Kazikan

I swear, honest to god. I bought my '87 non-turbo rx7 in october, and EVERY first week of the month, at some random time, the car just won't start, for no reason.

This has been going on for about 5 months now, every time the car got moody and refused to start it was between 1st-8th of the month. The first few times it was a major pain in the ***, I'd be stuck in random spots far away from home, and need to get a tow, just prior to that the car had always been running great. Then it'd die, it'd get toed, and sit at home for the night, in the morning, it'd start right up perfectly.

As the months went by, I started to be able to anticipate when it would get moody, (kind of like when you're married you can anticipate the wife's time of the month coming up)....so here we are again, the 7th, and it decided to stop working.

I've tried to find things in common factors at the time of driving that could be causing the problem, the two things are; i find it has a greater chance of failing to start when it's facing engine up hill (I'm guessing that could be a fuel regulator problem, failing to hold the pressure to keep the gas in the engine) The other thing is, it seems to decide to stop working just after it's gotten nice and warm. Usually it'll throw the fit just after i've been driving it for 30+minutes and go to start it up again after a 20 minute break. Once it's all heated up and in it's optimal operating temp, it seems to idle rougher. The hotter the engine gets, the harder it is to fire up, as in it turns over, but is just acting like it's choked for gas, yet, you leave it for a night, let it cool off, come back the next morning, and it makes it's peace with you

Any idea's/comments on this weird monthly "PMS" ?

micah

That sucks man. Buy it some tampons and never disagree with it.

Don't let it find out you posted something about it. Or you'll be looking for another car. That bitch will leave your ***.

Did you buy it flowers?

iluvmy86

iTrader: (1)

flowers are nice but to really get on its good side i would hot wax that ***...

finishline

iTrader: (13)

you have to compliment it too.

micah

Honestly though, do a search for "hot start problems" or something to that nature. There's been some problems with this in the past. Typically the problem is low compression.... another common problem is coolant leaks.. is it eating coolant when you start it? Check your levels...

But give it a search.

Kazikan

actually, i know the coolent housing was cracked, but i couldn't find a replacment for it, so just got some stuff to throw in there to seal it up from the inside. I've been checking the coolant from time to time, i don't notice any major changes. Maybe i'll try some flowers and give her a nice waxin if i'm good to her maybe she'll be good to me

micah

What coolant housing? The engine housings? or the water pump? or the radiator?

Kazikan

if i remember correctly, it was the radiator houseing, it was done back in octoberish

Kazikan

actually thinking back on it...a few days later was when the "PMS" started, i had only had her for less then a week when i got that fixed. I assumed it had been doing that before i bought the car once it kept going on....

Eva001Ikari

iTrader: (7)

wow, i thought my rx7 was the only rx7 with girlie problems.

LOL, yea if you havent noticed EVERYONE'S rx7 is moody from time to time.......thats how we know that they're girl cars.

Also, most likely that coolant problem is your problem. I have a cracked coolant seal right where my spark plugs are on my rear rotor and let me tell you..........my car can whoop my *** some times, she can make a good day go TOTALLY wrong

micah

His coolant problem is in his radiator.. Thats not his problem.

I'd say check the compression first. No reason to put blood sweat and tears into troubleshooting something that will just end up being bad compression and a bad engine.

Kazikan

so...say it WAS bad compression, that would mean *gulp* engine rebuild?...also, i don't have a mazda dealer in town...where could i get a compression test done? could any old shop do it or do you need to do it at a place specifically for rotary engines?

killinit937

any old shop can do it... just a mazda dealer can do it more acturatly... im say fuel pressure regulator?

killinit937

at least i belive so..

micah

Hell, YOU can do it.
http://www.rotorwiki.com/index.php/Compression_Check

And yes.. it would mean your engine is nearing its EOL. However, it doesn't mean you need a rebuil RIGHT away... just means you'll have to put up with the Monthly PMS a little longer.

--Micah

Richter12x2

iTrader: (1)

Doing an engine rebuild isn't the end of the world either - especially on a rotary. If you're good you can do it in less than a day. If you're learning, take your time and make sure you do it right - you can rebuild it yourself for less than $300 usually, depending on the reason for the rebuild. If you happen to be one of the lucky few who blows a coolant seal without cracking an iron, you can do it for under $150 by reusing everything else, and if money's tight and everything seems to work fine when it IS working, then I don't personally see a problem with just replacing the broken stuff.

Probably the only really hard part doing it yourself is that stupid flywheel nut. For best results, pick up a video on rebuilding the 13b rotary, or borrow a knowledgeable friend for things that confuse you.

If you don't remember how to do something perfectly, come to the RX7 club and hit the search button - the odds of you finding a brand new problem with a 20 year old car are pretty low. . You'll find it's hard to mess something up as long as you pay attention and follow directions well.

Your car doesn't happen to sit on its own for a few days at the end/beginning of the month, does it? Mine used to flood everytime I let it set for a couple of days without driving it because the injectors were leaking. Does it smell like gas when it doesn't start?