BlazinDeuce

Im getting ready to buy a '87 RX7. The engine does not run and here is why. The car does turn over but it does not start. The guy who owns the car says he thinks it has a blown head gasket. I have no experience with a rotary engine so I dont know if this is a possible reason for it not starting. Also, do you need speciality tools to work on a rotary engine (like taking off the head) or can you do it with everyday tools? Thank you for your help.tyler

DC350

Hey, on a rotary engine, There is no head gasket. It could be the o rings in the rotors. But you do need some special tools. Not sure which ones, first things first, get yourself a Haynes manual for the car. (It's our bible) annyways do that and it will answer a TON of your questions!

rico05

I use the Hayne's for pictures ONLY. The Factory Service Manual has the best info, and Hayne's is decent in info(has the WORST write up for pulling an engine though!!). There is no head on a rotary, so that can't be the problem. Take the car to the Mazda dealer, and get a compression test. Should be $80-$100 bucks. If the compression is under 80psi or so, the engine is shot, and get ready to pay about $1000 for a rebuild. Keep us posted!!

BlazinDeuce

Thanks DC350.

The car has 126K miles, forgot to put that in my first post. Would bad 0-rings not let the car start? Since it does turn over would there be another problem that would keep it from starting.

BlazinDeuce

Thanks rico05, the problem with getting a compression check is I live 150 miles from the car. It does not run so I would hate to buy it, bring it home and find out it has to be rebuilt. I dont think the owner will pay for a compression test.

rico05

Never buy a rotary that does not start, unless it is for a project that is. 90% of the time, bad apex seals. Sorry bro.

BlazinDeuce

I dont know what apex seals are. I take it they are a pain to replace?

Manolis_D

iTrader: (2)

Yep go to 'www.howstuffworks.com' and check out the rotary engine to get a basic idea of what's inside it, but basically...

there are two triangles that spin around inside the engine, and at each corner of each triangle there is a 2mm wide band of steel. this band of steel is an 'apex seal', and it seals the rotor (the triangle thingy) against the housing, giving the motor compression. when the seals go, there's no compression and you have to take the engine out / rebuild it to make it go again. Unfortunately, when a seal goes it usually takes out the rotor and housing along with it. You're probably looking at about 2000 bucks to get it rebuilt nicely if a seal did go indeed.

Good luck, and be careful with that thing ,
Manolis

Juan

iTrader: (28)

FC's like to flood themselves. When the engine floods, the car doesnt start and sometimes it can stay flooded for a long time. If you're very lucky this will be the problem. Ask the owner if it smells like gas when hes trying to start the car. If hes smelling a strong gas smell, chances are its flooded.

Unflooding the engine is pretty easy. You can remove the EGI fuse from the engine bay, crank it for a while, replace the fuse and try to start it. This is the most common way. When my car floods really bad, I unplug the fuel pump and crank it. When the car finally starts, I plug the fuel pump back in and I drive away happy. Good luck.