where should I start with a car that won't start?
 

I bought the car with what I was told was a blown engine due to an overheat, pulled it home and tried to jump it for grins, it doens't start but almost seems to want to, the fuel light is on and it's low on gas, I'll put some gas in it, but there should be at least a little in there now.

I thought it was have a blown coolant seal, I pulled the cap and cranked the engine, no coolant spilled out at all, didn't have any help so I couldn't check for bubbles.

I'm planning to rebuild the engine, but want to be sure the current one is blown before diving in.
What do you think I should check next, and how :)

Pull both of the LOWER plugs. Put your finger solidly over one of the holes. Have someone spin the engine with the starter. Now put your finger over the other hole and spin the starter again. Ask yourself.......are the pulses significantly different when you have your finger over one hole verses the other???? If the answer is yes.......rebuild the engine.

One definition of significant would be.......does one hole not even try to blow your finger off the hole while the other hole does try to blow your finger off the hole?

cool, I'll try that :D
I haven't read that one before, thanks!

it started!
new plugs and a lot of cranking and my "blown" engine came to life! can't believe it, but now it's overheating

try changing the thermostat, i did that on mine and it solved the overheating problems

Please do a search. People have repeatedly posted checklists of what to look at when this happens. Be sure to look for instructions on checking the stock fan (if you have one.) Just b/c it's turning when the motor's running doesn't mean it's working.

And congrats on getting her started! If she doesn't geyser with the cap off, she's good to go. :D

eveything on the list here http://www.aaroncake.net/rx-7/cooling.htm
has been done, the car doesn't even match any of the scenarios spelled out there.

3 things 2 start remember: fuel, air, and spark.

cheack for spark and check that the fuel pump is working.

and timing :)
it actually started with the trailing wires on the leading plugs and the leading wires on the trailing plugs, just ran like ass. I reversed them and it ran better. It started after the overheat too, so I'm a happy camper. :)

the thermostat seems to be the most common cooling problem with RX-7's. It fixed my cooling problem as I too had a car that got hot while idling for a couple minutes. Do not buy an aftermarket thermostat. Get a Mazda thermostat. They are very easy to install too, so if you've got a Haynes manual and a socket wrench you should be able to do it.

That's the first thing I'm going to replace yeah, it's supposed to be new, but you never know. I've actually continued the thread here
https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...hreadid=259579

with the full story, I didn't want to drag this one out.