There always seems to be some small problem just to make things that much more irritating. I am sick as hell, had to run an errand for work and on the highway it my car starts to die. RPMs drop while going down the road. I put it in 3rd to get it to try to crank again and runs again but the same prob. I have the gas pedal down but nothing. Luckily a guy pulls over that has 2 first gens and helps me. Sprays starter fluid into carb idles a little rough and then starts running like a charm all the way to the house. Get in it about 6 hours later start it, warm up, drive about two blocks and starts to die again. will start up and idle then drop RPMs and die again. Starter fluid will keep it running for about 30 sec. but drops and dies again. Fuel problem????? or what. Oh and to top all of that off, in frustration I lock the doors and realize my keys are in the car. I just bought the car and have only one set to the car. any help with the dying problem.

 

Sounds like a fuel problem. Replace your fuel filter and check the fuel pressure and volume, and address appropriately.

These are 20+ year old cars, so minor problems are part of the package. However, I will say my 85 GS has had less problems than my son's 95 Neon!

 

if your door gaskets are leaky, take out the cargo compartment behind the driver and look at the electrical connectors to the fuel pump (the wires go through the floorpan there)
water pooled in mine so they rotted out (green powder), and i had to splice it on the side of the busiest highway in the area during rush hour... in the freezing cold. the tow trucks that gathered for the scene were mighty pizzed when Roxy fired up and spun gravel at em...vultures!

 

My mom had a 95 neon too. Do his spark plug wires have to be changed about every oil change? Hers did.

As for the problem, I'm guessing it is somethinf fuel related, make sure your fuel pump and all that stuff is working well, thats all I can really say.

Could it be a carb problem though? It would seem like if it is starting and idling for a time that you are getting good fuel, but something is goin awry with the carb, but that's just an idle guess, I really have no clue other than that.

 

^^ He means check the connectors to see if they're corroded underneath the driver's side storage bin. While you're there, check for continuous power when the key is on.

It sounds very fuel related. Change the fuel filter and check the pressure and volume as 31RX7 stated. I think that should solve your problem.

 

FAQs page is not acting right. Anyone know how to get to the how to manuals that are on here. I am trying to find out exactly where the fuel filter is. I remember seeing a manual on here that drawn out like a haynes. Thanks

 

http://www.wankel.net/~krwright/cars/rx7/85_manual.html

I second the fuel filter theory- mine did the same thing a few years back. Good luck!

 

i had the same issue a new fuel pump fixed it right up.
Let the car sit with key turned on so the fuel pump will run then try to start the car. It sould run for a short while

 

aye same problem here when i joined the forum... fuel filter fixed mine right up... 10$ for a good one from napa the napa gold one i think... or go to auto zone and get one for 3$ or if you live in ATL i have a spare one at the house give me a buzz.

 

Yeah, so I changed the fuel filter and damn it looks like I also need a good tank cleaning. The filter had brown crap that I could pour out of it. Looks like rust. Took a little while to get started then when it did it kind of ran a little funny. Seems like everything is ok for now. Going to take it on the second drive to go to work and find out how it does. Hopefully it will be straight all the way to work.

 

Ok. Have been driving for a little while now and have just started to have the problem again. Is it the fuel filter again? Hasn't even been a week. I know part of the problem is that my primaries are stuck open and secondaries are not spraying. But, I did not think that would cause me to drive down the road then start sputtering then rpms completely drop. I can give it full throttle, half throttle, or nothing at all and car still dies as I am going down the road. I might try sea foam and then filter again and see what happens. Seems to get bad when I get to a little more than a quarter of a tank. anymore opinions? Thanks
Kick ***.

 

Drain the tank and flush it, then replace the filter again, and keep a couple of spares with you.

 

Guess I will have to do that. Car died as I was pulling into my parking spot. Now it won't even crank. Almost like starter might be dead I guess. Turn on ignition. Lights and door buzzer comes on. Go to crank car and nothing. Never had any problem like this earlier. Just now. Weird. Any suggestions? I know not a lot of info but...................

 

I have not had any problems with it not starting like this before. I figured if it were something going out that I would probably have noticed something b4 now.

 

The filter being dirty may have been a red herring, it could be your having electrical problems. The fuel pump not delivering fuel may have been the start of it and now the starter isn't engaging. Start wokring through your wiring checking connectsion and grounds to make sure they are all good. Remember its 20+ years old. Some folks have replaced the main battery cables as a matter of practice because the old one were prone to get rotten and disintegrate. Search the forum for those threads.

 

Ok .... i know its a different car, But on my 96 ford probe ... i had the exact same problem! ... everyone said it was the fuel pump ... so i replace it and the fuel filter ...same problem. My car sits in the drive way for a week and finally i decide to change the battery b/c it was looking nasty. replaced the battery.... turned the key, runs like a charm. So turns out my alternator couldnt handle my 12 kicker comps and the engine with a bad cell battery. havent had a problem with it for almost 9months now. Not saying this is the solution, but might wana check into it

 

Before you drop the tank later 1st gens have a drain plug in the fuel tank, its sweet, just dump the old fuel( responsibly), add a little clean gas and dump it again. Then disconnect the fuel line at the carb and turn on the ignition, drain the cruddy fuel out of the lines. Then reconnect the fuel line and put a new filter in.

As for the starter, check the small wire that engages the solenoid, mine was broken about 12 inches up the wire, took me a long time and three starters to find it...lol. Also check all the battery connections including ground wires on inside of driver's side fender body and engine by the starter on the block.

 

thanks. I would have been pissed if I was not paying any attention and not notice that plug. That will cut out a lot of work.