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Help! Engine Won't Start!

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Old Dec 30, 2007 | 10:19 PM
  #1  
kikkoman006's Avatar
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From: Crestview, FL
Help! Engine Won't Start!

Before you commense the bashing, yes, I've read the FAQ's and the only thing I could find is removing the EGI fuse and crank the car a few times, and then put the fuse back in.
Now, I have personally checked the spark plugs, air filter, and know there's AT LEAST half a tank in my car.
It'll crank but won't kick over.
The battery is fine as well.

Anyone else have any advice??
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Old Dec 30, 2007 | 10:42 PM
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If it's severly flooded, try pulling it and dumping the clutch to start it. Others are probably gonna bash on that, but it's always worked for me. I just pull it to the top of a hill with someones truck, get it and turn the key all the way before it hits the starter, and start going down the hill with the clutch in. Once you're going a little, drop the clutch in 2nd and it should start. Sometimes I've used first, but second's always worked better. Just trying to help...

And expect some smoke
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Old Dec 31, 2007 | 10:14 AM
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Won't Start

No spark, no fuel, flooding, timing off, low compression, injectors not being pulsed, just to mention a few possibilities. A full tank of gas does not mean the engine is getting fuel. When you pulled the plugs were they wet? Are you getting spark etc. etc. etc.
Your have to go through a process of elimination.. You haven't provided enough spacifics for someone to help.
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Old Dec 31, 2007 | 10:18 AM
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Yes, RX7MAVEN the spark plugs were wet and was getting fuel and also sparking perfectly fine.
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Old Dec 31, 2007 | 03:45 PM
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try pressing the gas peddal down for 3 seconds. letting go then trying to turn the key... usuialy works for me when my engine wont start.
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Old Dec 31, 2007 | 03:47 PM
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sounds like it was severely flooded. does the oil smell like gas? what i've done is pull the egi fuse, floor the gas pedal, and keep cranking the car for like 10 secs. this should get the remaining fuel out of the chambers. then either get new plugs or sand blast the tips of the old ones so that they are completely clean. then squirt in a little bit of transmission fluid into the trailing spark plug holes (i think it's the trailing). then install the plugs back and put the egi fuse back in. make sure the battery is fully charged and then start the car. give it a good solid crank. if all goes well the car will fire up but a LOAD of white smoke will come out of the exhaust. then just run the car until the smoke is gone and it's fully warmed up. i use this method but there are a bunch of ways to clear it out. hope this helps.
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Old Jan 2, 2008 | 08:08 PM
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From: san jose
where is the egi fuze? under the hood?
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Old Jan 6, 2008 | 06:00 PM
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From: Crestview, FL
rotaroy:
Yes, the EGI fuse is under the hood.

The spark plugs are wet and I am getting a spark.
I've tried taking out the plugs and also the injectors and then cranking the car to burn the gas but still nothing so far.
White smoke came out but that's all that happened.
My plugs are good and everything is sparking like it should be, but for some reason, I still can't find out, it won't start.
:[
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Old Jan 6, 2008 | 06:33 PM
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if its injectors not being pulsed how do ya troubleshoot that problem ? is it a main relay ? or something else?
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Old Jan 7, 2008 | 05:22 AM
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From: Ewa Beach, Hi
Mine is doing the same, will kick over like it wants to start, but dies out. Changed plugs/wires, and did the unflooding about 4 times. Every time with the same result. White Smoke does come out, but does not stay running. Once it starts to choke over, and dies out. I take out the plugs and clean um and try again. No joy. Any other Ideas. Maybe Compression?
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Old Jan 7, 2008 | 10:08 AM
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From: YYZ
89-91 FC's have a fuel cutoff function when holding the gas while starting, 86-88's do not have this feature. If it's severely flooded, you may have to do the full deflooding procedure (oil in chambers, etc.). I'd also check compression, and then move on from that.
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Old Jan 7, 2008 | 10:26 AM
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I have always pulled the plugs cranked 2 times for about 10 secs a piece put them back in and hope for the best. Try this get some starting fluid spray it in there and if it tries to start then you know it's a fuel issue. if not it is a spark issue.

Take off a vaccum line to spray the fluid in.
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Old Jan 9, 2008 | 04:57 AM
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From: Ewa Beach, Hi
mine will crank and run like crap, for about 5 rotations at 800rpm, then just die. Also on my oil guage, the pressure does not rise. Im new to the RX7 so im trying everything i can to get it going. here is a pic of the engine. please tell me if anything is wrong.Battery will get relocated to rear.

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Old Jan 9, 2008 | 05:01 AM
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kikkoman, here is a post of my own experience a week or so back:

I've just gone through a week of this as well - first time!

Read everything, tried everything and nothing seemed to work. Here is how I solved it and this is what I posted on the RX7 mailing list (hope it helps):

After a week, I got it started again - yahoo!

I just wasn't using enough oil to seal the chamber.

One thing I have learnt is that using ATF is not advisable - it's
more likely to create a carbon lock and it is highly likely that the
seals won't like it. The compression is lost because the engine oil
has been washed away, just replace with engine oil, not ATF. ATF is
for automatic gearboxes, not your rotary engine. (dumb **** idea).



Badly flooded engine recovery:

1. CRITICAL STEP - pull the EGI fuse (just in case anti choke is not
working).
2. hold accelerator to the floor whilst cranking to clear as much
fuel through the exhaust. Run the starter for around 10 seconds then
stop to rest the starter, run this procedure another 2 times.
3. pull all plugs and clean them
4. place an absorbant white paper towel hard against the plug holes
and support the towel in place with some rags.
5. pedal to the floor, crank the engine for 10 seconds, stop, rest
and repeat.
6. remove your paper towel - it will be damp with fuel and dirty
7. CRITICAL STEP - repeat step 4 to 6 until the paper towel is dry
and clean. Should only take 2 or 3 goes. If you don't get all the
fuel out, you are going to be wasting your time.
8. grab some of your normal engine oil, not ATF (using ATF is a
stupid thing to put into your engine)
9. CRITICAL STEP - using too little oil means you will have to start
the whole process again! Inject at least 1 tablespoon of oil into
each of the lower plug holes (the lower hole has a larger opening to
the chamber). Let it sit for a few minutes then cover the plug holes
with a rag to avoid any mess. Just give your starter a very quick
kick - just enough to rotate the rotors a fraction of a turn. Repeat
the oil injection - another tablespoon in each lower hole. Again let
it sit for the oil to settle. Rag the plug holes again and repeat the
quick starter to roll the rotor to settle the oil. This should
minimise any plug fouling.
10. we should now be back to a normal cold start condition. Make sure
that your battery is fully charged before attempting to start, if we
fail this start attempt we will have to start the whole process over
again.
11. replace the EGI fuse and start the car normally - be prepared for
a ton of smoke out the exhaust and be prepared with the accelerator
to keep the engine going.
12. let the engine come up to normal operating temperature, find a
nice quiet street and redline it!
13. CRITICAL STEP - wash your RX7 and love it again!


Regards
Roland


PS Put your plugs back in in step 11!



Hope that helps
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Old Jan 9, 2008 | 05:04 AM
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the first thing i notice is that the hose at the pressure sensor appears to be attached to the BOV. not sure that that is a good thing. re-attach that hose to the manifold.
other than that, im not sure by the pic....
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Old Jan 9, 2008 | 05:36 AM
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From: Ewa Beach, Hi
ok will do. i can get some closer pics. bought from a friend and nothing was wired up. N/A to JDM turbo swap. Where would it connect up to?
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