Fuel524

84 gs i have read that rotories dont like being started cold but i as am sure alot of others have to wake up early where it tends to be colder out. but when i turn the key over it wil take about 10 maybe 15 seconds for her to fire up is this normal or should the rexo just fire right up? if not some suggestions on possible prob. thanx new to the scene!

red_blast

this is true... cold start is a regular problem with the 7s. it will take a several cranks on a cold morning to get her started (for me at least). i have to get up earlier than usual b/c of this. haha.
it is possible that you're starter is going bad. OR your battery is poo. check those out if it gets worse. hope that helps.
--lauren

Matty's first 1st Gen

My car used to take for ever to start, and reach a comfortable idle. I changed the starter, and battery, and new thicker grounds and alt wires. By far the biggest difference in starting ablility came from installing DLIDFIS. What a difference, And your in FL, try starting the rex up here in Canada. Not only does the car start faster, but also reaches a steady Idle much faster. In the morning, my car turns over for about 2 secs, with the choke, and fires right up. Give it a shot, and good luck

ray green

iTrader: (14)

DLIDFIS?? Matty, is that a french word? What is a DLIDFIS? Anyway, my all-stock 85 GSL starts right up (less than 3 seconds), even on cold mornings when we get below freezing here in northern Georgia. You want to have good plugs, recent ignition parts and a properly adjusted carb. But if the car is running well in the first place, it should start right up down there in Florida, even on the coldest mornings.
Ray

Tanjo

Mine starts up quick(even with my choke missing), but it takes a good 5 minutes of me nursing the throttle until it will idle on its own, and even then its rough. Not until i drive it for 10 minutes will it idle at 1100( ya, ya, I know, thats high.)

rx-7ames

iTrader: (1)

my car takes a few seconds to start on those cold mornings. it gets worse if i don't drive it every day. i have new plugs, wires, battery and alternator. maybe i could just use adjusting the carb a bit. oh well, isn't a real problem. i just can't wait until summer. the rex likes summer a lot better.

kettlman

iTrader: (2)

mine starts right up, but i do give it a pump befor i try. if you don't try that one or two pumps, then start.

Matty's first 1st Gen

DLIDFIS is an abreviation for Dual Leading Ignigtor Direct Fire Ignition System, basically it produces a hotter spark, using 3 coils instead of 2, do a search.

Aviator 902S

If you're more accustomed to driving cars with fuel injection (likely, because just about everything built after about 1995 is fuel-injected), then you'll notice the first thing about cars equipped with carburetors: When cold, they don't usually start on the first crank--- it takes about 3 cranks (approx 1 to 1-1/2 seconds) for it to fire up.

That's when everything is in proper working order--- if not, it'll take longer.

The 1st gen RX7s with carbs like to have a good strong battery to crank them over at a decent speed, even more so than otherwise inferior piston-engined contraptions equipped with carbs.

The problem with a weak, or old and sulphated battery is that it cranks fine on warm days but once overnight lows dip below about 25F (- 5C) the battery cranks slower. Combined with the very cold thick oil in the oil pan, this slows the cranking speed even more. In this case it may take at least 15 seconds of cranking to light up.

But in spite of that I'm able to get mine to start on mornings with temps as low as -10F (-25-ish C) without plugging in the block heater. (Canadian winters, eh?). That's because it's in top tune with a good battery. Even so, it takes about 15 seconds of cranking at those very low temps. Besides, start-up and warm-up when it's that cold without plugging in a block heater is VERY hard on ANY engine, not just rotaries.

The above post mentioning DFIS is right on the money. It is essentially a poor man's direct fire set-up, and allows for a much stronger spark at the plugs. This means that even at low cranking speeds the engine will catch much sooner. Some day I'll get around to doing this mod to my '85 GSL 12A.

cpt_gloval

iTrader: (1)

before i sold my '83 i did the following to get it going in 2-5 cranks:

- wedge funky choke open with nickel (perfect diameter)
- put key in on position, let fuel pump run a minute.
- tap the accelerator to the floor. twice. maybe 3 times.
- hit the starter
- as soon as it catches, give it another blip of gas
- watch it so it doesn't die while it warms up

181k mi on the car. started every time. wonder if it still starts as easy. the new owner is around here...

Jeff20B

iTrader: (13)

My Cosmo used to take a long time to start. Then the slow starter finally stopped cranking. I swapped it out and now the engine starts on the first or second crank (1 to 1.5 seconds) when cold. DLIDFIS is also under the hood.

Aviator 902S

Oh yeah, one thing I forgot to mention--- without DFIS, these engines are prone to flooding if you over-do it on the gas pedal prior to, or while cranking.

The post above claiming 2 or three full shots to the floor would be the exception to the rule. I've found that even one or 1-1/2 pumps could flood the beast on two of my pevious Series II 2st gens. Now I just hold the pedal 1/2-way down and crank. When the engine catches I introduce more fuel.

cpt_gloval

iTrader: (1)

well it did have a weak fuel pump

BIG J MIXALOT

mine first time

red_blast

the first crank of the day takes the longest, after that any time i crank her, she starts right up.

Junia

The first time I start the car in the morning I'll pump the gas about 3 or 4 times and turn the key and she starts up after about 2 cranks. After that I have play with the throttle to keep it going for a few minutes while it warms up and I'm good.

sa22c_Drifter

What do you need to install the "Dual Leading Ignigtor Direct Fire Ignition System". A third coil???....

Jeff20B

iTrader: (13)

Does your SA22C have points?

slashdawg00110

Look in the FAQ. There are links to DLIDFIS and 2nd Gen leading coil iginition mods. I forgot the multi-letter acronym for the 2nd gen mod.

snakes99

my car is fucked up, when its like -25 or so, i have to pump it like 15-20 times and then it will catch after about 2 cranks, but otherwise if i only pump it 2-3 times it will just crank and nothing will happen, but when its warmer, i only give it like 2 pumps and it starts, and in the summer i dont pump it at all and it starts right up. i dont know what thats all about, but it hasnt let me down yet.

sa22c_Drifter

Yeah man that sucks. Thank god it doesn't get that cold down here

Fuel524

wow that is alot of info. actually i am in WA now. but i noticed this morning with choke held all the way out it fires right up just have to hold it out then once goin push choke in till rpm dies 2 about 1500 then like red blast said im all good. eventually i will get dlidfs. thankx for all your help i am new to the rotary thing but i enjoy it.

KehoeAutomotive

I find that lots of older RX7's crank over kinda slow. Check you battery cables, if they are original replace them.