3rd Generation Specific (1993-2002) 1993-2002 Discussion including performance modifications and Technical Support Sections.
Sponsored by:

Brand new rebuild - BLOWN? HELP!

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Feb 11, 2007 | 03:33 AM
  #1  
Wompa164's Avatar
Thread Starter
Rotary Freak
Tenured Member: 20 Years
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,677
Likes: 10
From: Dallas, TX
Brand new rebuild - BLOWN? HELP!

I'm freaking out right now.

I have 750 miles on my brand new rebuild with 2 new housings. My motor has been running perfectly up until tonight. I've been babying the hell out of it - no higher than 3500 revs, no boost, generally being really careful with it.

My engine was running perfectly all night. I pulled into a parking lot (still running perfect) and went to dinner. When I came back and started my car, my engine was running rough - like it did when it blew last time. It ran a little rough, the idle was a little rough, and my vacuum was a little lower than normal (nothing terrible).

What the hell is going on? I already checked my MAP sensor and the vacuum line - that's fine. I tried quickly reseating my sparkplug wires, I'll check them again tomorrow though.

Do you guys have any ideas? I don't know how this engine would have blown already. I haven't run any boost, I've been babying the hell out of it, and suddenly it just started acting funky.

Please help - I'm worrying myself sick here.
Reply
Old Feb 11, 2007 | 05:52 AM
  #2  
R-R-Rx7's Avatar
Rotor or no motor
Tenured Member: 15 Years
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (24)
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,741
Likes: 498
From: Limassol, CYPRUS
go for a compression test

this will answer ur questions

Con
Reply
Old Feb 11, 2007 | 06:19 AM
  #3  
BlueTII's Avatar
Banzai Racing
Tenured Member 15 Years
 
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,632
Likes: 3
From: Indiana
Your plugs could just be carboned up from taking it easy during the break in. I depends on how you have it tuned and if you are running premix, etc etc.
Reply
Old Feb 11, 2007 | 06:29 AM
  #4  
Wompa164's Avatar
Thread Starter
Rotary Freak
Tenured Member: 20 Years
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,677
Likes: 10
From: Dallas, TX
That's what I thought. They're also the same plugs I was running since before my rebuild.
Reply
Old Feb 11, 2007 | 06:31 AM
  #5  
tiger18's Avatar
Rotary Enthusiast
Tenured Member: 20 Years
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 911
Likes: 0
From: UK
I bet you its just flooded,,, do a full unflood and clean and dry the plugs.
Reply
Old Feb 11, 2007 | 07:39 AM
  #6  
BlueTII's Avatar
Banzai Racing
Tenured Member 15 Years
 
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,632
Likes: 3
From: Indiana
Originally Posted by Wompa164
That's what I thought. They're also the same plugs I was running since before my rebuild.
Ok then, just change your plugs out, then report back if the problem continues. Depending on what was used to assemble the engine, there is a lot of crap that also burns off, which can also foul the plugs (hylomar, assembly lube, vaseline etc)
Reply
Old Feb 11, 2007 | 08:29 AM
  #7  
ArmitageGVR4's Avatar
ArmitageFD3S
Tenured Member: 20 Years
Liked
iTrader: (13)
 
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 2,247
Likes: 26
From: Herndon, Virginia
edit: I need to learn to read.
Reply
Old Feb 11, 2007 | 09:51 AM
  #8  
DaleClark's Avatar
RX-7 Bad Ass
Tenured Member: 20 Years
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (56)
 
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 15,622
Likes: 2,725
From: Pensacola, FL
Yeah, check with the easy things first. I HIGHLY doubt your motor's blown - it hasn't seen any real load yet, and it sounds like you did things right with that motor. This is also part of the reason for breaking in a motor - bugs will crop up from the installation that need to be sorted out.

Dale
Reply
Old Feb 11, 2007 | 10:29 AM
  #9  
GoodfellaFD3S's Avatar
Original Gangster/Rotary!
Veteran: Army
Tenured Member: 25 Years
Liked
Loved
iTrader: (213)
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 30,804
Likes: 646
From: FL-->NJ/NYC again!
I've never seen a fresh motor exhibit symptoms like that, although I always install new spark plugs on all my builds. Is the needle on your boost gauge 'ticking' back and forth at idle? I hope the motor is fine, based on how you've been driving it I can't imagine it's blown.
Reply
Old Feb 11, 2007 | 11:54 AM
  #10  
1QWIK7's Avatar
White chicks > *
Tenured Member: 20 Years
iTrader: (33)
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 13,146
Likes: 1
From: Secaucus, New Jersey
Originally Posted by BlueTII
Your plugs could just be carboned up from taking it easy during the break in. I depends on how you have it tuned and if you are running premix, etc etc.

Agreed.

I remember pulling off some 7 month old plugs that were carbon'd the hell up because of when the car was mostly down, i made alot of short trips, no WOT runs, nothing, alot of warming up the car and idling. I cant believe how bad the plugs got in that short period of time.

Speaking of that, i need to change my plugs again.
Reply
Old Feb 11, 2007 | 02:05 PM
  #11  
mono4lamar's Avatar
In the burnout box...
Tenured Member 10 Years
iTrader: (32)
 
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 4,453
Likes: 2
From: New York
as rich said... if your needle at low idle flickers that means you have a seal/seals problem. i would go get some new plugs and as you change do a quick compression check... what size seals do you have sometimes new 3mm's get sticky i had this happen on my new motor. i wouldn't worry my motor some nights just ran shitty as it was being broken in. get some new plugs and a compression check and report back.
Reply
Old Feb 11, 2007 | 02:21 PM
  #12  
AgentSpeed's Avatar
BNR built motor and twins
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,235
Likes: 1
From: 2 hours drive from sanity
Where's the pics of this new motor and turbo setup? Like most have said, I think you're fine, just put in some new plugs.
Reply
Old Feb 11, 2007 | 07:44 PM
  #13  
Wompa164's Avatar
Thread Starter
Rotary Freak
Tenured Member: 20 Years
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,677
Likes: 10
From: Dallas, TX
Put 4 new plugs in - didn't change a thing.

