danec020

Ok guys, you might remember I was having problems with the radiator passing coolant? Well that problem was fixed but then all the sudden my car wouldnt start.

HISTORY
My car had 157K miles on the original engine and turbo, but it drove like a champ. I could floor it and it wouldn't stall, the turbo would kick in, and it never gave much of a problem besides running a little hot and every now and then the minor flooding. So I decided to put in a new waterpump and radiator. I also added a thermostat since it was missing.

After with the help of the forums, I got it all in and when I started it the coolant wasnt flowing, well we got that fixed.

Now my car wont even start, I took it to mazda and they did a compression test and said the car has low compression. Now I got it back and I don't know what to do to get the baby to start...

My question is, is it possable for a 7 to die like this? One day getting to 90mphs like nothing and the next day can't even start? Without and major signs? If someone had any problems like this or know what I could check to be 100% sure please let me know.

This car was sitting for a whole 2 years before I bought it and started driving, but since it ran so well I don't think anything was clogged? I could be wrong. Also now when I try to start it, I can let it crank for 10seconds and after awhile it will actually try to catch and almost start but then stop and keep cranking... Hope this is helpful, please help me restore my baby. I don't think she needs a rebuild just yet..

boboreno

dude, it could be carbon locked,the seals locked from carbon,bad plugs,or high octane fuel,could cause this.

danec020

And how would you fix that? Or would it kill the engine?

Just replace the plugs?

Right now I have a new fuel pump and some plugs on the way to install. Figured mine were old and giving that a shot wouldnt be a waste seeing how I could use them even after a rebuild.

DerangedHermit

It's possible for the car to just die like this. Getting that many miles on a TII I'm not surprised.

danec020

Ok guys, I got it running. I geuss it was the plugs afterall. New problem though, the dealer told me they sprayed the plug holes with tranny fluid and it will smoke white like a bitch when i start it up. I started it and it smoked white and then it settled down a little but the white smoke still coming but it is from under my exhaust manafold. Maybe the downpipe. You think this is anything to worry about? Do you think it will pass?

Second problem.
The car idles at 1000rpm untill normal temps then it drops to about 600. The car purs like a kitten and sounds great, but then after it hits normal temps it starts choking and then dieing if i dont give it gas.. (it isnt consistantly it is every once in awhile.) Also I am looking at the rad hose (remember i put a new radiator in) it is swollen as all hell and little drips of coolant is coming out on the thermostat neck connector end. I feel it, it is hot and seems like it isnt passing fluid. I was having problems getting it to pass fluid and I geuss it is still not working. Sooo.... Do you think the engine starting to get too hot could cause it to start choking and then shutting off? Cause it was perfect before it started moving up in temps.

Thanks for the help guys.
BTW it is a 1988AE

PS: The High Octane fuel part.. I put Supreme in my tank, should I just go with regular unleaded? Or it is better to do supreme?

danec020

hmm won't let me edit my last post. But anyhow, I just went and checked my radiator hoses now that it is cool, and when i opened them pressure and coolant came out of both.... So It is as if my thermostat isnt opening up. I went and checked the bottom hose from the waterpump to the radiator, nothing as if it never had coolant.

I am having a bitch of a time with this radiator... I have already taken the themostat out and boiled it to make sure it opens, and I have installed it the right way.... Any suggestions? check it again??? remove it???

danec020

Ok, went a little further and removed the thermostat neck and thermostat and tested it again... Worked fine, so I went ahead and flushed the radiator and I noticed the bottom radiator hose is a little kinked but not too much. I am saying the walls of the hose give in when it has to make the 90s but isnt clamped shut or anything.. Is this bad? Should i try to pull it and trim it? So I refilled the radiator and put the thermosotat back in and bam! It worked. I was flowing, I made sure by leaving the thermostat cap off and I watched it flow and it wasnt a lot of coolant being pushed but it was about 1/3 full being pushed. Anyhow, it idled for 15 minutes, wasnt bad at all on temps, maybe a tiny tiny bit high, so I decide to put the cap back on and run it. Well I put the cap back on and closed the hood and took it for a spin.. I didnt go far when the engine was making a wierd almost knocking sound. Then my temps started climbing slowly so I turned her right back around and parked her. When I parked her the coolant buzzard went off saying low coolant. I cut it off and opened the hood.. Geuss what, the radiator hose is swollen like it always is and I opened the cap and let out all the pressure. So what you think it the problem? Is this signs of a bad thermostat cap? Holding too much pressure?

skatingsamurai

hahaha no sheit. i JUST blew a top rad hose tonight i was doin bought 60 in5th at about 3k rpm. pulled into the parkinglot i had it idling for about a min or 2 pulled it out...POP ....coolent everywhere. im guessing that i have a bad thermo...well a bad hose too^^ but, when i pulled in i suppose the thermo just wasnt passing any pressure built and then it blew like mount saint hellans. its especially crappy cuz i just put my intake on too.oh well