Young Version — August 1999

A rotary-specialist shop in Tomisato, Chiba! This is Amemiya’s antenna shop, with several cool demo cars on display. Inside are plenty of race photos and original goods. They can answer any question about rotary cars! If you drive a Seven, this is a must-see. From the Tomisato IC on the Higashi-Kanto Expressway, turn right and continue straight; you’ll see it on the left after about 10 minutes.

The Seven’s biggest problem is flooding! Because of their design, rotary engines burn gasoline and oil together, so they are especially prone to flooding. If the engine will not start, try this first. A sports muffler and racing plugs are essential! But using racing plugs around idle speed will almost certainly cause flooding. Once flooded, it becomes even easier to flood again, so plugs wear out quickly. To extend plug life, rev the engine properly up to high RPM. As a guideline, replace them every 7,000–8,000 km. Leaving them too long makes flooding more likely!

Sensors are another weak point. The FD’s sensor reliability improved, so failures are now uncommon, but the FC’s throttle-position sensor and airflow meter are weak. If the engine feels like it is choking, those are likely places to check. The metering oil pump is another failure-prone point; check it if the engine stops revving while driving. On tuned cars with additional injectors, a failure here can trigger the ECU’s fuel-safety mode and briefly cut fuel, which can damage the engine, so be careful! A countermeasure is expected this year… Since many problems are heat-related, it is better to fit heat shields and take preventive measures.