Rotary Guru's,

So I've recently become a proud owner of an '89 RX-7. Up to a week ago, it's been running well, but then one fine day, I couldn't get it started. When I turn the key, the engine cranks over (and what feels like a little quicker than usual), but doesn't 'bite'. The fact that I can't really hear any 'harmonics' in the cranking (ie. caused by the compression stroke???) prompted me to assume that it was a busted starter motor solenoid. So I pulled that apart, cleaned it up, put it back in... and nothing has changed, apart from that I am now confident that the starter motor will continue to work well for many years to come! It was only then that I checked that the belts were rotating while the engine was cranking, and confirmed with a timing light that there is spark (at least on the rear rotor). I can also smell fuel around the car, which confirms that there is supply (to somewhere... somehow?)

Any ideas as to what this could be related to, or what other diagnosis I can carry out? Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

- TT

 

you may have flooded it last time you ran it.
you can search the forum for a walkthrough on de-flooding (it can be a pain in the ***)

If that is not the issue, you may want to check the compression. You can do that with a regular compression guage... once again, search button.

 

Ummmmmm what had you been doing right before you parked the car???????? Rotaries are notorious for running on a bad rotor... until you shut it off!!!!!!

did you hold the gas pedal to the floor for a few seconds while cranking it?? that should engage the flood fixer on an s5

 

runing notorius in rx7 is bad

 

Thanks for the info guys. YearsOfDecay, believe it or not, but I was driving granny-style before I parked (that time anyway!)... Although there was about 4 day's interval before the last time I drove and and when it didn't start.

I'll run a search on flooding and de-flooding and give it a try... if that doesn't work, I guess I'll try and source a compression gauge.

Cheers,
- TT

 

Well, after many unsuccessful attempts at de-flooding, I changed the spark plugs and air filter (which weren't in the best of states). After that engine went from simply turing over to feeling like it was trying to grab every now and then. Yet, still no go! Vented out the chambers by removing the trailing sparkplugs and the disconnecting the crank angle sensor and turing the engine over. Checked compression - was within spec for a 120,000KM engine, and tried to start it again. After the venting procedure it started and ran for about 2 seconds and died again.

I guess it's looking like leaky injectors...

 

the end of all flooding threads
https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showthread.php?t=432320

 

Tarmac, what ended up happening here?