My engine sounds like a volkswagen beetle now and vibrates like crazy. When I push down the gas pedal, it takes forever to accelerate. When driving, I have to REALLY downshift to get up hills and I can't go fast at all. What do you think the problem is? I replaced the fuel filter today and the plugs (which are getting spark, i checked) and wires were replaced about 1k miles ago. It ran fine before this. PLEASE help!!!

 

By the way, it is a 12A 4bbl with 163k - it was running fine and then all of a sudden it seemed like the clutch was slipping or something. How serious is the problem?

 

Double-check that you replaced all the spark plug wires in the right position, if you messed them up it can make your engine vibrate like hell and have no power (ask me how I know lol).

The vibrating thing doesn't worry me very much, it could be something as simple as your secondaries stuck open (happened to me). The major power loss is what worries me.

I think you should check your compression right away, search the forum for various ways of doing it. You need to eliminate that possibility before you diagnose further. If that turns out okay, it could be a bunch of different stuff. But you need to know first.

Good luck bro, we'll keep our fingers crossed!

 

How would I check to see if the secondaries are stuck open?

 

By the way - I checked all the spark plugs and they are in their correct location. HOWEVER, IF I PULL TRAILING PLUG #1 OUT, IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE WHAT SO EVER. THE SAME APPLIES TO TRAILING PLUG #2. Is this abnormal or what? There is spark going to the plug, but the plug isn't doing anything! What's up with this?

 

I had a similar problem, with the vibrating..
i had about 4 vacuum hoses that worked their way off...
check those little buggers. Of the 4, 3 were reallly small, and hard to get too. Once i put that last one on, the engine immediately stopped shaking and just purred again like normal.

 

Unfortunately it sounds very much like a broken apex seal. But check all the obvious things first like vacuum lines and make sure you're getting spark. If you can't find anything then do a compression test. Good luck.

 

I hate to say, after being the victim of like 2 or 3 engines, it sounds like an engine...Check the compression.. We're here to help Dont you just love the rotary!, no warning at all... One minute perfect next minute all screwed

But look on the bright side nows the time to do some performance mods If you wish to...

Anyways, I have a fully complete 12A block, its apart now, but the rotors, housings and everything are clean and ready to be put together. Includes everything 2 perfect rotor housings, the 3 side housings, front cover, water pump housing, carb, intake manifold, dizzy, exhaust manifold etc and a RB power pulse air filter and a K & N Filter... All for $300, just add a rebuild kit

 

HEY NOW MIKE, THAT'S MY STUFF!!!! Just kidding, but seriously, I am still very intent on buying it ALL. Finally got the engine out today, tommorrow I'll take it to my mechanic and will give you a holler, say, Wednesday.

 

Say, what're you doing with the front half of that engine?

 

OK, sounds good ole MIKEY needs the money for some more parts plus everything is everywhere in this garage

 

BY THE WAY, i got 2 more rear rotors too, so if anyone needs a good rear rotor...

 

A friend of mine had the same vibrating problem, although I don't know if there was a loss of power, but it turned out to be the motor mounts.

 

Nope, need a front rotor ('84-85), as well as a rotor housing.

 

How bout a whole engine/carb etc. and 5 speed with 72K original on em

 

peejay I got a front cover laying in a parts pile, im not sure what year it is, looks the same at the 85 ... Except for where the mount is. The bolts are different but I forget in what way, I think they are threaded instead of a stud sticking out ... PM if you need it... I got some rotor housings too, 1 has mild flaking the rest are grooved and are trash... But let me know

 

definetly a blown apex seal,
sounds just like my buddies rex that he put nos on,
yeah i know,
no one needs to say it

 

My engine was doing that same type of vibration a few months ago. it turned out that my carb was out of adjustment, and was letting too much fuel in causing the oil to not seal the rear rotor. Looks like it's gonna be a rebuild soon anyway, but after i readjusted the fuel it was fine.

 

Thanks for all your replies that were on topic. Man, I fear the worst. What is the ballpark range for replacing those apex seals? Can I check any vacuum lines that would cause the engine to vibrate and loose power? Are there any vacuum lines that are prone to going bad - where are they? Thanks.

 

Time to break out the violin.
If the apex seal(s) are indeed gone, I am considering taking it to a professional rotary mechanic. Anyone know of one close to the Northern New Jersey area? I've heard of KD Rotary in Nazareth, PA - are they pricey? I really don't have too much money to spend on this and I just want to get the car running well again. Thanks. BTW, see my post above - are there any vacuum lines that would be prone to cracking that I could check?

 

If the engine runs the same with the rear spark plugs REMOVED, then you have no compression to speak of on the rear rotor - engine is toasted.

Unfortunately, it's 99.9999% certain that the rotor and housing are also destroyed, which adds another $700-800 or so to the cost of repair (assuming you buy just one rotor and one housing - the other ones might be worn out too, and you really should replace housings in pairs anyway) so in the end it'd be far far cheaper to just get a good used engine and stuff it in there.

 

yup, same problem i had last monday. what is it with mondays and jerseys 1st gens. halfway to work, cars running fine, next thing u know it wants to die. no matter how much u rev the engine the rpms dont go anywhere. I hoped a little atf might help, and it did, it brought the idle down from 1400 rpms to 1000 rpms, but still no power and no compression.
this is what id like to do. http://rotaryracing.com/ff_cust_car_parker.htm

 

Wow. That really stinks. This is going to cost a fortune! So peejay, the rear spark plugs, meaning the trailing ones, when removed don't affect the engine performance? I guess I really ought to take it to a rotary mechanic. Anyone know of a good one in Northern NJ?

 

theres a mechanic in clifton or paterson. JRs rotary, if the search is working. do a search for him on the ne section. I know a guy, who knows a guy....lol, a friend of mines works on rotaries, but currently has no place to work at. So id say contact JRs first and then pm me and ill give my friend a call, to see if hes found a place yet.

 

The trailing plugs are the top plugs.