Was coming home last night..just got off from the highway and the car just shuts off....no pops, no smoke, or any other signs...I tried to restart while coasting, but it would'nt start. Now how is it that yall know that you blew your engine without taking it apart?. I'm going to troubleshoot today....only thing I can hope for is maybe a bad fuel pump, fuel pump wiring and change the plugs. Any help would be appreciated. Thanx.

 

Compression test. That's odd. Sounds like an electrical gremlin to me. Were you on quite a fang, or why would you think you blew it?

 

I just never had problems before.....and the last time I had it at K&D Rotary..Dave said my compression was a little low on the rear rotor. I'm hoping that it is something minor. But really I don't have any signs, it just shut off.

 

When you do start ripping into it to find out whats wrong, start by checking for spark. Then move onto the fuel. If both are present that indicates a bigger prolbem. I woundnt think your engine is shot.

 

What kind of signs would indicate a blown motor?...also...what would be the easiest way to check for fuel?.

 

Well the easiest way would be to pull the plugs and see if they are wet after cranking it over.

 

Out to get a battery charger....any thoughts or ideas that could help me out would be appreciated...Thanx.

 

Well, I just got back from doing a couple of things. New plugs(old ones were black/carbon coated), and I checked for fuel. Pump is working I just can't get to the hose after the fuel filter. That is the last thing I can think of for fuel problems. I cranked it and then pulled out the plugs..they did'nt seem wet. I also checked fuses. My one question for those who have blown an engine before. Does it just give up with no signs, can you still get it to start at least?,

 

when my rear rotor blew, I was still able to start it up and drive it 12 miles to my house. I did a compression test on both front rear rotors and found that the rear rotor had no compression on any of it's faces.

 

That's what I was hoping to hear, but I'm still stuck as to what it could be. I'd hate to have to take it to the local Mazda dealer....and K&D Rotary is booked till August. Just don't know where to go from here. Need to check the fuel filter...and I'm guessing all I have to do is keep the spark plug wire close to the coil and check for a spark while cranking it.

 

If you get spark, the next thing I would do is a compression test. You won't be able to get the car warm since the car will not start and therefore any compression readings wi be inacurate. However you will be able to see if you have a blown rotor. Get a normal piston engine compression gauge at an autozone or pepboys and unscrew the shrader valve out (the litttle needle looking thing that resembles the one on your tire valve) . They run about $14-$40.

 

check your engine fuse. mine kept blowing on me one day on the freeway. I was coasting then bam car shuts off, and couldnt bump start or anything. I prob. went through 4 fuses before i got home.

i did find some bare wires on the altenator plug, so i re wraped them. ever since no more blown fuses. If your engine harness is very hard from the heat, you might want to change it out. Heat makes it very brittle, and may cuase a wire or ground to snap in half.

Hth

 

I checked the fuse already..I wish it was something simple like that. I'll be checking the spark in alittle bit, I have to wait till tomorrow to check the fuel filter. After that I'm not sure what to check..it's just weird how it just shut off.

 

Just looked through the posts, unless I missed it somewhere in there, but did you check for spark yet? If something shorted and suddenyl not getting spark that would cause exactly the same problem your having. If you have checked and do have spark then I have no clue. Sorry to hear it man.

Oh, and someone else answered your question about if it will run with a blown engine. Yes it definatly will. I actually drove my car on the street for like 2 months with extremely low compression on rear rotor, it will run shitty and suck back gas like crazy, but will still run. I can even go out and start it in the driveway whenever I want with the same engine, my new engine is being ordered with a week or so.

 

Make sure you didnt blow an intercooler hose off. also my old TID used to fall off on me and kill the car.

 

similar thing happened to me at an autocross event.....it turned out the wire loom with the ignition coil power and ground wires got wraped around my steering column and pulled one of the ground wires apart..

 

Well check for spark and let us know. Its something thats easy to eliminate. Then as for fuel, how did you know the pump was working? Were you low on gas at the time? Try spraying some carb cleaner in/around the intake? Try unflooding it?

 

pull the spark plugs and crank make sure you hear loud even whooshes. i also cracked a TID once.... man that sucked.... it doesn't sound like you blew the engine unless you had a cracked seal already and it decided to let go....

 

i checked the fuel filter....pulled the hose running into the engine then turned the ignition on , it's getting fuel. I also checked for spark....kept each of the plug wires 1/2 an inch away from the coil they were connected to, and I could see current shooting through. I can't see any wires loose. Hey Black RX7..can you explain that ignition coil wire thing..where exactly is it at?..where is the RX-7 Guru when I need him?

 

its on the drivers side running in the same loom that goes to the starter and the oil pressure level sender..

 

Thanks, I'll have to check that out in the morning. It almost seemed like it wanted to start earlier but of course it did'nt..I keep having to charge the battery up after trying to start it.

 

 

dude, how about simple stuff like....how is the alt and battery?? without electricity, how will it work? you say you need to keep a charger on it .....

 

I need to charge it because I keep trying to start it after messing with things that might be loose. I have'nt found anything loose yet. I think I'm going to try to pull it while in 2nd gear...see if that will work. I'm running out of ideas. Does anyone know if Mazda dealers have some kind of computer that can be plugged into the car and tell what is wrong?

 

This may sound really stupid but might it be out of gas? I know that happened to be a few times even when it showed like a quarter tank.