Flooded engine? Spark plugs?
 

Okay, so it seems my engine flooded for some reason. Everything was fine last night, pulled in after a few hours of driving with no problems beyond my boost issues.

Today, I came home from work and hopped in, started right up but had a good puff of blue smoke and was idling rough. I backed out and was going to let it idle a while to warm up. About five minutes later it started "putt-putt-putt"-ing and when I got back in the idle was really low, so I tried to bring it up a bit; that's when it died.

Now I can't get it started. Pretty sure it's flooded even though I haven't had this problem before (except with my FC :( )

My question is, my mechanic put in Iridium plugs that cost over $70. I'm not sure, but I think they're 10.5 and 9. They only have 169 miles on em, as does the new motor. Is it really worth having to special order these sumbitches and spending that much money on spark plugs? I'd really like something I can just pick up locally!

I won't have time to pull the plugs today since I have to go back to work in about an hour, but any advance feedback would be appreciated since I'm off all day tomorrow. :D

Thanks

Just remembered - I've got a set of stock plugs sitting in the back of my Escort. Would these be OK with the mods I have to at least get the thing started?

-Mike

Get Andy to push you to about 15mph and pop start that biznayatch! Pop-starting always works ... or if you're home, have somebody tow you to the top of the hill and just roll down, pop it in 2nd gear. ATF also works, just pull the plugs and crank it a few times with them out ... put 'em back in and some ATF.

yeah, i know all that - just don't have the time to do it today. i don't smell any fuel, though. whenever my 2nd gen flooded it always stunk when i'd crank it.

i did notice what looked like a little bit of oil spitting out the exhaust before it died :confused: maybe i've just never noticed that before....

just tried it again after letting it sit for an hour and a half - no luck. it just cranks :(

guess my car's gonna have to sit out on the drive overnight. i hope no f**kheads decide to go around busting out windows again - I just got my new driver's window put in this morning!!

I really don't think that 'special' spark plugs are all they are cracked up to be. So not worth it. The money spent on a few sets of those would be much better spent on upgrading the ignition system itself.

J

not that it needs to be said, but I agree with BOOSTD 7. I tried every trick in the book for a flooded engine, ATF, fuel pump relay pulling, throttle to floor cranking, but nothing worked. Pop started the thing, and it has worked fine since. I never even changed the plugs, it's been working ever since (6 months)

You better make sure those "special" plugs were for a rotary. If they weren't and were too long your apex seals could be gone. Pull them and compare them to the plugs pictured on my site. If they don't look the same my bet is your screwed. If the car is just flooded best of luck. It can be hard getting a badly flooded 7 running again.

Here is a great site that can help you with your flooded engine problem and many more!
http://www.scuderiaciriani.com/rx7/s...g_flooded.html

Like the instructions say you don't have to change plugs just clean them out!
It worked for me and it can work for you!

Well, my true question was about the spark plugs. I know how to unflood the thing...but thanks for all the feedback :)

Time to get dressed and try to start up - keep your fingers crossed!

-Mike

well, i just pulled the rear leading plug, and it's wet as can be. it's also pure black. AND, the plug boot was really loose, so i think maybe it jiggled off and that's why it started "putt-putt-putt"-ing, then flooded.

my day is looking 10,000 times better right now!

-Mike

yahoo!!!
 

I just got done following all the little tricks and man, that thing started right up, didn't even stutter! and now it's purring like a kitten :D

I had a little white smoke but no where near anything I saw with my FC.

I'm pretty sure that rear leading plug wire popped off and that's why it flooded - I'm really glad/lucky it didn't happen out on the road somewhere.

Time to go driving, then it's first bath in 10+ months!!! Me so happy!!!!!!!!!!!!

-M

uh...that's the first bath in 10+ months for the CAR, not me....:cool:

your car has been down for 10 + months? Jesus christ. My car has been out of comission for three weeks now since Im redoing the entire engine + turbo setup and I'm already going crazy from not being able to drive it. My secondary car is a 1987 mercedeze turbo diesel, I tested the 0-60 yesterday with a friend and I managed to pull off 32 seconds. I'm so lonley with out my baby.

It was 10 months and 4 days, to be exact :( On the plus side, it allowed me to spread the expenses out. Honestly, after a couple months I'd forgotten what it was like; now that I have it back I have to force myself to stop driving and go to sleep! :D

I've put 250 miles on it in 2 1/2 days...and one tank of gas (I sure as hell didn't miss THAT part - $25 for a fill-up :eek: and half the mpg that I got in the Escort).

any1 ever hear of putting WD40 to unflood the engine??