Guess I'll get a compression test tomorrow.

Sigh.
Reply
Old Feb 11, 2007 | 08:18 PM
  #14  
mono4lamar's Avatar
In the burnout box...
Tenured Member 10 Years
iTrader: (32)
 
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 4,453
Likes: 2
From: New York
who did the build? any porting? what seals? whats your lowest vac reading and what rpm is that at?
Reply
Old Feb 11, 2007 | 08:24 PM
  #15  
Wompa164's Avatar
Thread Starter
Rotary Freak
Tenured Member: 20 Years
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,677
Likes: 10
From: Dallas, TX
Don Marvel of Marvelspeed.

Stock 2mm OEM seals with new OEM seals for everything.
Reply
Old Feb 11, 2007 | 08:26 PM
  #16  
GoodfellaFD3S's Avatar
Original Gangster/Rotary!
Veteran: Army
Tenured Member: 25 Years
Liked
Loved
iTrader: (213)
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 30,804
Likes: 646
From: FL-->NJ/NYC again!
Originally Posted by Wompa164
Don Marvel of Marvelspeed.

Stock 2mm OEM seals with new OEM seals for everything.
You're not answering a lot of the questions asked. Is your needle on your boost gauge 'ticking' back and forth slightly at idle? What is your vacuum at what idle rpm? Providing more info would help us to help you better
Reply
Old Feb 12, 2007 | 01:07 AM
  #17  
Wompa164's Avatar
Thread Starter
Rotary Freak
Tenured Member: 20 Years
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,677
Likes: 10
From: Dallas, TX
The needle is pretty constant. It doesn't flicker or anything, but it does go up and down as the idle changes (which is to be expected).

My vacuum is about 15 inches at 1000rpms.

I don't really know what to think at this point. Maybe a stuck apex seal?

Last edited by Wompa164; Feb 12, 2007 at 01:16 AM.
Reply
Old Feb 12, 2007 | 01:49 AM
  #18  
Buzzardsluck's Avatar
No Paypal Accepted!
Tenured Member 10 Years
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 849
Likes: 1
From: san antonio, Texas
Ported motor? Is that why your idle is at 1000rpm? Is your standalone a PFC?

Hope its a simple fix and if need be your engine builder helps you out to fix the problem.
Reply
Old Feb 12, 2007 | 02:44 AM
  #19  
spandy's Avatar
Patience
Tenured Member 15 Years
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,483
Likes: 0
From: Oregon
Shouldn't there be some type of warranty if something was wrong?
Reply
Old Feb 12, 2007 | 03:24 AM
  #20  
GregFD3S's Avatar
still 1.3 liter v8 eater
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 546
Likes: 0
From: San Diego, CA
did youyet?
Reply
Old Feb 12, 2007 | 08:26 AM
  #21  
GoodfellaFD3S's Avatar
Original Gangster/Rotary!
Veteran: Army
Tenured Member: 25 Years
Liked
Loved
iTrader: (213)
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 30,804
Likes: 646
From: FL-->NJ/NYC again!
Originally Posted by Wompa164
The needle is pretty constant. It doesn't flicker or anything, but it does go up and down as the idle changes (which is to be expected).

My vacuum is about 15 inches at 1000rpms.

I don't really know what to think at this point. Maybe a stuck apex seal?
I would bring it back to marvelspeed and see what they can tell you. Based on all of that information above, the motor doesn't sound blown
Reply
Old Feb 12, 2007 | 09:02 AM
  #22  
mirabile's Avatar
Rotary Enthusiast
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,406
Likes: 1
From: Ambler,PA
I agree with Rich. Dont listen to him that much though, he doesnt come to rotor meets on sundays.
Reply
Old Feb 12, 2007 | 10:44 AM
  #23  
GoodfellaFD3S's Avatar
Original Gangster/Rotary!
Veteran: Army
Tenured Member: 25 Years
Liked
Loved
iTrader: (213)
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 30,804
Likes: 646
From: FL-->NJ/NYC again!
Originally Posted by mirabile
I agree with Rich. Dont listen to him that much though, he doesnt come to rotor meets on sundays.
Sorry, my Eskimo suit was at the dry cleaners
Reply
Old Feb 12, 2007 | 09:50 PM
  #24  
Wompa164's Avatar
Thread Starter
Rotary Freak
Tenured Member: 20 Years
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,677
Likes: 10
From: Dallas, TX
Hey guys,

I'm hoping it might be a stuck injector (or injectors). The car has 104,xxx miles and I'm not sure the primary injectors have ever been cleaned or replaced, so we'll see in a few days.

The car also starts perfectly, warm or cold. I noticed the threads of my plugs on one of my rotors were thinly coated in oil when I pulled them out. Could that be because the OMP is injecting oil which is not getting combusted (no fuel) and just sloshing around inside the housing?

Whatcha guys think?

Last edited by Wompa164; Feb 12, 2007 at 09:56 PM.
Reply
Old Feb 12, 2007 | 10:18 PM
  #25  
car hugger's Avatar
registered user
Tenured Member 15 Years
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 422
Likes: 0
From: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Check all your piping and make sure everythings secure and set right. My crossover pipe would come loose and my idle would go rough, boost gauge would flicker.
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:56 AM.