SHORT VERSION:

Car will start if carb primed, but dies soon after. Wouldn't idle before, but now won't run at any rpm. Need help.

LONG VERSION:

Well I got my car Yesterday and it wouldn't start unless you put gas directly into the carb. Even then, it wouldn't run long after it started( idle or revving). I took the carb apart last night, and there are pieces missing. The guy I got it from said he had a mechanic rebuild it, but it was filthy too. So I nab the carb off a buddies locked up engine and installed it. Here's what the outcome was:

Still had to prime it to start, but would run if above 1700rpms. Man it was a smoky mess! The smoke stopped soon and I was happy again. After it running for a while, it would come closer to idleing 1400-1500rpms, and would start on it's own if you choked it. We figured, hell we don't need to idle, so we hit the road. Just a short trip to a nice big turnaround. The car pulled good through 3rd and I put it into 4th and held speed. It began to surge and stall back and forth, and we looked like we were headbanging. We go to turn around and it dies( I couldn't hold all three pedals to keep rpms up). Won't start....starter fluid...vroom, we're off. Total loss of power now and it dies.

Still doing the same thing now. It will start, when primed, but die soon after, no matter what I try.

Suggestions?

 

Have you done all the usual recommended tune-up goodies for RX-7s?

I'd check your fuel filter first, then double and triple check your carb, and maybe do a flow and pressure test for the fuel pump?

 

All I've done is swap the carb the "used to work fine". I plan on checking the fuel filter tomorrow and go from there. With the symptom changing like it did, I feel that it will be in bad shape.

Can you get just a gasket kit for the Nikki carb? If so are they any good?

If I have a vacuum problem, what chance do I have of eliminating it by removing the rat's nest?

 

Victoria British sells rebuild kits for Nikki carbs.... you might wanna check that out....
can't comment on the rat's next removal though...

 

my car has like two vacuum leaks and still runs like a beast, i just haven't taken the time to route the hoses correctly but it does idle. that surging sounds exactly like what mine did, i had to remove my fuel tank clean it and the lines out, replace the fuel filter and made a bout a one and a half hour drive before the filter clogged up, so i replaced it. then the same syptoms came up again so i replaced the filter, but it didn't change a thing. turns out i had to take my gas tank off again, and i bought a in-tank fuel sock/strainer for $17.40 from the mazda dealership. that fixed it.
BTW my car had been sitting for like 6 years previously untill i bought a carb from a friend of mine who went to a holley, and yes there was ALOT of smoke.

 

Fun fun. Yup this one has sat for a while. Guy cleaned it really well though. I expected more from the car by it's looks. Dummy .

 

also check ur ignition system, ignitors, coils etc

 

Ok, I need to clean out my gas tank. I did everything but that and was getting some large trash into my filters. I pulled the tank just now and OUCH. The inside looks like someone Shake-n-Baked it. I'ts pretty bad, but I optomistic. Is Marine clean or another product going to clear this issue up? There has to be a limit of what this stuff can do.

I'm ready to drive!!! 8)

 

I should probably clean mine out to. . . .

How DO you clean one of those?

I'm sure Hayne's can tell me how to remove it?

 

Removal was easy. 4-15mm bolts hold tank in, 5-10mm bolts for shielding stuff, 2 screws behind gas door, 6 screws on top of tank to pull the top off.