Okay, first of all, let me introduce myself, I'm Jiji, I just bought my RX7 about 2 months ago. Its an 88 GXL. I love it... Except, sometimes, well, like once a week, it won't start. I know that RX7's get flooded. I'm pretty sure its not that. The car will turn over and make a noise like its trying to start but it just won't. I try to jump start it and that wont make it start. So it seems that the only thing that will work is to push start it. I work at the Sears auto center and my mechanics kinda looked at it and they said it might be the starter. Now here's my stupid question, what do you think it would be? Possible starter? Floods(even if i doubt it is)? Or maybe I need new ignition wires(which I dont mind getting because I was eventually going to replace that)? Or maybe spark plugs? I dont know. But I do go have night classes and I dont wanna be having to ask strangers to come and help me push start my car. There's some crazy people up here in WA. Anyways, please respond back. Oh and, do you think its a bad idea to get an automatic start on my car? Some people tell me its okay some dont agree. And do they make adjustable lowering springs for 88 RX7's? I'm pretty sure they do. And I know my car is old but it gives off a lot more smokey exhaust than it should. I know its not too bad if its dark smoke, but if its white that's engine probs right? Well, the color is like a light gray. So what can that be and how can i fix it? And if you folks have answers, would I be able to just get some cheap parts and try to install myself? Or would it be hard? And if it is the starter, do any of you know how to install them and if its easy or not? Thanks....

 

Right off the top of my head there are 3 main possibilities.

first off, it is flooding. Whether or not there is actually an excessive amount of fuel int eh engine, the condition causing old rotaries to not start is still referred to as flooding. It is truthfully more of a low compression problem. It will probably get worse. The fixes for this include a rebuild engine, remove and clean injectors, or install a fuel cutoff switch(5 dollar option). You can do a search for fuel switch and my username and you should come up with some posts where I explain how to make it. Otherwise post back and I will post diretions. This would be my first attempt to fix the problem.

Also, it could be the starter, battery, or connections. Poor power to the starter can cause the engine to turn slower than it should, and flood easier. IF the starter itself is getting weak, it can turn too slowly. I would not suspect it until I checked the plugs and installed a fuel cut switch.

Next, it could have bad water/coolant seals. This would be evidenced at first(beginiing stages) by a small coolant loss over time with no apparent external leaks. As it gets worse, this condition causes larger internal coolant losses, steam/whitesmoke at startup, and eventual overheating. Most likely not the problem, but an engine with bad seals can flood itself with water and cause hard starting.

Finally, you might check your plugs or just replace them. Stock NGK plugs foul really easily, and they can cause hard starting, power loss, and poor idling/running. Take them out and clean them with a wire brush, or just replace them.

My best would be one of these as the main fault, but there could be other things as well. These are the things I would start with, in that order.

 

damn, i was gonna write a stupid answer to the "stupid question" but... well, after a response like that it'll just lose all dramatic effect....


ohh what the hell...


Answer: 3!

 

Welcome to the club! Im kinda new here too. We need more info about your problem. Like does the engine turn over and not start or just not do anything? The starter is easy to change I did mine. There are a lot of helpful people on this site, Most more intellegent than I am. They love helping girls.good luck.(edit ) I see Kevin beat me to the punch. He knows his stuff . Hey Kevin its Johny from Va. rebuild comming soon.

 

yeah we are very helpful and love helping girls...


especially when said girls post pictures of themselves, with varying degrees of clothing

 

Light gray at start up = oil. this is OK
but excessive like so much that it turns day to night that is not good.

What you have descibed as a hard start and acts like it wants to start but doesn't = leaky injectors and flooding.
you dont need a new starter! or a new battery! heck my car will start with just 7 volts.

this link will describe a "BAND-AID" solution. to fix the problem buy new injectors or have yours professionally cleaned and blueprinted. And I dont mean put a bottle of injecter fluid in the tank either.

https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showth...threadid=75084

Read my part carefully. This is not a fix. Only a Band-Aid.

 

Hey guys,
you guys are really helpful. i'll look into it and let you know. my car does turn over, it do seem like my starter is weak. and i do got ngk spark plugs, i dont know if its stock. i'll do a search on all this. thanks again...
oh, and i respect myself more than that to put pics of my naked *** just to get attention for some help. i aint no ditz...

