Hey guys, we just put my engine in, and hooked everything up. We tried starting it just now, and at first, the starter wouldn't even turn. If I jumped the terminals on the starter it would spin fine, but wouldn't turn the engine. Now the starter turns, but doesn't turn the engine still. Everything else seems good.

This is on an 88 TII, thanks.

 

Your starter solenoid is probably stuck. The starter spins, but the gear isn't being thrown forward to mesh with the flywheel teeth. When you turn the key it probably sounds like a really fast spinning noise right? Try getting a rubber mallot (not mullet) and give the starter a few good solid hits. This might free it up enough. If not, time of a new starter.

 

A rubber Mullet would work in this application! LOL

 

Can you turn the engine by hand? Just make sure you can before blaming the starter. Hopefully it is the starter the one to blame!!

 

No, I cannot turn the engine by hand. With the clutch out, and the car trying to roll down the driveway (on a slight incline) it wouldn't go. My dad wanted me to let it roll and pop the clutch, and I said no. Ugh....

 

Ohhhh, that's a different story altogether.

I'm glad you didn't listen to your dad - you have to be nice and gentle with these engines!

I'd take all 4 plugs out, and squirt some ATF in there. Put it in 5th gear, and push the car gently to get the motor turning. Once it has started rolling, you can do the same in each gear to get the engine turning a bit faster. Without the plugs in there, there will be no compression, and the engine will be easier to turn. Once the car is able to roll nicely, and the engine spins freely, pop the plugs back in, and give it another try at starting. It'll probablr smoke like crazy, so don't worry. Good Luck!

 

I'd pull the engine and take it apart to fix what is jammed. Gonna cost money. Need to ask yourself *did the engine turn by hand before you put it in the car?*. If it did............disregard the first sentence.

 

25 bucks and 5 hours. Well, I found out why the starter wasn't engaging. The engine was able to turn over if we used the car's weight and gave it a *TINY* amount of turning on the pulley.

So anyways, my plan was to run the engine without the EGI fuse in to get the oil through everything. I had told my friend, a fellow RX-7 owner, to pull the EGI fuse. He put the cover on. Well, after burning my starter solenoid out, (it wouldn't engage anymore) going to Autozone and buying just the solenoid, and putting it in, we had the same initial problem. Then I looked at the fuse sitting in the garage, and it was the PINK one.. I pulled the cover off, and sure enough, he had pulled the EGI Comp fuse. Now he has gone through the unflood procedure quite a few times... But apparently he assumed the wrong thing after he forgot.

So after I swapped fuses, I cranked it a bit, oil pressure was fabulous. I put the fuse in. After many tries, the engine wouldn't start. We ended up tow starting it, and pulling it around a parking lot. At first the engine would barely run, but after about half an hour it can almost hold an idle at 440 rpms... very low. I'm wondering if this is normal or not.

The engine still will not start. I have a few fluid leaks I have to track down. It is also a streetport, if that makes a difference.

Does this seem right?

 

Is it a new engine?
If not how many miles on it?
Was it taken directly out of another car?
Was it dismantled before install?
Did it ever run?
Need more info............

 

Sorry man, its a rebuild.

 

440 is not normal...However, after starting a new or rebuilt engine, you will probably have to let it idle for quite a while until the seals bed in. Lots of peole set the idle to around 1000 RPM (just tighten the thottle cable) and let it run for half an hour or so. Then, with the engine nice and warm, loosen the throttle cable and adjust the idle...If extending idling does not allow the engine to run properly, it's time for a compression check.

 

Hey where can you adjust the idle at? Other than the throttle cable is there an idle adjust screw?