matthewpims

Ok guyz, my car as you probly remember has an intermittant starting problem (84 se). I resistance checked both coils and all wires and they all came back good, the rotor cap, button, etc was replaced about 2 months ago. I checked the ign timing and when the vacuum advance off the timing is right dead on. It also has brand new NKG 4 prong plugs. So I went though and tried to track down the problem when that no start occures. I have fuel, too much almost as it seems, I have compression, how much im not sure but its loud when it comes out of the plug holes. I also have spark however the spark looks weak and orange comming off the coil wire. I think perhaps that unless the engine is intermittantly flooding out that some part of the ign is heat soaking and going away, like perhaps the coils or the coil pickups or maybe the igniters, I dont know how to test the igniters so I dont know if there bad... now what do you guyz think im running out of time and patience, and as of today my car developed an intermittant miss at idle, its enough to make the needle on a vacuum gauge bounce, so I dunno. It doesnt consume any antifreeze except what leaks on the ground from the sending unit, lol no bubbles, and no extream oil use, so im at a loss here. any ideas would be helpful thx

French RX7

Just a guess here, these are the answers people onthis forum gave me when I had that problem:

- leaky injectors (??)
- weak ignition coil (did you check their resistance?)
- weak igniters (the test procedure is in the Haynes
manual (If you don't have one, say it in your next post
and I'll tell you how)

My problem was right underneath the distributor rotor, lots of corrosion on a bunch of parts that I have no idea what they're called, and also the ignitor connections. They caused the same symptoms you described, except that mine DOES consume antifreeze!

matthewpims

I have a haynes manual, thats how I resistance checked the coils, but I didnt catch where it said how to check the igniters. The coils checked ok but the spark looks very weak. thx for your help

Wankelguy

Is your alternator charging your battery properly?
Also, I'd check the ground connections for any corrosion that could cause high resistance in the system.

Metallic_rock

hmm... you didn't mention getting new wires... did you do that? it might help.

French RX7

Check the igniters using the procedure on page 283 (fig. 13.136)in the Haynes. The test lamp used must be less than 10 watts. You might also want to check the air gap in the distributor (fig. 13.135), but I don't know if it would cause the problems you're describing.

Let us know if your igniters check OK.

matthewpims

thx for your imput guyz, next nice day I get ill go through it and see whats up, the wires are new, they were replaced a few months ago with the cap and rotors. Im fairly certin that if the problem does lie in the ign system somewhere its either the coils or the igniters. The problem may also be in the warm start assist system, but thats yet to be seen. anyway ill keep ya posted thx again