help - it doesn't start
 

hi folks,

my 91 RX7 convertible is not starting. The car was running great. this morning I moved it to the front of the house, this afternoon it wouldn't start. The starter turns real good, but the engine doesn't want to start, and white smoke is coming out.... I have 102k on it. never had any starting problem, and it was running fine til this morning. I have 1/3 gas remaining. is it floaded? am I screwed? any help would definetly be appreciated.

thanks

Sounds like you flooded the engine.
RX-7's are notorious for flooding, especially doing what you just did... start the car, then shut it down within a few minutes. If you don't let it warm up, it can flood the engine.
If you've never had this problem before, then I suggest you remove the fuel pump fuse in the engine bay (where the fuses are), then try to start it a couple of times. This will get rid of the excess gas. Then reinsert the fuse and try to start it. Should work fine. I also believe that with S5 cars (which you have), you can press the accelorator all the way down when you try to start it. This will stop the fuel from flowing (you can try this as opposed to removing the fuse).

You might consider making a fuel cut switch in case this happens again. Read the second post in the following link.
https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showth...light=fuel+cut

:)

Pretty sure its flooded duno about the smoke though

You have flooded the car. For info on this check out www.rotaryresurrection.com under tech section, flooding.

You do NOT need to install a switch on your car. IT is built in to your car from the factory. Simply floor the gas pedal while cranking to unflood. IF it is bad enough, youll have to do the atf injection to rebuild compression, but try the gas pedal first. Keep in mind it is NOT a good idea to start a 7 then shut it right back off within 10 minutes.

i believe you have to remove the egi fuse first...then floor the pedal and crank the car....then if that doesnt work.....you will have to do the injectors-atf trick...

install an under the dash by-pass switch between the fuel pump and the battery and while starting the car turn it off, and then about ten seconds later turn it back on. it WILL star if it was flooded.

ok, tried flooring the pedal and holding it down and cranking the engine for close to a minute. still no luck. The car was sitting since yesterday, so any chance of the gas evaporating by itself??? the oil and plug thing is a little complicated for me, and I don't want to mess things up more than they are now.

how about just taking a few plugs out and let it sit for a few days and then try it?

should I go aheah and take the fuel and relay out too? then how do I know when there is no more gas and it doesn't start since it's not getting any fuel?

thanks

Smoke means it firing.

Read your owners manual if you have it.
Do not play with the fuses/relays...... This a '91 and should have no problems starting, with the pedal floored, IF it was flooded.

Charge your battery.
Change the spark plugs and shoot a little starting fluid into the intake. Start engine.
After it starts, never again shut it off without a full warmup.
And, immediately get an oil/filter change.

Another thing you should consider is that any of the regular maintenance items could've failed. Your air or fuel filter might be clogged. Your plugs wires might have too much resistance.
Various things might need to be adjusted(tps,timing,idle), tested(afm/o2) or just replaced.

WILL ALL YOU NEWBIES STOP TELLING THIS FELLOW TO PULL FUSES AND WIRE IN SWITCHES!!

IT clearly says, in the owners manual on all 89-91 models, that flooring the gas at startup will unflood the car. The only cars which need fuses pulled and switches wired up are 86-88. PULLING THE FUSE has the same effect as making a switch or unplugging the relay. ON 89 cars, flooring the gas has the SAME EFFECT as all these.

Now then, to the original poster. You flooded the car bad enough that the pedal isnt going to work for you. ITs really very simple if you follow MY directions I ASSURE you teh car will start.

1) Pull the lower plugs out, tie plugwires out of the way.
2) Get in car, floor gas, crank for 10 seconds. This will stop more fuel from entering, and expel any excess, you will notice a large mist coming off the engine.
3) Get a container with a long hose in order to get something into both lower plugholes...be it a turkey baster, a hand oil can, a small funnel with a long, small hose, whatever.
4) put something in the chambers. Most people prefer atf (tranny fluid) because of its cleaning properties as well. Regular motor oil can be used, and Ive heard of people using gear oil, brake fluid, you name it. I go with motor oil or atf. Put a fair amount in each chamber...several good squirts with a pump or oilcan, or about 1/2 cup otherwise per chamber. You cant put in too much atf this way, excess just gets shot out the exhaust port on the other side of the motor.
5) Clean plugs with a wirebrush, sandpaper, a lighter, torch, whatever you have. Put them back in and put wires back on.
6) it'd be nice at this point to bring a jumper vehicle over to be sure the car is cranking over strong...cranking speed is very important to starting a rotary, and low cranking speed can cause flooding to begin with.
7) Get in and fire her up. YOull probably want to give it a little gas once it starts, cause it WILl run rough for a few minutes, and it WILL smoke a shitload. Keep the revs up around 2 or 3krpm to clear this smoke quicker and to be sure it's gonna stay running, now you're done.
8) Later, after a day or so of driving and some hard runs to clear everythign abck out, I suggest a new set of plugs be installed, as the flooding and atf burning can foul stock plugs, which could cause flooding again later. You also need to do an oil change very soon, as yor oil will be heavily contaminated with fuel, this is a shortfall of rotary engine design that severe flooding contaminates oil supply.

Follow those directions and the car WILL start provided there are no other problems.