Cold start problems....

[mark-ashley]

Whenever i leave my FDS3 either overnight or for enough time that the engine cools completely, it\'s a right pain in the arse to start.

About a month or so ago it flooded so i had all the spark plugs out, cleaned them, cleared the excess fuel using a it of carb cleaner and got it going again however, it was a pain in the arse to start and was before this flooding.

I thought maybe the battery was on it\'s way out so i bought a new Bosch one, still a pain in the arse to start.

My next port of call was the spark plugs, had them all out today and cleaned them, still a pain in the arse to start.

An exact description of pain in the arse to start is as follows:

Car will turn over and over and over almost catching, then it may or may not catch. When it does, sounds like it\'s flooded or flooding and if you put your foot down i am sure it would flood completely.

It will run rough as a badgers bum for about 15 seconds, if i keep gently pushing the accelerator it will then spring into life and run just fine, you can pedal to the metal and the engine sounds as it should.

Any ideas ?

I don\'t whether it\'s the auto choke thing that pushes the engine to 3000 revs or so when cold and then drops back to normal idle maybe ?

Also, i have had an ongoing waterleak for the last six months or so.

Everytime i start the car the coolant alarm goes bonkers, i did find a pipe that was loose and have had this put back in place a couple of times.

This sorted it for a bit but the pipe kept coming off so it has been fixed in place with a jubilee clip now.

Today i had a look under the car after filling the coolant to the brim (can you overfill?) and noticed that water was literally running out of the bottom of the car so i took it for a run to see if i could find a garage whose ramp i could borrow, they were closed so i drove back, had another look and no more water running out, no coolant alarm on either.

Could this be contributing to my pain in the arse starting problem ?

Answers on a postcard please as i don\'t know where to look next !

Thank you....

[Sidzrx]

Sorry to say it mate but it sounds very much like water seal failure

[mark-ashley]

Thats bad isn\'t it.....

[FD3S Efini]

unfortunatley it is mate similar thing happened to my fd, it flooded and took a few days to get it started, stopped on he motorway at the services and it was almostcatching when starting but not quite then it would start but be at under 1000rpm so i would have to keep my foot on the acclerator and keep it turning over to clear the water out of the engine but after that it ran fine. sounds similar i think. best thing you can do is get it trailered to a rx7 specialist and get it checked over, explain what problems you are having then they will diagnose the fault, if it is a water seal failure depepnding on when your engine was rebuilt it may just be a case of getting the seals redone but if your engine is looking like it is close to needing a rebuild then you are probably best getting the full engine rebuilt with seals, oil ring, apex seals...the lot really.
 
please if i am wrong someone please correct me.
 
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news mate.
 
Kris

[mark-ashley]

Saying that tho, if it was a water seal failure, why is it that the car runs fine after it fires up ? There is nothing wrong with it oce it starts, doesn\'t run lumpy and i can\'t feel any flat spots in the acceleration, maybe hte water i saw running off was because i over filled?

[mark-ashley]

Ahh...

Just seen your post.


Sounds very similar to what i am experiencing and that would also explain the continuing water loss..

Tho, what was the water i saw running off then ?

Got the car on a ramp and the pipe that came off before is still on so it\'s not that\'s leaking...

[FD3S Efini]

well after i started mine up and the water cleared from the engine the alarm would go off and id top up the coolant but after that it would run fine, it would still accelerate as fast and sound the same until i switched it off and tried to start it again. also when it starts its there white smoke coming from the exhaust or anything like that?

[mark-ashley]

There was a bit of white smoke if i remember rightly. Gonna let it cool down, start it again later with the rad cap off and topped up with coolant to look for bubbles, a sure fire sign apparently, will check the white smoke then...

Fingers crossed it\'s something else but to be honest, i think it may well be the seals, boo......

[mark-ashley]

Just out of interest, how much did you pay to get yours sorted out ?

[FD3S Efini]

well im taking mine on sturday to get a full engine rebuild all seals and tips and everything and im taking it to hayward rotary...he is on here message him for prices mate he is very helpful.
 
Kris

[francovel3]

well im taking mine on sturday to get a full engine rebuild all seals and tips and everything and im taking it to hayward rotary...he is on here message him for prices mate he is very helpful.
 
Kris

how much to they charge for there rebuilds

[FD3S Efini]

give him a message mate he will give you all the details on the rebuild as they offer different types. look in the hayward rotary section and you can ask him. he is very helpful and helped put my mind to rest.
 
Kris

[Paul-Tll]

Check the heat range of your plugs, may help to try some warmer plugs. The cooling system will chuck out excess water if overfilled, (on the ground, front drivers side)
Paul

[mark-ashley]

Hmm, mine was chucking out water on the front passenger side... Also, when i pulled the plugs on one of them there were a couple of little white deposits, best thing i can describe them looking like would be a couple bogeys ! Not sure if that is melted water seals maybe. I haven\'t had a chance to start the car again and see if there is a ton of white smoke coming out the back and the bubbling in the water tank, will check tonight, fingers crossed for neither but sods law will have both !

[matt p]

Good luck mate, let us know how it goes