RX-7 Starting Problem

I have a 1989 Mazda RX-7, which over the last few months has occasionally
been hesitant to start. On these occasions it would turn over and fire
immediately, but after about 1 second it would stop - like it was not
getting fuel. When this happened I could rely on this repeating for maybe 3
times before it would finally start, following which it would operate
perfectly. This scenario might happen irrespective of whether the engine was
hot or cold.

Well now, I am getting the same situation PERMANENTLY! Fortunately it got to
this point while parked in my garage so I was not caught out requiring a
tow.

But I can't figure out what the problem is. Seems to me like it could be the
air flow meter, but the conductivity and resistances check out pretty much
as per the manual, and I hate to purchase a new unit without knowing that
this would fix the problem. I guess it could be the fuel pump, but the fact
that over these last few months when the problem was intermittent, once it
started it run fine making me think that the gas is getting pumped without a
problem.

I did change out the fuel filter a few months ago, but that didn't have any
effect.

If anyone else has experienced a similar problem and could give me some
guidance I would be most appreciative.

If all else fails I guess I will have to have it towed to the dealers, but I
am sure that route will be rather expensive for a 20 year old vehicle!

Dave Ellis

For those who might experience a similar problem. it turned out to be caused
by a bad contact in the ignition switch. So I disassembled it, cleaned up
and put Vaseline on the contacts and it now works like a charm.

At some point I will probably have to purchase a new switch - but at least I
now know the problem if it occurs again.

Dave Ellis


Dave Ellis
"Dave Ellis" <dveellis@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:yNydnbcsj89ItLjXnZ2dnUVZ_hCdnZ2d@earthlink.co m...
>I have a 1989 Mazda RX-7, which over the last few months has occasionally
> been hesitant to start. On these occasions it would turn over and fire
> immediately, but after about 1 second it would stop - like it was not
> getting fuel. When this happened I could rely on this repeating for maybe
> 3
> times before it would finally start, following which it would operate
> perfectly. This scenario might happen irrespective of whether the engine
> was
> hot or cold.
>
> Well now, I am getting the same situation PERMANENTLY! Fortunately it got
> to
> this point while parked in my garage so I was not caught out requiring a
> tow.
>
> But I can't figure out what the problem is. Seems to me like it could be
> the
> air flow meter, but the conductivity and resistances check out pretty much
> as per the manual, and I hate to purchase a new unit without knowing that
> this would fix the problem. I guess it could be the fuel pump, but the
> fact
> that over these last few months when the problem was intermittent, once it
> started it run fine making me think that the gas is getting pumped without
> a
> problem.
>
> I did change out the fuel filter a few months ago, but that didn't have
> any
> effect.
>
> If anyone else has experienced a similar problem and could give me some
> guidance I would be most appreciative.
>
> If all else fails I guess I will have to have it towed to the dealers, but
> I
> am sure that route will be rather expensive for a 20 year old vehicle!
>
> Dave Ellis
>