Car won't start after oil change.
09-23-12, 09:08 PM
#51
Mines a '91 N/A with only 99,000kms. I'll do that tomorrow since you're the second person to mention it. Unfortunately my dad wants me to stop trying to fix it myself since he thinks I'm incapable of anything. He'd rather have a dealership look at it and spend hundreds of dollars then try simple, cheap fixes.
I'll get some carb cleaner tomorrow since I wire-brushed them already to help clean them better and pick up some two stroke oil. I've got a three hour break between classes so it's my only chance. I really hope this works.
I'll get some carb cleaner tomorrow since I wire-brushed them already to help clean them better and pick up some two stroke oil. I've got a three hour break between classes so it's my only chance. I really hope this works.
09-23-12, 09:31 PM
#54
Karack is giving you good advice. The car sounds carbon locked. I'd clean the plugs you have the best you can, put some oil in the housings to help build compression, and pull start the car. It will smoke for several minutes burning off the oil, but it will run. Leave it running and steam clean the engine using the water fed through a vacuum line method (search for procedure). You will need to make sure you don't bog the car out doing it.
If you have a local Mazda dealer, I bet they have rx8 plugs on hand if you need new ones faster than the PayPal deal goes through. They will be be $20+ each though. The rx8 plugs work just fine in fcs.
If you have a local Mazda dealer, I bet they have rx8 plugs on hand if you need new ones faster than the PayPal deal goes through. They will be be $20+ each though. The rx8 plugs work just fine in fcs.
09-23-12, 09:36 PM
#55
Damn that's expensive as **** considering I'm getting my plugs and wires for 63 shipped.
One problem is the pull start. I don't have any friends in this town since I've only been here for less than two months. My girlfriend doesn't feel comfortable pulling my car in her Grand Prix and she doesn't drive stick so I wouldn't want her to try driving my car while I pull it.
I just don't see how a car running fine one second could be carbon locked the next.
I also read I have to change my oil after doing the water treatment. I'm not too sure I feel comfortable doing that
LOL.
One problem is the pull start. I don't have any friends in this town since I've only been here for less than two months. My girlfriend doesn't feel comfortable pulling my car in her Grand Prix and she doesn't drive stick so I wouldn't want her to try driving my car while I pull it.
I just don't see how a car running fine one second could be carbon locked the next.
I also read I have to change my oil after doing the water treatment. I'm not too sure I feel comfortable doing that
LOL.
Last edited by ryan2949; 09-23-12 at 09:47 PM.
09-23-12, 10:35 PM
#56
You don't need to get going too fast to PUSH start it.... I've done it myself on flat ground. Look out for that back tire though, it's closer to your foot than you think. Just get it going at a good jogging pace, jump in, clutch in, gear in first, key to on and pop the clutch and hope!
09-23-12, 11:13 PM
#57
You don't need to get going too fast to PUSH start it.... I've done it myself on flat ground. Look out for that back tire though, it's closer to your foot than you think. Just get it going at a good jogging pace, jump in, clutch in, gear in first, key to on and pop the clutch and hope!
I don't have the know-how to do any of these things. I'll just bring it in, get fucked up the *** by Mazda, probably be told I need a new engine, and then my dad will tell me tough luck and blame me for everything and I'll be without a car which means can't get to work(bus schedule here is useless) and my girlfriend will have to wake up hours early just to drive me to school. I also just bought a fuel filter and filled up the tank, there goes another hundred bucks... All of this happening on my 20th birthday when I was going to spend hundreds on new oils and fluids and finally work on my car for the first time. Just venting right now, don't mind me.
Last edited by ryan2949; 09-23-12 at 11:23 PM.
. It's all the way of owning an older car! Good luck on getting her back on the road!
09-24-12, 11:56 AM
#59
unfortunately almost everyone has a similar story or will have one at one point in time with these cars.
no matter what anyone tells you, a 25+ year old '86-95 rotary engine isn't going to last long before giving you grief. i get customers come in all the time with hacks to the cooling system to cover for internal leaks, the owners didn't even know they had a ticking timebomb and will leave them by the side of the road sooner than later. then you have the carbon locking issue which is totally random, luck of the draw, do not do short starts with the car and treat it well and it will be less prone to happen. then there is the turbo cars with old overworked fuel systems, begging to throw a seal out the exhaust each time they see positive intake manifold pressure. then there is the unforgiving 3 piece apex seals, that are usually worn to marginal levels beyond 150k miles and threatening to fall out of the rotor each time you start the engine.
you can have a reliable 7 but it requires either luck, resolve the issues that arise or start from scratch and just yank everything out of the engine bay and refresh it all. i started from scratch with a car that already had a blown motor, that is also how i learned everything i know about these cars.
having worked on thousands since, you can never underestimate the car or the engine or it will bite you in the *** the moment you think everything is fine. it's taken over 10 years to find the perfect combinations that work the best, many of which are not using the original configuration mazda used when the produced the cars.
