So i was taking my wife for a drive since she was begging me so much. I warmed my FD up to about 87 before i took off (last night was very cold). I drove about 3 or 4 miles before i got to a stop sign. At that stop sign I dropped the clutch and took off like a bat out of hell. Went all the way through 4 gear and i stopped because i noticed some ignition brake up (something a fellow rx7 club member had pointed out to me last saturday). I drove it for a bit and decided to speed up from 60 MPH and i got to 100 MPH. When i reached 100 MPH i noticed that my turbos stopped and when i pressed the gas nothing was happening. My RPM gauge was at 4000 and seemed only to be slowing down because of my loss of momentum. I turned into a median and thats when i realized my car had shut off (or atleast my engine). I had not noticed earlier because all my lights where on PFC was working good ect. I tried to crank it back up and all i got was a loud whinning noise and the occassional backfire. I checked to see if maybe my wife had hit the fuel cut off switch by mistake but i dont think that was it. I tried to turn it one again and the same thing happened. It almost sounds like my starter is trying to turn but nothing is happening, dosent sound like my engine is actually turning. I pushed it like a mile all the way to a parking lot where its still sitting.

At first i thought alternator but my battery was holding strong so I dont think thats it. Could it be a vaccum hose? Fuel Pump? Something silly iam overlooking? I dont notice any visible leaks or hanging vaccum lines. I just replaced the spark plugs and wires about a week ago as well as replaced the radiator with a fluidyne one. Any ideas, help on troubleshooting would be greatly appreciated?

Thanks

 

well if you are gettin a back fire when you are cranking it is definatally cranking. but if it doesnt sound like it is than you may have poped your motor. first step in your case is to do a compression test. also what you call ignition break up may have been detonation... has your car ever been tuned? or did you tune it your self?.. how much boost are you running?. well good luck and i hope you didnt blow it up.
Rob

 

I bet what you were hearing was detonation, not ignition break up and hurt the motor.

 

You need a compression test.

 

but when i tried turning the engine and poped the clutch the car moved so it has compression.........

Also, i checked the plugs and they where wet and I checked the wires and iam getting spark, the fuel pump is clicking on and working...........

My car had been tuned but i dont know how long ago, i bought it like this... It had a boost problem and was running 5 3 8 for the longest until i found the problem that was a leak. After fixing the coupling, the boost went up to 12 10 12.... This was my 4 time driving it........

I had a compression test done about 3 weeks ago and it was VERY good. I wasnt HEARING anything, i was feeling and seeing it in my rpm gauge......

 

Mate, if the car moves when you turn the engine and pop the clutch, that just means you have a working transmission and starter, not compression.

12 10 12 is higher than normal (10 8 10) - has the engine been mapped for this boost level?

 

That is a test for "engine moves when starter is engaged"; testing for compression is different. The engine can spin, but if the seals are broken, it won't have enough compression.

I am sorry to say that in reading your story it sounds like you broke some apex seals and will need a rebuild. But you should test to compression first (take it to a competent rotary shop, or search for DIY instructions) to be sure.

-Max

 

With your mods and the stock PFC base map, you should have been fine at 12psi. I have almost identical mods (except for the larger injectors) and the base map runs quite rich. However, perhaps your PFC was tuned for different boost levels (though lower than 12 psi would be odd) or someone messed with your timing or fuel settings. If you have a Commander you could look at the timing and fuel maps and boost settings and compare them to the stock PFC map (which you can find by searching in the PFC board).

 

does it shoot flames when it backfires??

 

maybe u had an ignition problem which killed the engine...coil went out or something bucuz alternator or batt. and the car became flooded becuz fuel system was still pumping....now cant start..u said plugs were wet...throw some atf in the plug holes

 

Threads like this make me want to cry. God, I love the rotary, but there seems to be too much of this **** to deal with. I'm sorry to hear this happened to you.

 

I am still just amazed at how little some people seem to understand about how an engine works. Must be an age thing.
This is not a bash, it is just an incredulous observation. Thinking you have compression when all you have is rotation....
Sad to say but it really sounds like your engine is toast. You say you'd noticed a sort of ignition break-up previously? This does not bode well.
Good luck.

 

when did you buy it? it must have been recent since it was your 4th time driving it. did you get it for a steal of a price?
who did your compression test?

 

at those boost levels on 93(gas) you should not see any break-up whatsoever.......if you did....i am suspecting bad tune....

 

[QUOTE=bajaman]This is not a bash, it is just an incredulous observation.

great word incredulous.. i will have to use that one.

 

what boost? psi?

 

READ

 

My compression test was done by a rx7 tuner in NC. Their name is rotorsports racing and they have a website. They come highly recommended even from RX-7.net. I dont think they made any kind of mistake. I did not get the car tuned while it was there because of their schedule; i only got a compression test and a quick inspection. The car was not a steal but it was a good price, 12,800.

Honestly, about the compression, i did think that poping the clutch while trying to start it would check for that. I now realize that it dosent and yes i do think that was a flame. I stated what i thought i knew and OBVIOUSLY i only know so much. I am not a car expert and I am learning as i go along, i have worked on cars a bit in the past and I am a generator mechanic. I may not be VERY proficient, but that is why i am on this forum asking for advice and help. If somebody mentions something that seems to go against my previously held ideas, i have to question it or i would just be following blindly.

I know this car tends to have motor issues but i think people are also WAY to quick to think its a blown engine.

 

Before it blows, the compression on every FD engine is at least reasonable. It is the post 'oh #$%^&' compression test that is of interest.

Do a compression test.

 

I totally understand how you feel. Everyone is saying to do a compression test just to make sure the engine isn't gone. It's the easiest thing to start with and the tester would cost you around $25. Just pull the bottom check valve and go to it. I'm sure you know how many hits you'll see. This would be the starting point and then everyone can help from there if it still has good compression.

 

Working from what you do know. The plugs are wet...we'll have to assume fuel (is that how they smell) you say you have spark, this leaves the last of what you need to make it work "compression" as everyone has stated get it checked again. If you just want to get a quick idea then remove the plugs and place you finger lightly into the plug hole and have some one turn the engine over (we konw you starter is good) and see if you have three even pulses from the plug hole on bothe rotors. If you have a new set of plugs or a good old set. squirt some ATF in the spark plug hole and then replace the plugs and see if you have 0r can build enough compression to start the motor. This is the time of year when we hear about people having this problem. The air gets colder and the fuel system is not tuned well enough for the added boost levels then bingo bongo BANG GO

 

ok, sounds good, i will get a compression tester...

also, by ATF, do you mean automatic transmisison fluid????????? Or are you talking about some type of eather?

 

Yes automatic trans. fluid.....it's light weight and doesn't tend to foul the plugs as quickly as motor oil. It will smoke for a bit so don't be too alarmed and be ready for the neighbors to wonder what happened.

 

As in, not too far... cause you may be doing a finger length reduction surgery.

 

pssh u know what happens.. the apex seal will shatter