Okay, i've recently become the owner of a 86 GXL, i got the tub for 200 bucks, needed new clutch, brake work, minor stuff.. i got it fixed and running, but the interior is still in sad shape, SOooo the other day i spent ~8 hours putting in a cd player, getting all the lights to work (dash, storage bin, etc)... At one point, i started the car for a few minutes, so i wouldn't completely kill the battery. I guess i didn't have it on long enough, because that night, after i finished up, i tried to start it, and it doesn't work.. engine is turning, but it's not turning OVER... After checking all of the wiring that i've just redone, (the guy who had it before me butchered the wiring), and trying to jump it from another car (i thought maybe the battery was low), it still doesn't start.. fast forward to now.. I've read the forums, i've tried the easy unflooding method (pull the ecu), tried the dirty unflooding method (pull the plugs, get new plugs), i've tried to pull the connector to the fuel pump (before i bother to install a switch).. . and it still won't start! my only question about the pulling the conncetion to the fuel pump is how long you should crank it w/o the fuel pump? I haven't tried push-starting it yet, (about to after i finish writing this).. Sorry about the novel, but i want to give the whole story about what I tried. Thank you for any advice you can offer.

-Wonko The Sane

 

Assuming it is flooded, you should turn the car over until it starts. Then it will die, plug the fuel pump back in and it should start.
But, as much as you have done, it makes me wonder if it is flooded or maybe something else.
When you pulled the plugs were they wet?
hanman

 

yeah, they were pretty wet... IT's odd, because the symptoms are flooding, but it's so hard to start, that it makes me think something else, however, it was running perfectly fine a few hours before it wouldn't start...

PS - Push starting it didn't work, but i don't have any hills, so we were pushing it flat...

 

hmm.. .it doesn't want to turn over, no matter how long i crank her... Any ideas what the "Maybe something else" could be?

 

I read your post again and you said you pulled the "ECU"....did you mean the EGI INJ fuse?

 

yeah, just the fuse, sorry I haven't gotten ambitious enough to pull the ECU yet... . although if it keeps tickin me off.....

 

Can you pull it behind another car?

 

that's what we were thinking of, do you think it would work? we were going to do it t/w, possibly, when light is on our side....

 

I've had to do it b4 to get my 85 started.

 

Well, sounds as good a plan as any We'll have to give it a go.. thanks!

 

You've probably already done this, but it's worth my checking...

You said you pulled the plugs and got new ones, but did you crank the engine over with the plugs out? (probably for a good 30 seconds if it's really flooded). Keep the EGI fuse out when you do that too. I did this to my car with my friend when it was really badly flooded, and it started up on the 1st try when we put the <old> plugs back in.

Sorry if you've already done that, just thought i'd check!
Andrew

 

Andrew,
yeah, we already did that.. . i only cranked it for 20 seconds, (as per rx7.com/tech's instructions), but i did it until I didn't see any great amounts fuel fly out I think t/w i'm going to try JimmyV13's idea and tow it until it starts Thanks

 

I had the exact same symptoms as you.

Pull start it behind another car. Put the car in second and pop the clutch. Did it start up and smoke?

I did that but after a day or two of not starting it again, it did the same thing. My car would turn over though, it just wouldn't start.

So I cut off the fuel, via fuel cut switch, let it sit for a couple of days, and It started up great the next time.

Don't know if it will work for you but give it a try.

 

flooded, put a small amount of atf in each of the trailing plug holes to restor compression. just a small amount, then install a kill switch to the fuel pump so it doesn't happen again

 

Wonko the Sane!

 

wonko,
Get your *** outta bed and get you car runnin'!!!!!!

 

haha I'm bein lazy today well, not really... my parents took their car somewhere (who's tow hook i was going to leech off of), and i really don't want to trust my 13 year old sister to drive the van w/ my rex behind it The car will be pulled today, though

 

IT WORKS!!!! THE REX WILL LIVE AGAIN!!! MUWAHAHAHA I just towed it and it started like nothing was wrong. Thank you guys for ALL Of your help! right now i'm running out the door to buy a kill switch to wire up the fuel pump shut-off as-per J-Rat's instructions (Good read w/ pics here> https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showth...t=fuel+cut+off , for anyone who is having the same problem). One last quick question for this thread, Does anyone know where to get cheap parts for the rx7? I mean, little stuff like i need a driver side door handle, some plastic interior stuff, and none of the junk yards here in middle-o-nowhere pa has even heard of a rotory... thanks again!

 

The Parts Trader

There are others, but this one is my favorite.

 

Sweet, thanks again