no matter what anyone tells you, a 25+ year old '86-95 rotary engine isn't going to last long before giving you grief. i get customers come in all the time with hacks to the cooling system to cover for internal leaks, the owners didn't even know they had a ticking timebomb and will leave them by the side of the road sooner than later. then you have the carbon locking issue which is totally random, luck of the draw, do not do short starts with the car and treat it well and it will be less prone to happen. then there is the turbo cars with old overworked fuel systems, begging to throw a seal out the exhaust each time they see positive intake manifold pressure. then there is the unforgiving 3 piece apex seals, that are usually worn to marginal levels beyond 150k miles and threatening to fall out of the rotor each time you start the engine.
you can have a reliable 7 but it requires either luck, resolve the issues that arise or start from scratch and just yank everything out of the engine bay and refresh it all. i started from scratch with a car that already had a blown motor, that is also how i learned everything i know about these cars.
having worked on thousands since, you can never underestimate the car or the engine or it will bite you in the *** the moment you think everything is fine. it's taken over 10 years to find the perfect combinations that work the best, many of which are not using the original configuration mazda used when the produced the cars.
Last edited by RotaryEvolution; 09-24-12 at 12:05 PM.
09-24-12, 02:03 PM
#60
The car is at Mazda. I'm just getting them to check it out. I made sure they have worked on rotaries before and they even went to make sure with the mechanics so I hope it'll be fine. They're going to "diagnose" the problem then give me a call before they do anything expensive, aha.
I guess I'm used to owning my EK Civic which I treated like **** and didn't care about yet it still runs today after me putting on 100,000kms in my two years of ownership. I treat this car better by actually maintaining it, but as soon as I begin that maintenance something went wrong, aha. The oil was black and so was the clutch fluid (I changed that as well).
I guess I'm used to owning my EK Civic which I treated like **** and didn't care about yet it still runs today after me putting on 100,000kms in my two years of ownership. I treat this car better by actually maintaining it, but as soon as I begin that maintenance something went wrong, aha. The oil was black and so was the clutch fluid (I changed that as well).
09-24-12, 02:12 PM
#61
Hey, at least I can finally say my RX7 has been on a flatbed, considering it's common. It did look good on there as well. Looked like it was being displayed.
Just got a call back from Mazda. They said the car was flooded pretty bad and all the plugs were soaked so they cleaned up the plugs and then the plug wires were in the wrong order. Which doesn't make sense since the car didn't start before I even touched the plugs. Then when I removed the plugs I made sure the plugs were in the correct position as most of you helped with. Maybe I just got confused. They also changed the oil even though I had brand new oil in the car. They're charging 250+tax so a very expensive oil change. But whatever, it's running and that's all that matters.
It did look good on there as well. Looked like it was being displayed.Just got a call back from Mazda. They said the car was flooded pretty bad and all the plugs were soaked so they cleaned up the plugs and then the plug wires were in the wrong order. Which doesn't make sense since the car didn't start before I even touched the plugs. Then when I removed the plugs I made sure the plugs were in the correct position as most of you helped with. Maybe I just got confused. They also changed the oil even though I had brand new oil in the car. They're charging 250+tax so a very expensive oil change. But whatever, it's running and that's all that matters.
Last edited by ryan2949; 09-24-12 at 02:18 PM.
09-24-12, 02:19 PM
#62
09-24-12, 02:21 PM
#63
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Every time I think my S4 is all buttoned up and running good, something else takes a crap. Right now, I need oil cooler lines.
Looking forward to hearing how your car turns out.
09-24-12, 02:22 PM
#64
Hey, at least I can finally say my RX7 has been on a flatbed, considering it's common. It did look good on there as well. Looked like it was being displayed.
Just got a call back from Mazda. They said the car was flooded pretty bad and all the plugs were soaked so they cleaned up the plugs and then the plug wires were in the wrong order. Which doesn't make sense since the car didn't start before I even touched the plugs. Then when I removed the plugs I made sure the plugs were in the correct position as most of you helped with. Maybe I just got confused. They also changed the oil even though I had brand new oil in the car. They're charging 250+tax so a very expensive oil change. But whatever, it's running and that's all that matters.
It did look good on there as well. Looked like it was being displayed.Just got a call back from Mazda. They said the car was flooded pretty bad and all the plugs were soaked so they cleaned up the plugs and then the plug wires were in the wrong order. Which doesn't make sense since the car didn't start before I even touched the plugs. Then when I removed the plugs I made sure the plugs were in the correct position as most of you helped with. Maybe I just got confused. They also changed the oil even though I had brand new oil in the car. They're charging 250+tax so a very expensive oil change. But whatever, it's running and that's all that matters.
But that was a very expensive 4 kms. LOL. 70 bucks to get it towed
Last edited by ryan2949; 09-24-12 at 02:25 PM.
09-24-12, 04:20 PM
#67
On the receipt it says they removed, cleaned and installed spark plugs and wires. Apparently the wires weren't installed properly. Yet I checked it more than once. But either way, it's running now and I'm happy.
21$ in parts(oil change)
200$ in labor LOL.
