my friend has an 80 rx7 carbed that we are having the hardest time trying to start. It cranks, but it doesn't want to start. Some guy said that he doesn't have spark. What is the way to tell if you have spark or not? Just take out the plug and hold the plug by the wire and bring it close to the chassis? We sprayed carb cleaner in the carb to get it to start atleast and my friend says he smells gas so I'm not sure what to do. Any suggestions?

 

what is some history of the car...?? was it jsut bought or somthing?

might want to check the compression? check the plugs for spark..i cant imagin a vac leak causing it to not start..so....maybe just those first two and report back

 

Have somebody you dont like hold the wire. If they jump through their own *******, you've got spark. If not, well...

If your friend smells gas, there's a good chance it's flooded. Hold the throttle when you smell gas, don't pump.

If you've got spark, and you've got gas, first make sure you don't have a stuck float overflowing into the secondaries. Look down the carb (make sure your friend doesn't try to start it while you're looking). If you see gas in the secondaries, use your Lucas Adjustment Tool (aka big screwdriver or a wrench) to tap on the float bowls. Wait a little while and check if it's still overflowing.

PS - I'm an *******.

 

From what I gather. The car worked and for some reason or another it didn't. So my friend bought the car a while ago and it sat until he met me. When doing a compression check, do you only have to incert it into 1 spark plug? I don't know jack about rotary engines. Also, how do I check for spark? Just like I said in the previous post?

 

i think you just take it out and hold it to the strut tower....

what about a clogged cat??

 

Your answer:

 

Lol christaylor. When I looked down the secondaries (secondaries are the ones with the choak leaver on it right?) I didn't see gas. I'll have my friend hold the plug wire with the spark plug in it to the shock tower. I seriously doubt the cloged cat would effect it that much. I'll take that into consideration though. I'll check the car out tomarrow and see what the verdict is. Anyone else? Thanks guys!

 

Unflood it;

1. Take about three ounces of Marvel Mystery Oil and dump it straight down the primary opening of the carb (the one with the choke valve).
2. Hold the pedal to the floor and crank it until it starts. If it doesn't start, then begin looking into other potential problems.
3. Get a new set of plugs, because your original ones are most likely screwed by now.
4. Change your oil, now not later. Flooding a rotary contaminates the oil, so its no good now. Don't drive it around much before changing it.



As far as checking for spark; remove one of the lower plugs and reconnect the wire to it. Then lay in on the strut tower and crank it while watching for spark. Hope this helps...

 

Helps alot. There are new spark plugs and an oil change in there. I'll remove the plug and see what it looks like when testing for spark. Now i know what the secondaries are and will look in them for gas. Any other options? Thanks a bunch guys!!!

 

Mine does the same thing the first time i start her up in the morning. usually just spray a lil starter fluid and she starts right up. Dont have a problem the rest of the day.