i finally started my car that had been sitting for years, it was last used by my sister so i was not sure what was wrong with it. i got it jumped started it and was pleased to see it start, then i tried to move it, and it died. completely dead no power. I jumped it again and it ran until I turned it off, and then once again it was completely dead. I don’t know much about cars, but it would seem to me that it is an alternator problem; I mean what else would cause it to do that? I asked my sister why it was put in the garage, what was the problem? She said she didn’t know, that she tried to get it fixed got fed up with people not knowing what was wrong with it, so know I am wondering, could it be a bigger problem? I am trying to get this car running, for good so I need all the help I can get. thanx

 

With the car sitting for so long, the battery is dead and probably isn't taking a charge from the alternator. Replace the battery, spark plugs, and change the oil. Next do a compression check. Its a little different doinga compression check on a rotary then on a piston engine, so if you need help, let me know and I'll post instructions for how to do it. Its not hard, just have to know what you are doing.

Not many people know about rotary engines, so lots of people on this forum do their own work or they live in an area where rotary engines are common enough that mechanics know how to fix them. I fall in the first catergory. With more info about the way the car runs, you can find all the answers to your questions on this forum. There is a forum for each generation of RX-7. 1st gen is 78-85 2nd gen is 86-92 and the 3rd generation is 93 and up. Go to the specific forum and look for the search button. Type in your subject and you will see that somebody has had the same problem as you are trying to fix. If you can't find enough info, just post your question in that forum like you did here. Not many people visit this particular forum, so you would get a faster response in the section for your specific model year and generation. Good luck.

 

thanx so you think its the battery and not the alternator? and also i would like to take you up on thoseinstructions for a compression test, thanx

 

Did you ever get this figured out?

The simple compression test is with the plugs out and by ear Just listen to the swooshes when you crank then engine Or even turn it by hand.

The other cheap way is with a pisston checker. You just pull the pin that holds the reading and then watch the bounces when a buddy cranks the engine. They should be even.