Bigmotoxer

Car has been sitting for awhile so I changed the fuel filter, fuel pump, dropped tank and cleaned it, changed plugs, wires, rotor and cap, checked every vacuum/rubber line that I can find to make sure they're good so they'll be no leaks. Well I crank the car w/choke on, when the guage starts reading normal temps I turn off choke and car dies instantly. Does anyone know where I should start on this one?

Also while car is running(about 15 seconds after I crank it)the "add coolant" light comes on along w/that ANNOYING buzzer/alarm...I'm wondering if that's not the water pump or a sensor somewhere? To top it off if I leave the choke on the temps seemed to keep rising but water in radiator is still cool(I shut it off though before it came too close to the "H")...And yes I already changed the thermostat a few days ago.

Help me my brothers, I am trying not to get

Rx-7Doctor

iTrader: (13)

Welcome to the forum.
Looks like you have taken the right direction diagnosis wise.
Possible that you have a plugged idle circuit in the carb. Other factors are still a big vacuum leak. Take the air cleaner off and run the motor, see if you can hear a real annoying honking sound.
Will the motor take throttle without dying?
On the coolant warning light, either you are low on coolant or the wire is broken that goes to the sender.

Bigmotoxer

No honking sound, between this forum and others I've heard alot about the honking noise, I almost wish that I would hear it, at least I would know what's up.

Yes the motor runs good(72,000 original miles and very sound car), I can rev very well and smoothly through the RPM ranges...*update* Since my first post I noticed that if I keep the throttle up to 1500-2000 RPM before turning off the choke it will stay running fine(will only shut off when I turn choke off when running at idle speed)and rev through the RPM ranges smoothly..it will stay running and then only shut off if I let the RPM's drop below 1300-1500 RPM...if I turn the choke back on real quick it will then idle(below 1300-1500 RPM).

What's weird about the coolant thing is that the engine will heat and heat to the point of over heating if I don't shut the engine down first...all while the coolant in the radiator is cool to the touch but still will squirt water out when I remove cap as if it was hot water...but it's not.
So I can deal w/the "add coolant" light(if a wire was broken or something) but not w/the hot engine and cold radiator...Tomorrow I'm gonna take out the thermostat just to make sure it's not a defective NEW thermostat to make sure water is flowing good.
Through process of elimination I will figure out the coolant thing I believe, but the carb/vacuum/idle/choke thing has me pissed off. I'm all ears DOC

Rx-7Doctor

iTrader: (13)

Before the car sat, was there any running issues?

HIM_Tattoos

The running issue is the same as I have and my thought is it's a vacuum leak, thats also what I've been told by many people. Check them hoses!!

Bigmotoxer

None ...other than the fact that it was just a little bit slower than all the other 85 GS models on the road but that was due to my mom and dad getting too large(fat) to drive it...that's why it sat, they bought a larger automobile

Rx-7Doctor

iTrader: (13)

Check to make sure that the afterburner hose, The one that goes from the back area of the intake manifold(large diameter hose) is still connected. Everthing is still pointing to a hose. Have you verified that you have spark to the leading plugs?

fluffysheap

You can't run a rotary engine with no thermostat, you have to have a good one in there. If you really want to test the thermostat put it in a pan of hot water and see if it opens... but I'm pretty sure it is bad, thats the most likely reason you'd have cold water in the radiator.

Bigmotoxer

I've checked ever line on the car that's what puzzles me...I ordered all new silicone lines a couple days ago just to be sure, they should arrive tomorrow or the next day but I'm still convinced that it's something to do w/the carb(airjet or something) or one of it valves I just don't know what valve does what. What is the little black plastic valve thing on the drivers-rear of the carb(hooked to the carb)w/the "L" shaped rod hanging down?
I took that off at one point(well I've had just about everything off)but as I re-installed it it doesn't seem to touch or work in conjunction w/anything?
I build 2-stroke race engines but I'm no rotory man...yet.
I was suppose to have a shop manual last week but my dad now says he hasn't found it yet so I'll be off to find a good one before the weekend hopefully. I'm the guy that fixes everyone elses bikes at the track and builds up their race bikes but I'm whipped on this one...maybe it is the vacuum as you say and I'm sure I'll find it soon but I was thinking maybe you vets might add your knowledge and point out something obvious that wasn't so obvious to me.

