Could this be the cause of a dead battery...cause it DOES take a bit to crank.
Or is it a vacuum leak?

The motor is fine. Good compression on both rotors. Any ideas?

 

If the battery was dead, it wouldn't start at all. I would say vacuum leak.

 

more detail on the condition

 

If you have a dead battery switch it with the one that your are jumping it with. Once it starts; if it dies you need to check your error codes.(possible afm or other isues.).
If it stays running you prob. have a bad alt. Have it checked.

 

I keep thinking it could possibly be a vacuum leak but i cant seem to pinpoint the leak.

 

Do you have to keep pressing the gas to keep the idle alive?

 

is the syptom like the one in this thread https://www.rx7club.com/2nd-generation-specific-1986-1992-17/%7E%7E%7E%7E%7Erevs-3-000-shuts-off-681243/ then its the AFM but if you could help it idle by usuing the gas paddle then its a VAC leak.

 

i can keep it alive by pressing the gas pedal. so im assuming its a vac leak

 

Is there a vac leak thats more common than others?

 

ok so i get it started. and have to hold the gas to keep it alive. as soon as i let go it dies...could it be the tps? either way im taking my alternator to work and having it checked.

 

Check your intake.

 

The alternator is not your problem...neither is the battery.

The car uses the battery to start only, then the alt takes over. You could unplug the battery once the car is running and it woudn't die.

You have a vac leak.

Get in your car, start it up and keep it barely alive while a friend listen for a leak in the engine bay. Dont rev it up to high or you wont here the leak. If you cant hear it, get a torch, turn up te gas BUT DONT LIGHT IT and get it close to everywhere where you could have a vac leak. If you get close the engine will burp since its breathing propane.

 

Vac Leak. check the one on the intake pipe. the big one that runs to the BAC