Hi folks. Nice board you have here.

I just picked up an 88 RX-7 non turbo, with a 13B motor. Body is in decent shape, interior is flawless, air is cold, radio works, and the car runs nice. 108K on the odometer, and I got it for $300. I'm pretty happy.

Only problem I am having is that the car is very hesitant to start. When I picked it up, it started ok, but two days later, it just won't get started. If we use starter fluid in the intake, it will fire up after a try or two, and once it's running, it's fine. No smoke, no sputters. But it just won't start.

My first inclination was no fuel. And to support that, I went and tried to check power to the fuel pump. But I couldn't get any using a test light. But if it wasn't getting power, would it run at all??? Makes no sense, if there was no power to the pump, wouldn't it not run at all, or can the motor force fuel through the lines?

Please, if you have any thoughts on the matter, I'd love to hear them. Thanks all!

- Matt

 

#1 Do not use a test light. If you tested the wrong wire on the fuel pump relay you can damage/destroy the ECU very easy.

#2 Sounds like it might be flooded, are you sure that you are not pressing the accel pedal when starting and that there is 0 smoke once started? Even after having to use starter fluid?

 

Does the starting problem occur only when the engine is hot, or do you still have the problem when the engine has sat for a while and cooled down?

 

Ok, no more test light. When the car started on it's own in the beginning, there was no smoke. When we have to use the starter fluid, there is a ton of white smoke that I attribuited to the starter fluid, because it goes away shortly after we stop spraying the fluid.

 

Actually, it's the other way around. Once it's hot, it starts ok without fluid. But when it's cold, it won't start.

 

sounds like leaky injectors or flooding to me

 

You can band aid it with a toggle switch if you don't want to spend much money on the car.

 

If we are talking about leaky injectors, where/how would a toggle switch work? Sorry, lost me on that one.

BTW, Thanks for all the help guys. This is awesome. Glad I got the RX-7 and not a civic or something. If you folks ever have any questions about F-Bodies or LS1's, let me know. I'll bore you guys with details of my other cars later

- Matt

 

The toggle switch would go to the power for the fuel pump. You can mount it right behind the seat and then you can use it without getting out of the car. Also, you might want to change your plugs, if they're old...bad plugs make my car pretty hard to start.

 

Fuel pump off, turn engine over, it fires and runs on the residual fuel, fuel pump on and away you go. No more flooding problems.

 

Very, very, very cool!!! That should be quite simple. I hope that fixes it Thanks folks!

Oh, and how much nitrous do you think this motor could hold? 108K on the clock

- Matt

 

Just wondering... anyone ever been burning oil (I think it's burning oil anyways...) I have an 87 GXL and every time I start it, it'll give off a lot of smoke until it seems to be warmed up (I'm assuming). Anyone know what's going on? Burning oil? Flooded engine?

Get back to me!

derrickguitarman68@hotmail.com

Thanks!!