just picked up an 87 tII and in the process of reviving it. Its been sitting for 5 or 6 years, so i took care of a few things: the gas tank was rusted so i picked up a new one, fuel filter, changed oil(obviously), made sure it was getting gas. we're good. Its getting spark... plugs are questionable(explain later), and everything seems to be in order so i think it should be starting.
go to start it and it cranks for a while, starts to pick up and it sounds like its gonna fire right up but then it doesnt. it just goes up and down making me think its gonna start then not.

think its just the spark plugs? i dont know how to tell whether theyre bad or not on those wierd plugs rotaries have... oh and do the trailing and leading usually go out at different rates?
thanks!

 

oh and wone other thing- my oil cooler is kinda messed up and the lines to and from it are leaking... is the oil cooler on the NA and those lines the same as the tII? or is it even on the NA? cuz its easy for me to get one of those- theres an NA at the junkyard and ill pick it up if it is the right one.

 

yes, the OC lines are the same for both models.. About the SP, the electrode in the middle should be about the same height as the sorrounding part... If not replace them.. They are not the cheapest plugs, but with bad plugs, forget trying to start it.

 

you can see if they have spark by pulling the plug out, ground it (on the engine or something else), and crank the motor over. If its good it shood send a spark to the ground. If not nothing will happen........Oh and keep the plug wire on it.

 

check the compression?

 

Shoot, after 5/6 years of sitting, you might have to MMO the motor to get the compression up to starting range.

 

Search for "compression test"

 

thanks, whats MMO?

 

oh yeah my plugs are bad. but the leading plugs are way worse than the trailing... is that just how it goes?

 

yea, trailing is always gunna be better than leading..

 

It sounds like the same thing I experienced this summer trying to get my 87 running, check your vacuum lines that was my problem.

 

you could try de-flooding it. I know when mine floods...it sounds like it's going to start but wont' quite turn over. Not sure on exact differences between s4 and s5, but pull the EGI fuse under the hood...get in the car hold the pedal to the floor and crank the engine over for about 20-30 seconds (in 5 second bursts so you don't kill your starter). Pop the fuse back in and try again.

 

Where was the car sitting for the 5 to 6 years? inside or outside. Also was there any rat, mice, or squirrels populations at that location because it's easy for something to get under the hood and chew on wires and vacuum lines.

 

that happend to me and the plugs were flooding. also trying to start the car over and over not only kills the starter as mentioned earlier but floods plugs worse. Before you try to diagnose the problem give it a FULL tune up. It doesnt make sense to try and use n e thing thats been sitting there for 5-6 years especially plugs n wires and that stuff-erik

 

Arright, well thanks everybody, ill get back after i try all that stuff. May be a week or so cuz i gotta get those oil lines, but i think it'll go once i get the plugs. Hey, can anybody help me with my shifter? it is missing some of the bushings and the mazda dealer here doesnt actually know anything. I have a picture breakdown of all of it but it doesnt actually tell you anything. I went to the dealer and got a bushing kit, but it only has two of like four pieces... I'm not even sure which pieces i'm missing but i have the lower plastic bushing and shim. Is there a top bushing thats similar to the bottom one, or is there a bushing supposed to be connected to the bottom of the upper metal bolt on part?

 

Rust in the gas tank BAD BAD BAD.
hIGGI had one that had so much crud in it, it killed a brand new fuel filter in one hour or trying to figure out WTF was wrong with it.
Particles are small enough to bypass the fuel filters, so I would be worried something is stuck in your fuel injectors.
If the fuel injectors are clogged with debris, it would cause exactly what you are describing.

Can you get the fuel injectors professionally cleaned?
Having the car sit for that long, it is highly recommended to get the fuel injectors cleaned...


-Ted

 

i'll look into that but i am fairly positive it will start with just new plugs. luckily, the old fuel pump was bad, so i dont think the rust was even able to get to the motor when we first tried to start it.

 

speaking of fuel pumps, wheres the cheapest place to get a walbro 255lph? or is there something better that you recommend?

 

ebay

 

you mean the fuse that says.."EGI INJ."?