Alright guys im new and i own a 1983 Rx-7. I don't no much about this car yet but me and my dad got everything working then as he was driving it to the parts store it just lost power. He barely got it home. So now simptomes are:

Sounds like alot of backfiring/Poping
runs very rough at 1000rpm
no power.
Bogs down and dies if now gas applied

Its getting lots of fuel the injectors are spraying fine. The only thing is there doesn't seem to be any vacuum and we can't seem to get the secondaries to open. Its all new plugs distributer cap and wires. Air filter.

What could it be?? Could the seals have gone??( thats what my dad thinks)
My dad thinks the engine is toast. and we are looking at another 83 that we could swap the engine from. I would love some insite on this and i can provide videos or pictures if needed. oh and its an automatic if that helps. Thank alot guys. We would love to get this running as i start school soon.

Lukas

 

Check for compression, take out your front rotor's plugs, and turn the engine by the altnerator by hand. You should hear 3 whooshes, if your don't or only hear 1 or 2, then you know you have bad compression, do the same for the rear rotor. Bad compression usually means a rebuild, or a new engine.

 

An 83 with FI???

Is it a 12A or 13B engine?

Might also be a bad "ignitor". There's a wiring diagram somewhere for testing the ignitor(s).

 

I think he means the jets in the carb.

 

toast. Compression test should tell you what you already know.

 

I only expect to see this comment from the FD guys.

We need more information on the car. If it's a stock '83, then it can't have injectors, as all RX-7's up 'til '83 had carbs. It does sound like an ignition issue though.

 

does the 83 have the same carb as the 85gsl, I think the peice is called the shutter valve, it made my car run like i lost an apex, but compression was even.
there is a hole in the air cleaner box that is connected to a diaphram on the intake manifold on the firewall side, it controls a valve that leans the eng up on deceleration.

 

I say ignitor.

 

Or the plug wire for the lead ignition coil came loose (ask me how I know).

 

Ya its a 12a and i meant the carb jets are squirting fine. there is spark.
My dad did a compresion test by taking the trailing plug out of cylinder one and putting a compression gauge on in and taking of all the spark plug wires then just crank over the engine a couple times and turns out the first cylinder only has about 40PSI and the other has like 120PSI. so i think we are screwed. hmm any other advice?

Thanks alot guys. Lukas

 

You can easily test for the shutter valve problem by removing the wingnut securing the airfilter lid and the lid itself and the air filter, then, while engine running, cover each hole that you see with your thumb until the nuisance stops. Whittle an old wine cork (I recommend the '84 Beaucastel) and stick it in that hole.

If that doesn't do it, check the ignitors, either with the test circuit, or by replacing with your spare ignitor (remember to put some heat sink goop on). You do have a spare ignitor, right? Best to go to the Pick n Pull or other local junkyard and get one for $10 (or free, if you're entitled to the 5 finger discount), before you get stuck by the side of the road and have to pay the dealer $300 (gulp).

You can also get J109 ignitors cheap or free here on the forum, or for about $20 on eBay if you're in one of those backward areas where they have no junkyards or none with old 7s in them.

 

Did you just say cylinder.

 

for real you do know rx7s have a rotory engine and has no pistons or cylinders in it. It has rotors big difference. you keep saying cylinder and ur bound to get for being a noob.