I have searched for almost 2 hours and cant find any answers so I am hoping someone can help. I will try to keep this as short and sweet as possible. I have an 05 automatic with 86k miles. I put in a new, upgraded starter at the end of September. I drove my car last on October 31, for several hours, off and on (50-60 miles total), came home with the gas gauge on empty and parked it. It got super cold and icy, so the car sat for about 4 weeks. We tried to start it with no luck. I added 2 gallons of gas, hooked it up to another car with some jumper cables, tried a few more times, ended up getting it to start, it had a very rough idle and died (I think it was flooded). The car sat 2 more weeks. I put a few more gallons of gas in it, charged the battery, then hooked up the battery to some jumper cables for some extra amps, and tried to start it, but it wouldn't crank, it just makes a funny whining noise. We held the gas pedal down and cranked several times, but there is no difference in sound or the way the car is acting. It refuses to crank, it doesn't even try. The belts are turning, but it sounds like the starter isn't engaging, it is just freely spinning. I know the starter worked fine, because the car started fine before it was parked. This is my first rotary, and I don't know a ton about them. Any suggestions?

ETA: I just got the car in July, and don't know the history on what has or has not been done, other than the starter, a new radiator, and a new coolant reservoir. I do have hot start issues that were not resolved with the new starter (hoping and praying for them to be fuel pump issues, rather than compression issues). I am wanting to do a compression test, but can't do that until I can get this stupid car running!

 

If the belts are turning, the engine is turning over. You didn't remove the plugs to deflood it and forget to replace them ?

 

Nope. I actually went out yesterday and removed all 4 plugs, thinking maybe it's extremely flooded. I didn't do the de-flood procedure though because I was waiting for confirmation from someone on the location of my crank position sensor.

 

Is this my crank position sensor ?

 

yes and no, it is actually the Eccentric shaft sensor,fyi, rotaries do not have a crankshaft. If you wish to clean it, just spray some Maf cleaner and wipe it with a cloth, if you are planning on removing the ESS, take care as some owners have suffered a broken retaining bolt. Can you elaborate how the belts are turning and the engine is not ?

 

IT just sounds like the engine isn't cranking at all. You can hear the starter, and the belts are moving, but there is no sounds of the engine trying to start. You can hear a very deep rumble, which resembles the rumble of bass from a stereo as you are trying to start the car. Once you let go of the key, the starter winds down, the belts stop, and then you hear something else winding down.

As far as the ESS goes, this is what I unplug to deflood, correct? I just want to make sure I unplug the right thing. This is my first rotary, so I am learning all over again.

One more question. Once we unplug the sensor, and do the deflood procedure, I squirt oil into all 4 plug holes with a syringe before putting my plugs back in, right?

Thank you for your help.

 

You don't unplug the ESS to deflood.
You can clean it without unplugging or removing it.
You can take the fuel pump fuse out.
I've heard of squirting oil into the plug hole, but I'm not sure it's necessary.

 

Btw, CRO8TIA is actually in Croatia, so it's pretty late there now.

 

here is how i would attack it.

clean ess
remove plugs let dry
remove fuel pump fuse
charge the hell out of battery
spin engine over with all the plugs out, this will clear fuel.
when you are doing this i would one by one check the plugs and make sure they fire..

after you have completed the above then

add a couple of cc of engine oil front and rear housing, lower plug hole
spin the motor for 10 sec after doing this
reinstall plugs making sure everything is in the right hole and with right wire
reset ess, 20 brake stomps with key on, but before cranking
start car
allow it run till the radiator fans come on.

go out an have a cocktail!

dont shortcut, do it right the first time.

beers