Jbar3987

I'd like to start this off saying I have read all I could find on this forum about no start problems and none of them seem to fit my situation.

I currently have a 84 GSL with a stock carb on it. I have replaced all the plugs/wires/rotor/distributer cap and it is still hard to start when it is cold out and or raining. I have narrowed down my idea as to the cause of the problem to either needing a carb tuning/rebuild or an engine compression problem.

I bought the car at the beginning of summer and had a bit of trouble starting it in the mornings, but once it got running it would start all day without any trouble.

The car is stock other than a new mindtrain street legal exhaust and a k&n high flow air filter.

I was wondering what you all would suggest as my problem and where to look first.

Thx for the help.

BMS2004

silly question for ya but have you checked to make sure that the choke is functioning properly? rotaries are very very cold blooded, my car has no choke so i just has to pump the hell out of the throttle and crank and continue to pump and modulate throttle till she warms up.

Kentetsu

Have you checked your timing? I would also look for any vacuum leaks. Good luck.

DBOGGSRX7

Check you ignition coil and dizzy cap. If you havent done the MMO treatment to her yet, you would be surprised how easy it start afterwards. Not starting during rain usually indicates a leaking ignition cable or dizzy cap.

dennis

Jbar3987

The choke works (pulls itself in to adjust).

The timing was already checked, I was told that it was off 5 degrees but when I checked it manually it only looked off 2 degrees but it was off nonetheless

But i haven't checked the coil or dizzy cap. so i'll check those next.

Thx guys.

Jbar3987

Ok I have already had the distributor cap replaced, less that 3 months ago (I just completely forgot about that).

so that leaves the cable.

any other ideas as to what it could be?

Myc1972

This might sound totaly crazy but have you considered it might be the fuel pump?

I have a similar problem. Mine has trouble starting the first time in the day but after that it starts easy.

One way you can check is to see if it starts easier when the gas tank is close to full.
If it does it could be your gas pump.

Hope this helps you out.
Let us know.

Myc1972

Jbar3987

It could be, but the previous owner had it replaced a few years back, but its possible that he might have put in a low grade pump.

I'll look into that one, I have the receipt he gave me somewhere....

Bob Holton

I pull the choke, pump three times and say GO DAMMIT and away we go.

Myc1972

I have not changed mine yet, but that is what i will be doing in the spring.
By what i have seen, in my case i think that is what might be wrong.

BMS2004

i don't think fuel pump is the problem. i don't think it would just go away once warm if that was the case. the only reason that would be reasonable is if your float bowls drain after sitting for awhile and it takes longer to fill them up.

BMS2004

in the morning when you go to start it look at your fuel sight window and see if they're empty or not.

EDIT: also if you spray starting fluid into carb and crank does it fire right up?

Rx7carl

Hows your battery and cranking speed? Rotaries need a good battery and starter. If its crankin kinda slow, then thats gonna be hard to start. Also check your batt cables and connections. At the starter, battery, and grounds. This subject will repeat itself at least 10 times as the weather gets colder I bet.

Jbar3987

i'll try that, but i think it did last time.

Jbar3987

Even with the battery fully charged, or being jumped it doesn't fire up easily at all.

the starter works fine. I replaced the one that was in it when I bought it, because it was dead from trying to start the car.

Also, its been doing this even before the weather got colder, (in the mornings in the summer) not just now that it got cold.

Rx7carl

Doesnt sound like a fuel pump. Remove the top of the air filter box. Look down into the center of the carb and have someone operate the gas pedal. You should see 2 small streams of fuel from the accel pump squirter shooting down in the center of the carb. Also look into the barrels to make sure they arent filling up with fuel.

Jbar3987

I'll check into that one as well, but i believe the carb is pretty well cleaned out (used full can of Gumount carb cleaner).

The car isn't readily accessible to me at this point because it didn't want to start last night when i went to pick it up from the school automotive center ...

It's also getting the compression checked on saturday at a mazda dealership...

Latin270

coils?

Jbar3987

Im going to check the coil probably some time next week once I get her back from the compression check...

Thx for all the help ill keep you all posted!

Jbar3987

Well I got the report back from the garage.

*drumroll*

The compression is "excellent"!!!

The mechanic also said that the problem lie either with the fuel pump, regulator, or the carb itself (my guess, since the pump is 2-3 years new...).

Anything else I might be missing??

Bob Holton

Filter

Bob Holton

Always change the filter, I change mine with each oil change, the cheap throwaway kind. gas line filter that is. yuk yuk.

Jbar3987

I will check that too once I pick her up this weekend.

*adds to list*

Thanks a lot!

Myc1972

Am happy you are getting closer to the solution.

This thread is very important because it is one of those things
that baffles some of us.

...and I am one of those people that can certainly use your findings.

Thanx...and keep us informed.


Myc1972

Kentetsu

If the car starts hard when its raining out, that would indicate an ignition leak somewhere. Try running the engine in the dark, and watch for sparks jumping around the dizzy, coils, plugs, and all wires. Also, listen for that "ticking" sound that usually goes with a leak. Maybe you'll get lucky and it will run like a charm when you get it back from the garage, but just in case......