I posted this in the canadian forum but will try here also. I just bought an 84 which is rust free. It has not run very much in the last 6 years and has been sitting for the last 2 years without being started. When I turn the key I hear the starter click but nothing else happens. Motor will not turn over. Previous owner said the car ran great 2 years ago. Car has 129 000kms only. Would the motor be carbon locked and is it easy to fix. I am new to the rotary scene and any help would be appreciated.
Thanks Mark.

 

rewire the starter it is not that hard. its like 3 wires. it took me like 30 minutes to do it and make sure your battery is good.

 

First thing to do is see if the engine can be turned over by hand. Use a ratchet on the front e-shaft bolt and rotate the engine 3 full revolutions, do not force it. If there is no binding, the head for the stickies at the top of this section and read how to resurrect a 7.

If it binds or will not move at all, then try the atf trick.

 

Like rotarycrazy said, sounds like the starter is not engaging right. Solenoid maybe ? I would go that route before messing with carbon lock.

 

Sorry, but no. The car has sat long enough that the fluids need to be changed and the ignition, cooling, fuel and oil systems need to be checked, changed or flushed.

If the engine is carbon locked, the last thing you want to do is force the engine to turn over. Jumping to the conclusion that the starter needs rewired is ignorant, with out checking the rest of the starting system, including battery cables, connections, and occasionaly the ignition key.

If there is just a click when turning the ignition key to start it could be as simple as power connections. It could also be a sign that the solinoid is working and engaging the starter drive wheel, but the engine is locked.