Sub zero starting assist?
 

Just picked up my new project car, 86 FC. Heres the problem ... The car would start everytime with no problem then would just die out. I had a friend of mine who knows a decent amount more then me about rotaries come over and take a look at it and we got it to stay running by switching the trailing sparkplug wires around. It would run really rough and the two rear sparkplugs had a small amount of oil or gas on them. I cleaned the plugs and started the car up again and let it run with some fuel system cleaner in and then called it a day. the next day i come out to start it and it didnt want to stay running so i did the spark plug wire trick again and it stayed running. I forgot to mention that if i rev up the engine it dies out and I revved it so it died out then immediately would not start back up again as if the starter went in a split second. I didnt get to test the starter yet but it came to my attention today that the sub zero starting assist resivor and possibly hoses have been removed from the car. I was wondering if this could be an issue as to why the car wont start now? I plugged up the hose that would be connected to the resivor also just before this and tried unplugging it with no success. My friend also said the the rear rotor housing has little to no compression but this is being said without a true compression test. When the car was starting it did feel as if the rotor was rubbing the housing on the insdie of the engine but i checked for freeplay on the eccentric shaft and it seemed tight to me. If its time for a new engine then its whatever, i have plans for the car anyway. This really has me confused and Id figure id throw it out there to see what yous all think it could be? sub zero? starter shot? low compresion? maybe even engine seized? thanks in advance guys

Please stop switching the trailing plug wires around. :) This is just radically messing up plug timing and will lead to a blown engine if you start driving around like this.

The sub zero assist system was likely removed on Mazda's instructions. They issued a TSB to remove it. It never worked.

It sounds like you should ignore the advice of your friend.

But he could be right on the compression issue. Then again, compression can be low or nonexistent due to flooding.

First, totally unflood the car. Crank it over without any leading plugs and the EGI fuse pulled until fuel stops spraying from the plug holes. Then put about an ounce of oil into each hole and reinstall the plugs. Try to start the car.

If it keeps flooding, perform a quick compression test:
http://www.aaroncake.net/rx-7/blown.htm

It is also possible that an injector has failed open. This can produce the same symptoms of a blown engine.

Thanks for the help aaroncake. I havent really driven the car more then a few feet since i bought it and i made sure to switch the plugs back around after i got it to stay running. im pretty sure my starter is shot so im going to need to replace the starter before i can even do a compression test :( i hope that it is just a leaking or bad injector and not low compression. im going to keep you posted on the issue, thanks again

im replacing the starter tomorrow so i should be able to try the deflooding procedure tomorrow... < just updating.

found out it wasnt the starter it was a wire running to it that was cut and spliced 3 times. replaced it and the car starts and dies out still. im doing the deflooding and hopefully a compression test also tomorrow.

ok so today i went out to start the car and it started but shut off on me like i said it does and then did not start again. i checked the wires at the battery and the starter again and theyre fine but i think the wires running from the starter to the battery are shorting out so im going to be replacing them within the next day or two and i will post up the results from the deflooding and compression test asap.

still have the problem with the starter. got it tested at autozone and it was ok, i tested the wires and they have power going to them at both ends, the ignition switch is fine or there would be no power running to the starter and the engine isnt seized because i spun the eccentric shaft with my hand and it spun fine. i looked at all the fuses also and they are fine, any help???

So did you try unflooding the car?

I sadly didnt get to try unflooding the car yet. Tomorrow Im going to buy a new bolt for the starter since it broke and immediately after that Im trying the deflood, Ill let you know how it turns out.

still didnt get to it today, tomorrow definitely!

I keep saying Im going to get to it. I literally have about 30 cents to my name right now so I have to wait to get paid next weekend to FINALLY buy some of the parts I need for my 7. I still plan on posting everything when I get to it.