1st Generation Specific (1979-1985) 1979-1985 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections

HELP!! Car won't start!!

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Old Mar 27, 2007 | 12:21 PM
  #1  
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From: So. Arlington, TX!!!
HELP!! Car won't start!!

...OK, now that y'all have come in ready to tar and feather me, let me explain...as has happened twice with this yellow car, I left it for two days and then it wouldn't start....and like last time, even cleaning the plugs and carb cleaning the spark plug holes did not help. The car would not start.

Instead of doing a full diagnostic, I just changed the plugs again for new NGK's....car started.

Here's what a dead NGK looks like...even though it looks somewhat OK, it is dead. The plug end is darker in the picture than real life, center electrode was actually a tan color...the silver stuff on two of the side straps is thread anti-sieze goop I got on it when I was removing and handling the plug getting it out after it wouldn't start after being cleaned.



FYI for the folks trying to get a car started and it won't crank "but the plugs look alright"...change them anyway...

Attached Thumbnails HELP!! Car won't start!!-dead-ngk.jpg  
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Old Mar 27, 2007 | 12:49 PM
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Atleast it was a easy fix.
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Old Mar 27, 2007 | 07:37 PM
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From: worcester, mass
this happened to me theother day, except my plugs were black
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Old Mar 27, 2007 | 08:16 PM
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I would definitely call that a dead plug...

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Old Mar 27, 2007 | 08:23 PM
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'Nothing like a rotary'
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From: worcester, mass
yeah, good thing i keep spares around lol, but then again when you own a rx7 you need to have spare stuff around
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Old Mar 28, 2007 | 09:25 AM
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From: So. Arlington, TX!!!
The dreaded real test was this morning...previously when it had not started, I did the clean up routine on the plugs and chambers at night and then let it "air dry" for the night. I put the plugs in first thing in the morning, soaked the air filter with carb ctart and went at it....it would not start even then....I called into work to get the day off and then shoved the beast into the garage.

I then changed the plugs with my back up NGK set after breakfast, letting the battery charge the whole time I did that and read the paper. I shot the air filter again with carb start and tried again....30 seconds of solid fast spinning and then it finally lit up. I bopped the revs to 3500 and kept it there for 3 minutes so the whole neighborhood could enjoy a mosquito-free environment for a while. Once I had it running, I Sea Foam'd the heck out of it, took it for a hard drive after it warmed up and then parked it for the afternoon. A couple of hours later, it started with no problems to go get the kid from day care. The it got parked for the night.

After that previous day's experience, this morning was approached with a bit of fear. But, no worries, the beast started right up easily and we were on our way.

Change those plugs even if they look "OK", if you find you can't get your own beast started after following the de-flooding procedures.

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Old Mar 28, 2007 | 11:40 AM
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That sorta happend to me a few years ago. The plugs looked good so I kept trying other things until I eliminated everything except the plugs. It turned out they had some tiny cracks in the porcelain.
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Old Mar 28, 2007 | 12:13 PM
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From: st. george UT
thats why i have 28 spark plugs about half brand new and rest used once or twice.
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Old Mar 28, 2007 | 07:58 PM
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From: worcester, mass
i love how you said mosquito free enviroment, lol, thats awesome!!
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