At least they checked the car over and comfirmed something I thought was happening. My cars temp gauge is usually at 5/8ths the way up, a tad more than half and I thought that was abnormal and they checked my coolant system as a yellow issue (not red yet but also not green). Next pay check I'll get the coolant hoses checked out etc. Then my car should be running mint. At least they cleaned the car. Not the inside though. I'm happy with this dealership, great service unlike the GM dealership my girlfriend attended to when they said her power steering rack needs to be replaced along with all new brakes and tires. We got the car checked out at her usual mechanic and he said that only the rear driver side brake needs to be replaced and the power steering is fine.
I was expecting a call saying "your car needs a new engine", but I was upset I could have fixed this myself considering they just cleaned plugs and put the wires in right order.
For fuel efficiency I have a new fuel filter being shipped while we speak from atkins and then I will be getting the injectors cleaned. I'm debating if I should still buy new plugs and wires since mine were just cleaned.
Blah.
21$ in parts(oil change)
200$ in labor LOL.
At least they checked the car over and comfirmed something I thought was happening. My cars temp gauge is usually at 5/8ths the way up, a tad more than half and I thought that was abnormal and they checked my coolant system as a yellow issue (not red yet but also not green). Next pay check I'll get the coolant hoses checked out etc. Then my car should be running mint. At least they cleaned the car. Not the inside though. I'm happy with this dealership, great service unlike the GM dealership my girlfriend attended to when they said her power steering rack needs to be replaced along with all new brakes and tires. We got the car checked out at her usual mechanic and he said that only the rear driver side brake needs to be replaced and the power steering is fine.
I was expecting a call saying "your car needs a new engine", but I was upset I could have fixed this myself considering they just cleaned plugs and put the wires in right order.
For fuel efficiency I have a new fuel filter being shipped while we speak from atkins and then I will be getting the injectors cleaned. I'm debating if I should still buy new plugs and wires since mine were just cleaned.
Blah.
09-24-12, 05:33 PM
#70
I'm happy they did a quick check over the entire car and noticed the coolant system needs to be address in the future because it seems like something is up with it.
I'm also not too concerned with the gas mileage because even my girlfriend who used to achieve 500-550kms on a tank back in Sudbury is only getting 400 on a tank in this city in her 04 Grand Prix. I'm getting 300 in my rx7. So I feel like it's just the fact I'm stopping and going every single day and I'm always having fun by staying in a low gear and doing quick 2nd - 3rd runs. But I will be getting my injectors cleaned eventually. The problem is not having a car while they're shipped out. I know most shops charge around 120 and have quick turn around. We'll see. Getting an extra 50-100kms on a tank
I'm also not too concerned with the gas mileage because even my girlfriend who used to achieve 500-550kms on a tank back in Sudbury is only getting 400 on a tank in this city in her 04 Grand Prix. I'm getting 300 in my rx7. So I feel like it's just the fact I'm stopping and going every single day and I'm always having fun by staying in a low gear and doing quick 2nd - 3rd runs. But I will be getting my injectors cleaned eventually. The problem is not having a car while they're shipped out. I know most shops charge around 120 and have quick turn around. We'll see. Getting an extra 50-100kms on a tank
10-28-12, 11:58 PM
#72
One either learns or decides not to and lets others take care of them.
No moral judgement attached to either.
When I was a young sprout I owned an Opel GT.
At the very end of a crosscountry vacation, it died on the side of the road.
Had it towed to a dealership (Buick sold Opels at the time) and was told it needed a new engine.
Knowing nothing, I agreed and a week or so later went to pick it up.
After paying and as I was leaving, a mechanic came out and told me that all they'd really done was replace the points/condensor and were ripping me a new one.
Took them to court and won.
After that I decided I'd never rely on anyone else and dove headfirst into shade tree mechanics.
Made every mistake in the book and wasted untold dollars and hours till things started to make sense.
This is not an indictment of pro mechanics ("pro" in the sense that they get paid) because in general I think most are legit, but rather an illustration that even a novice like yourself can evolve, if that's a direction you're interested in.
If not, you'll stay a lot cleaner and probably spend a lot less but I'd recommend a newer, less exotic car.
No moral judgement attached to either.
When I was a young sprout I owned an Opel GT.
At the very end of a crosscountry vacation, it died on the side of the road.
Had it towed to a dealership (Buick sold Opels at the time) and was told it needed a new engine.
Knowing nothing, I agreed and a week or so later went to pick it up.
After paying and as I was leaving, a mechanic came out and told me that all they'd really done was replace the points/condensor and were ripping me a new one.
Took them to court and won.
After that I decided I'd never rely on anyone else and dove headfirst into shade tree mechanics.
Made every mistake in the book and wasted untold dollars and hours till things started to make sense.
This is not an indictment of pro mechanics ("pro" in the sense that they get paid) because in general I think most are legit, but rather an illustration that even a novice like yourself can evolve, if that's a direction you're interested in.
If not, you'll stay a lot cleaner and probably spend a lot less but I'd recommend a newer, less exotic car.
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