I bought a 1987 RX7 about 2 months ago. About 2 weeks ago my son took it to go to a friends house and stalled it at the stop sign at the end of our block. We pushed it back into the drive way, but now I can't get it started. We've put a new battery in it but it just doesn't seem to want to catch. I'm new to RX7's and know nothing about fuel injected cars. What could be making this thing not want to start? When I turn the key the engine turns, we can see that, but it just makes a whirring sound and won't catch.

 

I'm thinking vacuum leak, which led to car dying, which led to flooding, when he tried to restart it.

Pull your plugs, check to see if they are black and nasty.

Where do you live, in Wisconsin?

Also, when you started the car, initially, how did it idle? Was it constant pulses, or intermittent?

 

Take the spark plugs and EGI fuse out. Crank the car few times. Squirt a little 2 cycle oil into each spark plug hole. Clean and install the plugs. Crank the car just for a few turns. Install EGI fuse, and start the car. Make sure you are outside as it will smoke for a bit burning the 2 cycle oil.

 

Yup, probably just monster flooded. Does it smell like fuel real bad when you try to start? Smoke?

 

We tried all of your suggestions this aft. We even bought new pugs. The first new set of plugs I put in two months ago were the wrong type. The guy at the parts store didn't know there was a lead and trail plug for a rotary engine. We had 4 lead plugs in this car. Well we put the right plugs in, and still no go. My 11yo son said, "Lets push start it!" With the help of my 16, 13, 11yo sons, and a hill, we got it started. I've stopped it and started it several times so far. Thanks for all the suggestions guys! I'll be in touch again with other stuff now that I own "Kitty". Short for "Kitty Killer!" Inside joke about farm cats and the road I travel to work.

 

i would still run a compression check

 

Sounds like hellacious flooding.

 

...Some suggestions:
1) If you don't know the car's pedigree or its previous owner, then a full tune up
Replace plugs and wires (the fact that you had all leadings won't hurt
anything)
Change oil and filter - Castrol 10W30 and any good quality filter (don't use
Frams)
Set the Throttle Position sensor (refer to the factory service manual, or do
some searches on this forum)
Set the idle speed to 750
Check and adjust the timing - use a normal inductive timing light
Change the xmission and rear-end fluid
Flush and refill the radiator - wouldn't hurt to replace the T'stat too

2) In the future, don't use a thread title like "Help". It's cute but kind of annoying and a more descriptive thread title will get you more responses

3) Learn to use the search feature on this forum. Most of the questions you will encounter have already been discussed, and finally

4) Enjoy being an RX7 owner. But be warned! They are instantly addictive

 

dont short start your car!!!
it was flooded

 

Yep that sounded like a classic flooding... sometimes you do the egi trick a few times though