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

And For My Next Trick...

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Old Oct 21, 2003 | 02:45 AM
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Angry And For My Next Trick...

I will manage to get more than one of the FIVE RX-7s I own running...

Well, my 85 GSL wouldnt start this morning. I tried starting it, un-flooding it, cleaning spark plugs and everything else until the battery was dead. I charged the battery and tried again. No sputters, nothing. Compresssion still sounds good, and it ran great the night before. So tonight I waited for my friend so we could jump start it. That didnt work. We tried push starting it. That didnt work. Hell, we pulled it around the damn neighborhood, that STILL didnt work.

Basically as of now I have an 83 GSL that used to be awesome, but it lost compression on the rear rotor and got stolen and now doesnt run and is stripped of parts. I have an 84 GS that used to run, but the engine got put in the 83 and is now a parts car. I have an 85 GSL-SE, but my Dad drives it. Its the only one that runs. I have ANOTHER 85 GSL-SE, but it has no compression on the rear rotor also. I have an 85 GSL, but I just told you that its dead now.

So, now Im faced with a dilemma of getting to work in the morning with no car and no ride . Oh well, life can only get better right? I just feel like everytime I hit bottom, someone throws me a ******* shovel...

~T.J.

PS - I guess its ok cause at least I still have my beautiful girlfriend *knock on wood*
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Old Oct 21, 2003 | 03:04 AM
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until your next date is on the bus
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Old Oct 21, 2003 | 03:21 AM
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Good call bro, lol

~T.J.
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Old Oct 21, 2003 | 06:26 AM
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seems strange ,that it ran good only a few hours b4 and now wont start,,,,stupid question , but have you double checked all the hoses for a vacum leak,,,i had a terrible time trying to start my 85 one day, and i found the large hose on the left rear of carb was not on securely, and it started up great the next try,,,,,just a suggestion,,,,I wish you luck.....
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Old Oct 21, 2003 | 06:26 AM
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thats some bad luck there...

i'ld start selling half of em off for parts and building up urself a hella motor...

you figured out why it doesnt start yet?
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Old Oct 21, 2003 | 07:25 AM
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Check the basic stuff first, fuel and spark. Make sure the fuel pump is turning on, filter isn't clogged, you have spark, etc.... It can't be anything major if it just decides to not start one morning.

-Marques
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Old Oct 21, 2003 | 08:12 AM
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have you checked to see if it is getting spark? What about the fuel pump? Is it coming on?
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Old Oct 21, 2003 | 09:19 AM
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I always carry a can of starting fluid in my car. If it doesnt hit on the first try or two, I spray some in the intake so I can get it started b4 I kill the battery with futile cranking. $0.99 is good cheap insurance
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Old Oct 21, 2003 | 09:37 AM
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Originally posted by Rx7carl
I always carry a can of starting fluid in my car. If it doesnt hit on the first try or two, I spray some in the intake so I can get it started b4 I kill the battery with futile cranking. $0.99 is good cheap insurance
Never leave home without it!
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Old Oct 21, 2003 | 09:47 AM
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A car needs 3 things to run: compression, fuel and ignition. You already checked compression. Most non-start problems are ignition.

Make sure you have a spark. If not, check ignitors. If they're OK, check to make sure you got juice to them.

If spark is OK, squirt a little fuel (or starting fluid) in the carb and see if it fires. If so, you got a fuel feed problem.

B
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Old Oct 21, 2003 | 02:09 PM
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Did you pull a high tension wire off and check for spark? I'd say it's probably an ignitor.
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Old Oct 21, 2003 | 02:38 PM
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Yup. Most likely an ignitor. $200 at the dealer, $10 at the junkyard, $20 on ebay.

B
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Old Oct 21, 2003 | 09:36 PM
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Well, I thought ignitiors as well, but I was getting good spark off the wires, so that wasnt it (didnt have a socket to pull the plugs until today).

I pulled the plugs, and it turns out that they were Autolites (that we DID NOT put in, and almost didnt come out!! ), and the gap from the center electrode to the prong thingy was about 1/8" on all 4. No wonder it wouldnt start. The gap was HUGE because they had been burned back so far!! Anyway, my Dad picked me up from work tonight (he works a couple blocks up the street), and we stopped and bought some new NGK plugs (the ONLY plugs I buy). I put those in there, hooked up some jumper cables, and she fired right up. I set the idle at 2K with the choke, let it warm up and the choke shut off and it idle ROCK SOLID at 800 RPMs now. Its amazing what $24 can do .

