1st Gen Starting Problems

[pyro]

Picked a black 1985 RX7 up, last weekend, as something to get around in while my other car is being repaired and I\'ve come to rather like it.
 
I\'d really like to keep/fix/improve it but I\'m not sure if its salvagable without major work, so I thought I\'d ask you guys.
 
Before I got my hands on it, it\'d been standing for well over 6 months, only being started occasionally. When I got there, it was very difficult to start but I put that down to the lack of running.
 
However, this problem hasn\'t improved, in the slightest. I know its very cold at the moment but its taking multiple attempts and very long cranking periods to get the car to start and even then, its at a bit of a limp.
 
Choke in or out, doesn\'t seem to make any difference to starting, nor does using the accelerator. If I stop at junctions, just after starting, its prone to cutting out and is then even harder to restart.
 
The car looked to have a \'generic\' backbox that fell off, part-way home. I\'ve since had a proper one \'welded\' on as the rear join had been welded solid but there\'s still a pretty big leak towards the front. At least its quieter, now.
 
I\'m a complete newbie, where rotaries are concerned, so I\'m not even really sure where to start looking. Plugs, perhaps?

[interloper393]

not thats clued up on 1st gens but id start with the basics bud.

New battery as they need alot of power to start.
new plugs and leads.
new fuel filter, drain the old petrol out and refil with nice new stuff..
Have thecompression tested to see if alls well

tis all i cn think of the noo lol

[pyro]

Think the battery is new. I\'ll have a look for new plugs, tomorrow, after the windscreen is replaced. No idea where to get leads from, though...
...or where the fuel filter is. :o

[interloper393]

hehe have a nosey through the 1st gen section on the site, may have a few more tips for ya bud.

[pyro]

Having a poke around in the engine bay and found 2 random holes. Any ideas?
Also, the spark plug leads are very loose. Knock them out quite easily with a finger, loose. They look in decent nick, though. In fact, they look brand new, so does the air filter.
 

 

[elford_tim]

You\'re missing the hot air tube that goes from the heat shield up to the air filter housing. Get some corrugated, flexible alloy tubing from your local motor factors as a replacement.

If I were you I\'d get the car to somewhere where they can do a proper rotary compression test so you know if the engine is any good - no point in chucking money at other parts if the lump turns out to be duff.

[pyro]

Well, WGT re-opens on the 2nd. I might as well have a trundle down there. If the engine is knackered, I\'m not sure what I\'ll do with it. Its definitely in the \'too good to scrap\' category. =/
 
The hose you say I\'m missing...which hole would that be and would it affect starting, any? Mystery holes is actually freaking me out, some.
 
Car seems to have electrical \'issues\' also. Fog light illuminates the driver\'s side reverse light. Electric mirror controls do nothing. Door opening \'courtesy\' light does nothing but the rotating one works fine. Driver\'s side front indicator isn\'t working. A/C doesn\'t work, although the light came one, once and the rear heated window seems to work, very occasionally.
 
Its all good fun.

[elford_tim]

Top picture (exhaust heat shield) to the bottom of the air filter housing. Not sure about the other one, been a while a since I had first gen. I guess Pip will know.

If the body one your car is good then it is worth keeping, even if it wants a rebuild. Good 1st gens are getting very, very rare these days.

[pyro]

Cool, thanks. I\'ll have a pop over to the auto place, see if he\'s got anything that\'ll do the job.
 
This is all bad. Very bad. Its not helping my lust for an FD, in the slightest.

[oldone]

Lets get back to the basics before you want to run the motor........check the oil levels,check the plugs and plug leads.Make sure you have got spark on all plugs.Check your timing on the motor,do a static set in if need be just to get the motor running.If it has been stood for some time,oxidation tends to appear inside the dizzy cap.Clean if need be.Rotor and contact points should be free of all dirt.Ensure you have got clean fresh petrol in system.Check and see if your carb is actually delivering fuel and that the secondies are not stuck.Check that all vacuum pipes are connected at base of carb,if missing...just plug the holes,if it fires up...increase your idle speed a tad so you can work on the motor without it cutting out all the time.The carb could be out of setting.Make sure you have a strong battery !......have fun. :Thumbsup! :Typing

[pyro]

Battery, I think, is new. Certainly looks it. Car runs and drives okay, once warm. Its just the cold start, that is a pain.
 
Got a full (onto my 3rd) tank of optimax. D\'no if this is the right stuff but I figure it\'d do more good than harm, unless the additives eat seals?
 
Oil levels look good. Its just below the high level on the dipstick. Plugs are clean and look in good condition but I am unsure as to the correct gapping. Gaps are even, at least.
 
The rest of the stuff I am kinda lost on. Mechanical newbie, as well as rotary newbie. :3Confused
 
Do have a very retro looking haynes manual, though.

[oldone]

Well then its not that bad at all........:cool :cheers ..cold starting,mmmm ensure that your choke is actually working,as well as the hot\\cold assist systems.If you are like me (hope not) ,I strip off all the gizmo and gadgets on the air cleaner..i.e.spring loaded flap on the air cleaner intake,lose the front plastic bit on the intake as well,remove all electric connections to air cleaner.Dissconnect all start assist bits and bobs........:evillaugh  All being equal,the car should fire from cold,with just blip of the throttle before turning the key.........:evillaugh
As the motors become worn,all the start assist stuff is more of a hinderance to startup than an aid,ends up that the motor get flooded etc......
Have you still got all the emmision pipes and goodies on the motor ?......

[pyro]

I have no clue, whatsoever, if I have all the relevant pipework. :Hammer
Judging by the 2 holes I\'ve found so far, I\'d say there\'s been some fettling in the engine bay.
The choke works, or at least I know it works when the car is started. Pulled right out, the car idles at a little over 2k, with it in, it inevitably stalls. Gradually, as the car warms up, the choke slides itself back in, which is nice.
 
I\'m not sure if the car is flooding itself, on starting, which is why its such a chore. It\'d certainly explain the extended turn over periods.
Then again, it could be bad spark, or low compression, too.
 
Due to the sparkplug leads being so loose on the plugs, I\'m a little dubious about \'testing\' the spark. I\'m pretty sure the plug will fall out. =/
 
Windscreen is replaced. The rest of the day is dedicated to an external bodywork cleanup.
Looks like this car was once gold. The \'gold\' RX7 pintstripe and decals have been paint stripe taped over. Gold decals on a gold car? I don\'t get it.