OK so I went to start the Bridgeported SE yesterday, and it was a no go. there was a small fuel leak on the carburetor's fuel bowls, but hopefully I fixed that with a new set of o-rings, but back to the problem at hand: I crank it and it turns over but doesn't fire. I know the carb is working properly, because I just rebuilt it this past weekend. I took one spark plug out (only one loose enough to get out by hand-I need a new deep socket for the other ones) and it was black. What does that mean and could it have an impact on why the car isn't starting? The battery is dead so I am trying to jump it off of my Protege 5, which powers the battery up nice but the car doesn't actually START! Like I said, the engine turns over and over and over, but doesn't catch for some reason. I just need it to start (not drive yet) so i can be assured that it's going to run for me when I am done. Any advice would be appreciated! Thanks!

Leo

http://gslsepa.tripod.com/rx7/rx7.html

 

Seems to be flooding. Allow it to unflood, and use less gas pedal to start the car.

 

I am not using the gas pedal to start the car at all. It had sat for about 6 months before I tried to start it yesterday...

 

black plugs usually mean you are running too rich

 

Why was there a spark plug loose enough to get out by hand before you were trying to start it?

~T.J.

 

there just was...it wasnt "loose" it was just "looser" so nobody has any ideas?

 

clean the plugs with brake cleaner and toothbrush

check for spark

check there is fuel in the carb's float bowls

was distributor installed properly?

 

I am pretty sure there is fuel in the float bowls. I don't know how the distributor should be installed but I assume it's on right because it was started back a few months ago, and it hasn't been taken off since then.

 

Actually, shouldn't there only be fuel in the float bowls when the car is running? Are there any steps I should take to starting it as if it were the first time? I have VERY LITTLE experience with carbs, so do I need to do anything special? One more thing: would FC plugs work in the SE? I have a set of GTU plugs laying around. Thanks for all your help!

 

Make sure your plugs are really tight because it could be losing compression through the loose plug (happened to me before, I forgot to tighten it fully) and not start.
What about Pull starting it? Pull the car with another one and put it in gear....Its worked for me when My SE was completly flooded with a dead battery...May take some time, but it works!!

 

DO NOT over tighten the plugs though...

~T.J.