~T.J.
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Old Oct 21, 2003 | 10:06 PM
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Good deal! So now you can give the shovel back, right?

My SE has done that on occasion. WILL NOT START NO MATTER WHAT! Check spark, check fuel, spray enough starter fluid to jump start California, pull the plugs, cuss, curse, pout, and hold my mouth just right. WILL NOT START! Give up. Try it the next day and the bitch fires on the first revolution! There's no understanding it... There's a ghost in the machine... for sure!
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Old Oct 21, 2003 | 10:28 PM
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Yeah, thats about what this was man... Weird aint it? I just chalked it up to the fact that my car didnt want me driving in the monsoon weather weve been having around here lately in the Seattle area. I think it was secretly saving me from an impending doom or something, lol. Oddly enough I had a dream last night that I rigged it up made it run, wrecked it, and ended up in the hospital badly injured. Then, today my horiscope said that I inadvertantly avoided a great loss yesterday or something like that... Weird eh?

*cue twilight zone music*

~T.J.
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Old Oct 22, 2003 | 12:31 AM
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I had a dream last night that Taliban worked for our government and so we held them on trial and then when we found them guilty they turned into aliens and then all the celebrities came out to see what is going on and Madonna (in 80's form and clothes) said "WE WELCOME YOU" and the aliens were really nice to her while they started pouring radiation all over the capital and then they took her and she said "YES I WANT TO LIVE WITH YOU" and they said "We need someone to crucify" and then i woke up. I think i have serious issues.

O yeah my car won't start whenever i wash the engine bay.

Zachstylez
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Old Oct 22, 2003 | 12:35 AM
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~T.J.

PS - Interesting how I can communicate without typing words...
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Old Oct 22, 2003 | 06:35 AM
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Old Oct 22, 2003 | 11:54 AM
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zookeeper,

nice looking car.

B
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Old Oct 22, 2003 | 11:55 AM
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I hope you put some anti-sieze on those plug threads.

B
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Old Oct 22, 2003 | 02:47 PM
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Originally posted by bliffle
zookeeper,

nice looking car.

B
Why... Thank you, sir! Compliments are always accepted...!
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Old Oct 22, 2003 | 03:37 PM
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Originally posted by rototiller
until your next date is on the bus
FUG that is funny. I relly needed a good laugh and that was it

Thanks

Good thing your fix was cheep and easy.

Hey RotorMotorDriver

How is the restoration of the '83 going?

It is too shitty what some **** Wads will do!!
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Old Oct 23, 2003 | 12:54 AM
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Meh its going ok. I just got my $100 -SE home tonight. Its gonna be the suspension donor .

~T.J.
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Old Oct 23, 2003 | 01:00 AM
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Originally posted by RotorMotorDriver
Meh its going ok. I just got my $100 -SE home tonight. Its gonna be the suspension donor .

~T.J.
Why don't you just fix up the SE?
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Old Oct 23, 2003 | 01:20 AM
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It has a blown rear rotor, and I have no money to drop into another engine. It does however have my favorite interior color scheme, the black and grey in great condition. The car also has front end damage (dented fender, header panel, bumper cover, hood), and horrible paint fade and peel.

I plan to take the interior out the of the -SE and put into the 85 GSL with the horrible maroon interior thats DESTRYOED. That will make that car "nice" again. Its a good runner with a straight body, the only thing holding it back is the interior.

The suspension is going under my 83 GSL, and the rear hatch will go to her too. Possibly the gas tank as well for the built in baffle and larger diameter lines to feed the turbo engine I will be putting in.

The rest of the -SE is up for grabs I suppose, minus the injectors and possibly the tranny and driveline.

After its all stripped, Im going to take it, as well as whats left over from my 84 GS parts car to the junk yard and get rid of them. I need to clean out some **** pretty bad. I cant have this many cars sitting around doing nothing. Im basically going back to just 3 FBs, but at least two will run and drive and be in good condition, and the third will be in the garage as a project. Much better than 2 parts cars, 2 broken cars, and one running and driving the way it is now, lol.

~T.J.

Last edited by RotorMotorDriver; Oct 23, 2003 at 01:22 AM.
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