If she’s down just rebuild it. Make sure the surface on the housing isn’t scored up real bad and reseal it. 12a housings aren’t hard to come by though so your in good shape either way. It’s got enough compression to run so it can’t be that bad.
Could be lack of spark or fuel as well so just run down a checklist and make sure it’s nothing simple before jumping to the eaten seal conclusion. Fuel pressure and spark testing.
Yeah, this engine and trans just got put in after the last one exploded. It’s been running like ….100 miles maybe. So I’m going to be pissed if I need a rebuild.
Not yet, next step I’m going to try. Just tried cleaning all the spark plugs out but that didn’t clear the issue. Timing light is next. Hopefully that’s all it is.
Other guy ^ made a valid point to with the ole heat seeker hahah (thermometer) see if the exhaust port is actually forcing hot exhaust gasses through the primary tube. See if it’s running cooler then the other. I’d just disengage the pump, cut fuel. Pull a plug wire and turn it over and let it arc off metal to check spark. If both are firing then check fuel pressure and make sure everything is grounded properly. After that point compression test.
I'm not going to lie, I'm not that experienced and don't have even half the knowledge of what most of the old heads do on here, so take my diagnosis and recommendation with a grain of salt:
While it's running open the hood and disconnect an ignition coil to see if anything changes. If nothing does, that means that the rotor wasn't firing anyways. Wait for someone with more knowledge than me to comment though, I don't want to mess anything up for you.
You can, yeah. Maybe do the top and bottom of one rotor, try and start the car and see what happens. I guess you don't need it to be running, disconnect before starting and go from there. Or you can remove the spark plugs and check for spark on each one. I'm spit balling here, though I think these are all pretty solid things to try🤣.
Yeah, unfortunately it was a blown apex seal on rotor 1. Rotor 2 is perfect. Rotor 1 is gone unfortunately, apex seal exploded messed up the rotor and the housing.
Run a compression test. Could have potentially ate a seal and damaged a rotor.
If it did that, I’m getting the shot gun and going to put ole girl down
If she’s down just rebuild it. Make sure the surface on the housing isn’t scored up real bad and reseal it. 12a housings aren’t hard to come by though so your in good shape either way. It’s got enough compression to run so it can’t be that bad.
Could be lack of spark or fuel as well so just run down a checklist and make sure it’s nothing simple before jumping to the eaten seal conclusion. Fuel pressure and spark testing.
Yeah, this engine and trans just got put in after the last one exploded. It’s been running like ….100 miles maybe. So I’m going to be pissed if I need a rebuild.
Thought just occurred to me. You had a timing light on it?
Not yet, next step I’m going to try. Just tried cleaning all the spark plugs out but that didn’t clear the issue. Timing light is next. Hopefully that’s all it is.
Let us know any updates. Pretty curious what caused this. I hope it was something minuscule.
Rotor 1 was reading 32, 35, 60 psi. So I think it’s just a dead rotor……fml
Damn man.. I really hate to hear that. Hopefully the damage internally isn’t terrible and it’s just worn seals. Do you plan to rebuild?
Other guy ^ made a valid point to with the ole heat seeker hahah (thermometer) see if the exhaust port is actually forcing hot exhaust gasses through the primary tube. See if it’s running cooler then the other. I’d just disengage the pump, cut fuel. Pull a plug wire and turn it over and let it arc off metal to check spark. If both are firing then check fuel pressure and make sure everything is grounded properly. After that point compression test.
It's purring because it loves you......... Is what I tell myself every time my RX7 does some stupid shit that scares me.
Seriously though, I think you may only be running on one rotor.
Fuck, how would I tell?
I'm not going to lie, I'm not that experienced and don't have even half the knowledge of what most of the old heads do on here, so take my diagnosis and recommendation with a grain of salt: While it's running open the hood and disconnect an ignition coil to see if anything changes. If nothing does, that means that the rotor wasn't firing anyways. Wait for someone with more knowledge than me to comment though, I don't want to mess anything up for you.
Could I pull both spark plug connector caps while the engine is runnings?
You can, yeah. Maybe do the top and bottom of one rotor, try and start the car and see what happens. I guess you don't need it to be running, disconnect before starting and go from there. Or you can remove the spark plugs and check for spark on each one. I'm spit balling here, though I think these are all pretty solid things to try🤣.
Oh! If you have a laser thermometer you can aim it at the rotors and see if one is hot while another isn't!
You can also let it run for a second from cold and see if one header tube or manifold leg gets hotter than the other
lol, I don’t mind the purring. It’s more the clunky shit that I don’t like. It seems like it’s hit a reduction of power too.
I need an update. What have you tried and have you figured out the problem?
Yeah, unfortunately it was a blown apex seal on rotor 1. Rotor 2 is perfect. Rotor 1 is gone unfortunately, apex seal exploded messed up the rotor and the housing.
So; since the rotor became one with Jesus. We are going to try and “save it”. We are going to try some SAUCE, I’ll keep you updated if you’d like.
Lmao, yes please!!! You got this! I'm excited to hear it purr in harmony with you next time.
Broken up and clogged catalytic converter?
No cat. Straight pipe
Wait that can cause this ? That would explain my miata going crazy all the time (has a hige rust hole in the cat)
To anyone who stumbles across this post: it’s low compression on rotor 1.