Hello fellow rotary enthusiasts. I purchased a car in the uk that is at the port of southampton uk, waiting to be loaded to a vessel and shipped to the us. The car apparently won't start even though it started just fine few days ago. No idea if it was flooded or anything and the shipper is saying its not his responsibility to fix the car. Are there any members in southampton uk area who could make a trip to the port and assist with diagnosing the car? I would pay for the time and anything. Thanks a million.

 

Yep, likely flooded. If it's relatively stock, you can crank the car with the gas pedal to the floor for 10 seconds or so to clear out the engine, key off, then try to start as normal.

Unfortunately I'm nowhere close to that area .

Dale

 

This is unrelated (sort of) to your question, but be VERY suspicious and cautious with your shipping inspection form!! I shipped my (USDM) FD back to the states from the UK in 2008 and they totally trashed my A-Spec bumper, then edited their version to show that it was broken on arrival.

My honest and initial suspicious is that a staff member may have blown the engine and they're trying to put it on you...

 

Wow, I hope they didn't blow the engine, it has less then 2K on a full rebuild with avionicsrotary seals, huh.

 

Are you shipping it privately, or as part of a US military/gov't move?

The rules may be different between the two, mine was a military move and it was an inspection prior to being shipped/loaded at port. If your car passed and started for that initial receipt and inspection, but now it won't... I'd say that's on them.

They need to return the car in the same condition it was received in.

Is re:worx still in business? They were out of Portsmouth when I was stationed there..

Edit: It looks like they're still in business, give them a call Monday morning. They may be able to run over to give it a once over: +44 23 9269 8100

 

Flooding is fairly easy to do if you are not familiar with the car. Hope its only that.

There is a guy on here called Ceylon. He seems to know his way around the UK.

Maybe PM him.

 

Thanks I ll call them on Monday first thing. I am using a private shipper 1stmove out of Bristol. The people at the port don't want to do a de-flooding procedure, so the closest rotary mechanics are Essexrotary.com in Essex some 100 miles away. The shipper should pay for towing and the repair if the engine is damaged. Maybe it was taken for a joyride, who knows.

 

I ll ping him thanks.

 

Gotcha. Yeah, re:works is just down the M27 in Portsmouth. If you're going to have a shop check it out then I'd call them first. Otherwise, I'd make an account on FDOC.co.uk (FDUK.org doesn't exist anymore) and ask if there are any owners down south that can help.

One thing I noticed in the UK was that, for the most part, rx-7 owners are incredibly polite and helpful!!

 

You probably need No1 disconnect the fuel pump relay otherwise it would flood again right away.

 

Man, I can't thank you enough. I joined FDOC.CO.UK and within an hour someone offered to drive there from London and take a look at the car. The guy has 15 yrs of experience and owns the only running 20b FD in the UK. Quite amazing. He is going there tomorrow to examine the car and to get it going. thanks a ton for a great suggestion to join FDUK. Awesome people, very polite above all. All RX7 owners know each other. Its an awesome family I just joined

 

Right on! I'm glad it was a help yeah, I met some really good people in the FD community while I was posted out there