Bigmotoxer

I agree, that is the most likely reason the have cool water in rad while having a really hot engine, but see as I mentioned I just installed this brand new thermostat like yesterday. So I know I shouldn't run the RX7 w/out a thermostat but it would be an awesome way to see if water is flowing from/to/through engine/waterpump/Radiator...for troubleshooting purposes only... that would let me know right there if it was a bad thermostat w/out using a pot/pan of hot water.
Don't get me wrong thank you for your input, I need all I can get brother.

trochoid

iTrader: (6)

I posted here earlier, the white screen of death ate my homework, lol.

How long did the car sit before you started it up? Good chance the carb needs gone through due to varnish build up. You might try a can of Seafoam 1st before you pull the carb off and rebuild it. Same for the cooling system, when they sit for extended periods of time, they tend to corrode and plug. Try a godd quality flush and fill 1st, if that doesn't solve the cooling/overheating issue, send the radiator out and have it rodded out.

Does the upper rad hose heat up? If not, the thermostat may not be working or perhaps even upside down, been known to happen. DO NOT ignore the low coolant warning. Make sure the rad is topped off. The next option is to check the water pump and belt tensions.

Bigmotoxer

Afterburner hose...it goes from the back of the intake...then where does it go? And I will check that tomorrow first thing(I'm making notes as we speak).
I have not actually checked to see if I'm getting spark to the lead plugs(which would be on top right? I did replace all plugs/wires/dist cap but didn't verify spark..it ran so smooth(except for the low idle when the choke is off thing)that I just knew I had a good spark.
And my aftermarket coils will be here also tomorrow or the next day.

fluffysheap

I understood what you meant, I advised against it because it won't work, the thermostat when open actually directs the water into the radiator, if you don't have it the water in the radiator still might not get hot so it won't prove anything. I'd rather just boil water and look at the thermostat than wonder if the car needed to run just a minute longer to prove my theory, anyway.

The other possibility is a very plugged up radiator so testing the thermostat explicitly is a good idea. If it's plugged radiator maybe your old thermostat worked too!

Bigmotoxer

Actually I just bought a complete carb rebuild kit(accelerator pump was hard as a rock)just because this car had sat for a few years and I recently rebuilt the carb just for this reason...I know that some bikes using some types of gas can sit for as little as 6-8 weeks and it'll need carb disassemble/reassemble. Carb was time consuming but very easy to rebuild..I found 2 jets completely plugged so I'm glad I rebuilt it.
Yep I just installed a new thermostat, not up-side down
Top rad hose does not heat up.
I've got a new water pump in my truck...will be installing tomorrow.
I also have a jug of Prestone excellerated rad flush on my truck but wanted to get water flow first or the flush will do nothing.
I do need new belts though.(although the pump pully is turning).

Rx-7Doctor

iTrader: (13)

[QUOTE=fluffysheap]I understood what you meant, I advised against it because it won't work, the thermostat when open actually directs the water into the radiator, if you don't have it the water in the radiator still might not get hot so it won't prove anything. I'd rather just boil water and look at the thermostat than wonder if the car needed to run just a minute longer to prove my theory, anyway.

Let me educate all on the function of the T-stat. The t-stat stays closed untill it reaches a pre-set temp, at that time it begins to open and at it's set temp it completley opens. What that does it create a vacuum which pulls water in from the bottom hose to recirculate thru the motor and expels the hot water out the top hose.

Running the engine without the T-stat is not recommended but can be done at will not hurt anything for test purposes. Normally during cold temps without a T-Stat will cause the following. No heater and the engine will run too cold. Meaning that the water will not stay long enough in the block to heat up therfore there will be no hot water to run the heater function. I have never seen in any car whether it be Rotary or piston overheat without a T-stat in winter months with outside cold temps.

