Hi, I have a 1980 RX-7. It turns over but it wont start. both L 1 and L 2 plugs on the distributor are sparking but both T 1 an T 2 are not. Can someone help me out.

 

Pull the plugs...what do they look like?

Pull your distributor cap. If it looks something like these pics, it's no good.





Do the rotor tips look like this? It's done for.



You need to replace these parts first, clear the chambers of junk and then try to start the engine. Here's a good thread on starting the engine if you've flooded it... Starting the flooded rotary, 1stgens only... ...and was it the 1980 model that had the ignitors on the fender? It sounds like one of those died. May be a good time to jump to the ignitor-on-dizzy FB set up, too.


Mario III

 

Hello I have a 1980 RX-7. The green wire on the T side of the ignition pickup coil has broken off of that pickup right at the edge, so that there is no way that I can connect the wire back. maybe I can solder it, but I don't think so. So I'm wondering if I should replace the entire ignition pickup coil.

 

You'll probably have to. Try the classified section when you get enough posts.

 

I was wondering how do you correctly remove an ignition pickup coil from a 1980 rx7.

 

Pick up a can of Seafoam from any autoparts store. Pour about an ounce down the carb, then try to start it. If it was flooded, she should start right up. Good luck.

 

I think this is the reason my 1980 rx7 wont start up. I didn't notice in the beginning when I took out the spark plugs and tested them that the L2 spark plug wasn't firing right. this is because at the time I checked it, it was sparking, but later when I checked it again, the spark plug was maybe firing once every 15 or 20 seconds. I don't know why its doing this. Can someone please help me solve this problem.

 

I'll have to try the "Seafoam only" trick tonight.

 

If you have compression, air and fuel, the only thing that can stop you from starting is your timing. That just can happen if you got the distributor out and misplaced it. Did you got out the distributor??? in that case reply so we can guide you to install it correctly.

 

Good catch Fernando! Too much assuming on all of our parts!

Well, I tried Seafoam, the can of liquid ~ no go.

I then tried the Seafoam penetrant lubricant ~ no go.

I pulled the plugs and they were a rusty brown color, caked and dead, drenched in oil that was really, really thin. Since I didn't have my usual back up plug set, I whipped out small files and got shiny new surfaces between the center electrode and all the ground straps. I then proceeded with the routine linked above in post #2 and it started after several long tries of "almost starting" and me asking my wife, "Why did you stop!!?", lucky for me, she's very patient when it comes to my old cars. It took longer than I expected but I guess that's because I wasn't using fresh plugs.

It did finally start, the mosquitoes left the area from the ensuing atomic bomb-sized smoke screen and I took it for a 40 minute drive to clear up the combustion chambers. I stopped at Autozone, backed it partly up a curb in case I needed to get a running start to put a proper load on the engine to start it again but that was all unnecessary. After I refreshed my supply of Gumout's Carb Cleaner and some Autozone starting fluid, I went out, turned the key and it cranked up on the first spin. I tossed a can of the starting fluid in the rear hatch....just in case.

Now we'll see what happens tomorrow morning....gotta get dem plugs, maihn.

Plug not firing all the time makes me think coil or loose electrical connection to the coil.



09/15/2009 1102 hrs CDT ~ edit: Car started up like nothing had ever happened...but I'm still getting new plugs...