85 IT7 starting issues

[NBS2005]

Hi Folks,

I'm having trouble starting my RX. I've owned it for a few months and it's always been tough to start. Lots of cranking and fiddling with the fuel pump on off. Once started, it seems to run fine. However, yesterday I could not get it started at all. It's been real cold the last few days and it sits outside.

Other than confirming spark, fuel, and compression what other tips/tricks can you give me for getting a rotary started? Of course the first autocross is this Sunday.

Thanks for any and all help.

[bulldoezr]

Most of the IT7 cars I have seen are absolute junk. Try pumping the gas, then let off the gas while cranking to draw fuel into the system. If that does not work, pour fuel over the car and ignite!

[mbuskuhl]

Next time the car doesn't want to start for you, hook up jumper cables or a jumper box. If it starts after doing this, time to re-do your grounds and make sure you have a good battery.

[SLUF]

Take a good look at your ignition components; wires, plugs, distributor cap and rotor. If you don't know how long its been since you have changed them, do it now! Fuel filter too!

Our POS is pretty good about fouling plugs if not raced too often and just idled or very brief runs. Make sure you have fresh plugs, distributor cap, rotor, and good plug wires installed. A rotary does not like low RPM for too long before it will foul plugs pretty quickly. On race weekends we install fresh plugs every morning for the day's racing. The cap and rotor are every weekend changes. We use Racing Beat wires and replace them every year. Just have to keep stuff fresh a lot more often.

[NBS2005]

Well, it's flooded. I pulled the plugs and gas ran out. Do you guys use the motor oil down the carb trick for starting flooded rotaries?

I've been trying to start it regularly and let it get up to operating temp, but I may not be giving it enough time at high RPM. I can't drive it on the street, no plates and it's loud.

[dickita15]

These cars are start terrible on old plugs even in street form, so anytime you have a starting issue change the plugs. With a race prepped carb I always have to use ether the first time I start it each weekend then it is fine from then on. I never start the to load or unload it as I was told shuting it of cold was bad for it.

[#8rx7]

When mine hasnt been run for awhile i need to pump like carzy to get it fired.
After its been parked for the winter I pull it in 2 or 3 gear toget started. after that all is fine.