbon got to her about a week after I started drving her regularly, Im now putting a new engine in it. Anyway, whatever you do, good luck.

~T.J.

 

Swapping the battery cables should have fried the fuse links before the starter, but if the starter doesn't spin try replacing it. Try to be more descriptive when you say don't start. Does starter spin? Is engine siezed up and won't turn? Does engine crank but not start running on its own? They all mean something different. If it ran before cable swap, and cranks but no start now, may have burned up the leading and trailing coils. Smoke at startup (and until engine is warm) is normal. Smoke at higher speeds, or after car has been running for a while means bad seal and needs rebuild.
Get a Haynes manual for the car, and come here and ask lots of questions too.

 

I've coem across a similiar problem, and it was the fuel pump.

 

thanks for all the advise, i will change the fuel filter, check the fuses, check the fuel pump and run a ATF bath. Hopefully this will get her to spin.

 

Thanks again for all the help- board. I changed the fuel filter and one of the fuseable links were blown. After that it, started right up. Now it's getting a ATF bath, we'll see what happens on Friday.

 

WooHooo ATF!!!!!!!!