I bought a 88 RX-7 GXL earlier this year in real good condition except it had a "seized" engine. I soaked it in ATF for 4 months and left my dad with the car so he can little by little get the engine to turn over. Long story short, I got back 2 weeks ago and when I had a chance I started working on this car. I put in the exhaust back-on (gutted both pre-cats, left the main cat untouched), oil and filter change, installed new spark plugs, battery, and starter. The engine turned on right away every single time. The engine didn't and still doesn't hold an idle, but when I rev it from 2k RPM on up to redline the engine feels strong. Basically once it starts I have to give it gas or it dies, I've tried adjusting the idle to no avial. I'm pretty sure that there is not any vacuum leaks and I've checked it many times over.

My dad thought it was a good idea if we drained the "old" gasoline that has been in the tank for almost a year (the car was sitting for 6 months according the previous owner + the 4 months I was away). So I did drain the gasoline, replaced the fuel filter and refilled the gasoline with some fresh premium. After it built up some fuel pressure the engine started right up again and afterwards.

Somewhere afterwards, I think my dad got excited and messed with something on the engine (trying to adjust the idle), but he says he didn't

So now the engine is flooding and I don't know why. Is it possible the fuel filter is defective and letting too much fuel through ?

Here is a related post to my wet spark plugs:
https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showth...hreadid=219218

I really don't know what to from here and it's fustrating because a week ago I could start the car whenever I wanted to. I know I should check the compression just to be sure, but the engine more than likely is in good shape. What to do from here

 

also, I forgot to mention I drained the old coolant from the start and was brown

I flushed the coolant system with tap water 3 times now and the water keeps turning brownish over time.

 

I don't know if its true but isn't it very bad to soak the engine with ATF for long periods of time??

 

I remember ATF as being a fairly corrosive substance that can eat away at the seals if left in for long extended periods of time. Usually ATF is used on severly flooded engines or engines and their way out.

 

Some people say ATF is bad for your engine, but the ATF trick has been associated with rotaries for a long time. I know people that have done it and iI've done it myself with no problems. 4 months is a while, but I have heard the longer you let it sit, the better it will work.

 

The fuel filter would have nothing to do with the flow of gas... you copuld remove it for testing and it would make no difference.

Your father probably messed with the mixture settings or the $400 valve (throttle body air mix valve) settings.

 

Your dad is a grown man, why would he not tell you if he messed with something? It would only help.

Anyways..the car won't hold an idle? How does it sound when you are driving it?

 

i got a 88 gxl that floods .they all flood once and awile.

 

sounds like the same thing goin on with my t2 right now except this all started happening after i used block sealer in it. im 100% sure its not a vacuum leak. i checked all gaskets in the intake portion of the motor and checked/replaced all of the vacuum lines. still floods all the damn time and when it cranks i have to feather the gas to keep the throttle open or it dies immediately. currently not drivable

 

I say check your compression.. I knew someone with a dead RX-7 who was certan it was his fuel pump.. so he replaced it like 4 times, I asked him if he has ever checked the compression, he was like Why would I want to do that? anyways the rear rotor was dead.. kindof sucks because I was going to buy the car!..

 

I know a guy like this as well, he sold me a near mint 91'na for 300.00. One rotor housing and a complete rebuild and I am spinning around in a real nice daily driver.

 

and I forgot, he gave me 2 sets of coils, 2 fuel pumps and an extra set of 91 tail lights he happen to have. I sold all of that stuff and nearly financed the entire rebuild. Like hitting 5 out of 6 numbers in the lotto.

 

If you ran year old gas through the system, you need to flush and service the entire fuel system.

Other then that, your dad probably just turned every screw he could find. Grab a Haynes manual, and go through the procedure to set everything (TPS, idle, idle mixture, etc.) back to factory specs and see what happens.

 

I'm working on it, I can't wait to get it running.

 

Spark plugs keep getting wet with gasoline

any ideas on what causes this ?

 

flooding causes the spark plugs to get fouled with gas. Take them out and clean them thoroughly and put them back in after they are completely dried. you dont have to buy new spark plugs just clean them well.

 

I've been doing that. Same problem still, this sucks :cry:

 

I have had a few rx7's all n/a's. The flooding is pretty common with the rx7 as is pulling the efi fuse to get it restarted. my friends and i have not currently solved the flood problem but we've changed injectors,fuel rails and filters with no result. A friend of mine has a TII that floods all the time if its warm. if its off for a long period of time it will start fine. So what we did believe it or not is put regular plugs (with prong)in the trailing sockets. The car alwasys starts now and runs the same. We are going to run Chevron Techron in the fuel system and hopefully put rx7 plugs back in and be flood free. if you want to do the plug thing for now it works I can eveen get you a part number if you'd like.

 

pull the plugs and EFI fuse out, crank it 10-15 seconds put all back together and it should start, if it doesn't start but sort of trying put a little of ATF in lower plugs, turn it 2 times put the plugs back on, should work now, ATF is to biuld the compression. If it starts it will smoke like mother for about 30 seconds

If it starts and dies like you mentioned before, check if yor primiry TB-valve is open enough when the the car is cold and fast idle gear is sitting on the roller, if the valve is shut it will not idle when cold, and you'll have to keep your foot on the gas until it worms up, and secondaries open.


ART

 

all I can say is good luck on getting it running man

 

If the plugs keep getting wet even when the engine is not cranked, I would check to see if the injectors are leaking.

Just follow the procedure in Haynes or FSM (free at www.fc3s.org under how-to->manual->86-88 'fuel and emissions section')

As Aaron suggested, you may to double-check the fuel delivery system completely and do a basic tune-up (again explained in FSM or Haynes)

Hugues -

 

its the ******* motor, low on COMPRESSIOn, come on now all the typical signs. it won't idel, it floods everytime he tries to start it, it was seized prior to unlocking it. GET THE HINT. just because it runs fine above 2k dosen't mean jack ****. everyone is trying to aviod telling the real truth. sorry bud its the motor. if it turns out different call me a Jack ***.

 

CompuBob is correct. Do or have the compression checked. That will end the speculation. If OK look further for cause. If not OK consider a re-build.

 

I have been folliwing this thread. Your title really sums up your issue, the answer is find a mechanic and get it rebuilt.

 

The brown coolant is the clue, it is leaking exhaust into the coolant so at the very LEAST your coolant seals are blown. It wont hold idle either, so a good chance you are running two faces short on at least one rotor.

Rear rotors go out faster than front rotors on NA cars because of long term oil starvation on cold starts, but if an apex seal goes you usually loose the housing as well.

Best of luck! Fortunately, rebuilds are not too expensive and they should last quite some time once you get it going.