Now what it can and will do in hotter or warm temps without a T-stat. Mainly in stop and go or under hard loads the motor will overheat. The reason being is that there is hot or warm air going across the radiator and the coolant is also picking up the heat generated by the motor. This keeps the heat building up with no way of bringing it down. So at that time what the t-stat does is allow the coolant to stay in the motor untill it's preset temp while the water that is stored in the radiator has had time to cool down. So when it opens the lower temp coolant from the radiator is lower than the block temp and is able to cool the motor back down before it raises again.

Bigmotoxer

I don't know if my old thermostat was good or not, I just replaced it.
I will remove the theremo tomorrow, while it's out I can boil my thermo, I think my wife has a turkey thermometer(for cooking) I would like to be sure what temp it opens.
Now, the rad might be the problem, it could have so much calcium and **** in the bottom of it that it just won't flow so you're right, thanks.
I wish I knew why the bastard won't idle...I'll take DOC's advice too and check fire to leading plugs, check afterburner hose, ect.

Bigmotoxer

So Doc you mentioned plugged idle circuit in the carb...you think? I hope not, I don't wanna tear that thing down again...I did find a couple jets plugged and I "know" the carb is right now, or I used too...Now I "think" the carb is right *laughter*...Seriously though I took my time, very meticulous when it comes to carbs, it's like heart surgery.
And yes I'll replace all lines when my new ones come in.
That after burner hose? you said is large diameter? I'll examine it the best I can...do you think it might be worn through somewhere or more commonly leaking(if it is infact leaking)where it connects?

trochoid

iTrader: (6)

Just a heads up if you want any more help. Using this smiley, , is a quick way to **** me off and and move you to the ignore list. I find that particular smiley insulting and don't care to be told **** you when offering help. I stated that installing a thermostat upside down has been known to happen, done it myself more than once.

85rotarypower

Your idle issues are probably related to a vacuum leak at a gasket. Have you replaced the intake manifold gasket? If not I think thats your first course of action. I had a real bad vacuum leak on my car that caused it to only run on 1 rotor. Turned out the gasket I made didn't seal properly around the primary port on the front rotor.

Bigmotoxer

Well maybe this forum is different from motocross forums and other forums I've been members to this little dude is smilin', like joking around.and yes a thermostat can be put in upside down I was trying to joke and say "how embarassing it would be to come to a forum, start a thread about a screwed up coolant system just to find out that I put the T-stat in upside down".
, now this guy really means what he's saying...I would never send this to someone unless I was pissed off...Jesus Christ bro! your friends don't ever say "**** you" in a joking way....my friends, and co-workers do every day!
Well hope you understand I do appreciate your input and I hope to share info again in the future

Bigmotoxer

Oh man I really hope you're wrong...that would suck. Well at this point I don't care what it takes I gotta fix it...I'm working on it as we speak. Thanks

Rx-7Doctor

iTrader: (13)

The difference here is that this is a internet. The key word you stated was "Friends". Friends are those you know over a period of time and even then some you learn not to joke the same way as others. Trochoid as I and others are from a different Era. Words such as Dude,Bro, Man as well as others just are not really part of our vocabulary. Trochoid is just giving you the heads up on his feelings about the subject.

trochoid

iTrader: (6)

No problem then. Somedays it's hard to gauge a new member's sense of humor/anger, they can be easily mistaken for one another. The FU smileys are a pet peeve of mine and don't care for them, red or gren.

Bigmotoxer

Everyone is so sensitive, WTF! A different Era? You must be pretty old then...I was born in 1970(have 3 kids one of which is 16 y/o, own my own t-shirt line, an electrical company w/6 employees and have 2 informational DVD's that make more $$$ than both combined. I say dude and bro because that's who I am, that's what us MX guys say I guess...it's maybe habit or geographical location I dunno dude. It is what it is.
I thank you guys for taking the opportunity to give me hell about and about me using the term dude, bro, ect as if it would make me less of a person if I WAS from a different Era... that your Era would be better than mine and more proper and sofisticated. What is this a lesson on ethics, preference, and political correctness and the lesson on what "friends" are and the different degrees of friends and how carefully we should all tread? I see ya'lls large amounts of posts, you're vets of this board so I'll bow and take my punishment, thank you. Thanks for the RX7 help and I'm sorry if I have offended anyone.
now this is offensive!

Bigmotoxer