For your reading amusement:
http://www.fullsizebronco.com/forum/...d.php?t=153684

 

So it finally happened today. I'm cruising in to work this morning, doing the speed limit +10 about two miles north of the Hamilton Mills exit on 85, when just like that the White One lost power - no warning, no unusual noise, just a sudden major loss of power, like it was firing on just the trailing igniters or only one rotor. So I nursed it off the Hamilton Mill exit, just barely managing to maintain 55 mph (no hills, thank goodness) and pulled into the Shell station there.

My diagnostics so far, performed at the Shell station:

1. Switching igniters made no difference
2. Returning to the original stock coils made no difference
3. Looks like fuel is squirting into the primaries normally, although I couldn't see much fuel in the front view window.
4. Towed it home (thank you Allstate).

It's sitting there waiting for me to get home, I'll check the spark and pull the plugs this evening and see if I can figure it out. Might even pick up a ghetto compression tester on the way home.

 

Take a look at the plugs?

 

That's what I figure, the plugs should tell the story. Unfortunately I didn't have a plug wrench in the car when it happened or I would have checked that at the Shell station. That's the first thing I'll check (after the spark) when I get home.

Anybody ever have this happen? What caused it?

Incidentally Tim, that HHO stuff is not to be believed, it's right up there with perpetual motion machines and evolution deny'ers on the bullshit scale.

 

Ray, I left a message on your cell phone, but we all know you don't get messages. I'll give you a call when I leave work tonight and see if you need a hand. You might need someone to hand you tools or something.

 

Or beer....

Ray, you're welcome to use either of my compression testers. Remember that you can learn a lot by pulling the trailing plug and just listening. Sorry for your loss, my friend.

 

^^ That's my test. If I don't get 3 good woosh's out of each rotor I start to worry. Sorry to hear of the possible death of the white one. Time for a transplant waiting list.

 

It's not a definite yet. It could be something simple. I'd wait until you look at the plugs before completely giving up (which I know you will). Did it idle at all?

Yeah, I posted the HHO thing for amusement purposes. I like when the people actually start saying the laws of thermo are BS. I also like how his "proof" of the gas mileage is a gas reciept with a hand written mileage number on it. I can make my car get 1000mpg like that . I think the people who are getting any improvement are the ones that also mod the O2 sensor to trick the engine into running extremely lean. In which case I can see a small improvement, but taking a Bronco from 13-14 to 38mpg average? I'm calling BS.

Also, I hate to break it to all the conspiracy theorists out there. If it worked like that, someone would have actually patented it and sold it, no matter what the "oil companies did to surpress it."

Still, good for a laugh.

 

I'm with Tim, I'm not even thinking death yet. Nope won't idle, you need to pump it plenty of gas to keep it running. There's something seriously wrong, but 12As never die, right?

I'm having a beer, then going out to look at it. Thanks for the tip on the trailing plugs Crit and Dave and the offer for the compression tester (I picked up the free tool loan autozone compression tester on the way home, if I want to get mathematical).

I'll try that first, listen for the three good whooshs. And Mike I'll give you a call if I need someone to hold my beer or conduct the funeral services. Thank you for the offer of assistance. I figure if the 12A does die, I'll bury her out in the pet cemetery with Surely and Post-It.

But chances are she'll be running fine by sun down, then I'm going to get some of that HHO so I can get 38 mpg too.

 

That really stinks... Seeing my car on a tow truck for the first time killed me. It's good that you're being positive about it all, though. If you need any help tomorrow afternoon before the meet and you're not working, I'll be at Collin's and I'm sure we could ride over and give a hand for a little while.

On a happy note, I'm driving the red one for a few days. On to Gainesville I go, now.

 

if youre going to gainesville come by my house and take some parts w/ you!!!!

 

Ray: Could be as simple as the shutter valve being hosed and cutting air/fuel to the rear rotor. Recently someone posted in the 1st gen section about that happening to him. He thought the engine was dead, but turned out to be that pesky shutter valve.

Check list:
- ghetto compression test (listen for the even wooshes from each rotor)
- check leading ignition (you already did this)
- check the shutter valve

If all else fails..SEAFOAM! .. it fixed it last time.

My old SA gave up the ghost in a similar fashion (just driving normally). Lost lots of power. Could only do 50-55MPH at WOT. Rough idle. Still could drive it..no smoke (I would like to see a boinger be able to do that on half an engine ). Turned out that I tossed a rear apex seal and it tore up the rear rotor/housing (no compression at all on rear rotor). I put another 12A in it and sold it (had my current GSL-SE at the time too). The new buyer loved the car, but put it into a tree about 4 months later and sent the car to RX-7 Heaven. I understand that he sold the drivetrain so it may be still be putting life into another 7 somewhere out there.

 

And now this little item about the "Clunkers" program.
Check it out....

http://www.infowars.com/cars-gov-log...your-computer/

 

I know, I was just making the obligatory " dude you blew up your engine" post I have faith in the 12A I have come to enjoy driving that alot. Fun little cars. Good luck with testing.

 

Me too Dave, but listen to this:

 

And this:

 

and this:

 

Yeah the rear doesn't sound good. Did you have the throttle wide open? It will help give better woosh's with more air in the engine. But, that rear sounds dead to me. I am sorry. but the technology is here to make it better , stronger and good for another 150k

Rebuild at the lakehouse??? That would be better than a trip to the Dam

 

Ray: Check this out...

https://www.rx7club.com/1st-generation-specific-1979-1985-18/scare-new-motor-lost-rotor-851825/

Either it is this or you tossed an apex seal. I bet the White One still has some life left in her..so I say the shutter valve until that is eliminated.

 

That would be sweet if it were that instead. I forget about all those things that i removed from the FB engine.

 

Well shucks thank you Dave, that's tempting about the Lakehouse Grease Party but I've been looking for an excuse to get the Silver One going, I think this is it (will it be there Saturday? Only Mike knows).

Kent the shutter valve was eliminated the last time the White One got pissy, worked great for the last year. But this time she's kinda low on compression in the rear rotor (like 0) so I think she's looking for some time out.

On to the Silver One:

 

Just make sure you align the wheels properly and all will be fine with the Silver One

 

When the shutter valve was removed, was the butterfly removed or just wired open? If wired, check that it is still wired open. If that butterfly is closed, it will have the same symptoms as a blown apex.

 

OK Kent, I'll check that first thing tomorrow, and if so, I owe you a beer or two, or three and maybe some red leather seats thrown in.

 

Ray, sorry to hear about the white car...but you're right, now is a very good excuse to put the silver car back on the road. If you'd like, I can at least help you clean up the interior... I'm the master of making things look pretty again.

I'll be there at the meet tomorrow night in Wanda, my new FC... She's no longer slammed and pretty scraping the ground... but she's still nice.