 

hoooraaa.... but why do you type like one? (j/k)

("ain't no")

Sorry... had too... the devil made me do it...

 

God girl, relax. I was just playing. IF youre going to be a part of this board you're gonna need to be used to it...

I'll remember for future reference to give free detailed technical advice ONLY and never to play around...seeing how this board is so formal/professional, and seeing as how I get compensated for giving said technical advice to strangers...(for the ditz's reading this, in other words dont bitch at someone who is trying to help you, for no other reason than to be nice, while getting nothing in return, for saying something you didnt like such as playing around etc.).

 

hmmm, okay

this is me, i am really appreciative of the help i get here. i mean, i get a lot more detailed help from here than i would from any idiot mechanic at the shops up here. i love jokes, it just kinda sucks when it seems that people dont take me seriously just coz i'm a girl and coz the way i look, i mean i get that crap everyday at the auto center i work at. they look at me and go straight for the male co-worker, when i'm just as informed as he. i aint gonna give you no sob story. i was just being a smart *** back, its kinda funny how you'd get so defensive after that lecture bout informalness. its cool.... thanks again man...

 

measurements & pic. please



J/K

 

**** you guys need to get out more.....


anyhow does the start make any noise in particular or does it ever grind ? Does it sound like sometimes the starter isnt cranking as fast as other times.. I would first try cleaning the connections for your battery with some steel wool and re-fasten them... if it still has problems it is very possible it is the starter... i had the same problem with my car... it would have a heck of a time starting simply because the starter was on the way out and it could crank enough to get it started... Also it wasnt always making complete contact with the flywheel... eventually it started grinding and finally it kicked the bucket... but try the battery if the starter sounds funky you might want to look into that...

p.s. = sorry for these guys.. they sit around the computer all day and dont know how to interact with real people.. go figure.

 

Damn, i wanna be a hot chick and work at a "guy" store, i can just sit around all day and let the guys work.......

 

actualy I get out plenty and yes w/ girls, was just givin her a hard time

 

the noise its making sounds like it does crank up. it's like the starter is a lot slower than it should be. i'll try cleaning it up and everything. but i dont think that'll work. i'll probably end up installing a fuel cut off switch like hypntyz7 suggested. i didnt get to look at the "band-aid" solution yet. been pretty busy.

and i got another stupid question, as i read along, i see stuff about like FD RX7's, is that like a certain model? What's the different kinds and the differences? what would my car be? 88 rx7 gxl?

i seen that thread about porting too... what's all of your opinions about that? have you done it? would you?

 

True it is a band aid, but it's either continue with the starting problem or spend the 10 bucks. The only other "proper solution" would be to rebuild it for a couple of grand.

IT's a chassis code, like many imports have. Part of the vin number. SA/FB=1gen, FC=2gen, FD=3gen. Check out your vin plate.

Porting has to be done while the engine is apart being rebuilt. Definitely worth the time. All it costs(if you do it yourself) is a die grinder and some bits.

 

I have to say its more than likely flooding. What makes you think its not that? Have you tried "unflooding" it by taking out the egi fuses and such?

 

okay, tomorrow i'm going to clean up my battery and electrical connections and all that. and i might try that fuel switch. i did a search on it and read through it and all that. one thing though, after i do it, how do it work? i know it says that i first have to have the switch on off, then turn the key, how long do i let it crank? and then hit the switch? and do it make any difference, like will it work not as good if my starter is not too fast? i think its kinda weak. i know about putting it on off then letting the engine shut off, not to sure about turning the car on though... i just wanna make sure on how it works, how efficient and all that before i actually do it. thanks...

 

okay, today i changed my oil and installed the fuel switch. it works cool. looks and seems like i did everything right. so we'll see if my car will still not start every once in awhile. i'm hoping it'll work... thanks again guys.

 

<ducking...>

So what's the word on those pics now?



just kidding...

 

it never ends

 

lmao...lol

 

hahahaha, oh ****, you're so funny.... seriously...... like a comedian.... i love this place.... smart guys, funny guys, perfect...