Struggling to start and coolant buzzer

[kevinb]

Few days ago my car struggled to start. It started but felt like it was just about to die.
It made sounds like a pneumatic drill, I put my foot on the go pedal and it didnt do anything, left it for a few seconds and it suddenly sorted itself out and was like normal! Its done it a few times now and last night when it done it a ton of grey smoke came out the back for 5 minutes and then it was fine?
 
Anyone have ideas?
 
Also, the bloody coolant buzzer keeps going off and theres loads of coolant in there?
 
can the two be related perhaps?
 
any help would be great

[Lum]

sorry to be the bearer of bad news mate but they sound like symptoms of coolant seal failure.
The struggling to start is likely to be due to there being coolant sat in one of the rotor housings & the rough starting is probably the car firing on only 1 rotor, then after a minute the other one will kick into life and all will seem fine.
Random coolant buzzer & lots of white/grey smoike on start up are also classic symptoms.

[kevinb]

does that mean rebuild basically?

[zack]

does that mean rebuild basically?

Unfortunately pal, got exactly the same symptoms with my FD and Its soon going in for a rebuild

[kevinb]

I think im about to cry!
 
Looks like ill need to get it checked over pretty soon then!

[Jono FD3]

Also, where are you checking the coolant level??? if it\'s in the overflow tank with the plastick dipstick thing, then your looking in the wrong area..... you need to pip off the filler car on the engine itself to check the level!!

Jono

[M@r]{]

And what ever you do dont let it over heat - otherwise the rebuild costs start escalating at an alarming rate!!

[teabagger]

Get it checked out somewhere mate. If it is seals it\'ll go downhill fairly quickly so if you wait too long you\'ll have to push/tow it the quarter mile from your house to qualify for free recovery.

[kevinb]

is there any way to check myself?
 
and is there the smallest possibilty it could be something else?

[nikp]

You could get any garage to do a sniffer test to see if there are exhaust gasses in the coolant, and also they should be able to pressure test the coolant system. If either of those tests fail then it seals.

[kevinb]

and any garage should be able to do these tests?

[teabagger]

yeah any decent garage should be able to check the coolant for hydrocarbons (think it\'s called that).

[kevinb]

im scared to drive it now! looks like my weekend has been planned though!
 
anybody wanna buy an 93 rx7 import?
 
or anybody have a cheap cheap little runabout for sale?

[michaelb]

im scared to drive it now! looks like my weekend has been planned though!
 
anybody wanna buy an 93 rx7 import?
 
or anybody have a cheap cheap little runabout for sale?

Hi Mate

Where about are you in London ?  I am in N8 ( Crouch End )

I can recommend two places you could go to have your car checked out//

regards,
Michaelb

[kevinb]

im down in croydon. anywhere down here you know?