This is scarin the hell outta me

[sunflower4140]

The more I read up on these cars its making me wonder if I made the right decision....bought my son an 88 rx7 for 1700. (great body and interior) Exhaust system shot, getting worked on. Mechanic checked out everything. The only prob. he found besides exhaust was wiper motor, but read somewhere about problems with the switches anyway. The dealer had to know about this problem so he is fixing it. It has 177,000 miles. I have had some positive reviews and some not. My son is taking auto tech at school and I hope this will be good project car for him but from some of the posts I have read I am going to have to rebuild the motor soon (?) I got about 14 days left to make a decision on this car about keeping or taking the dealer to court and get my damn money back. And if I decide to keep what are my options as far as motor goes? rebuild or find a used one less miles....

[Capt.Moe]

You can take the dealer to court all you want. There's no way for him to know how long that motor will last, as for some people it lasts for a very long time, other people it won't. Depends on previous owners, regular maintance, the works. As a rotary thou, if it has been sitting for any length of time without being run, the apex seals could get damaged.

You can rebuild them, does not cost too much, I personally wouldn't recommend doing it yourself.

You can go out and buy a rebuilt, depending on where you are and where the nearest RX7 Specialty shop is. The Ammount in CND is about 2000 for the block, then since your son is in Auto, he can swap all the parts over, would make a lovely project car.

I have an 86 and an 88 that I am currently working on, both project cars. I love them to bits.

[sunflower4140]

Originally Posted by Capt.Moe

You can take the dealer to court all you want. There's no way for him to know how long that motor will last, as for some people it lasts for a very long time, other people it won't. Depends on previous owners, regular maintance, the works. As a rotary thou, if it has been sitting for any length of time without being run, the apex seals could get damaged.

You can rebuild them, does not cost too much, I personally wouldn't recommend doing it yourself.

You can go out and buy a rebuilt, depending on where you are and where the nearest RX7 Specialty shop is. The Ammount in CND is about 2000 for the block, then since your son is in Auto, he can swap all the parts over, would make a lovely project car.

I have an 86 and an 88 that I am currently working on, both project cars. I love them to bits.

Well the car belonged to the dealers mom for the past 7 yrs and I believe it was well maintained, the mechanic that did the check said all hoses, belts, wires, yada yada yada fine. It had been sitting on the lot for some time. The lady that owned it called it her baby and she really didnt want to sell it. I swear I believe its a "Christine" car....drove off the lot to gas station...gas tank doorflap would not pop open. I called her about it after 10 minutes of trying to get it to open and I swear as soon as she drove in the parking lot it popped open. I drove it to a friends house to hide (a surprise gift for son's 16 bday) it drove ok, spit and sputtered some, already expected it from sitting up. That night we could not get to crank, finally did after popping clutch going down hill, after billows and billows of white smoke cleared, she's runnin.....3 miles down the road, nothing, nada....."exhaust system overheat" ... back to garage. Or so I thought, the damn key would not unlock the door! ...the next day went back to jimmy the lock I swear the key worked (oh and the sun roof quit working as soon as I drove off lot, motor works, but window wont move, this car is possessed)....Cats clogged, taking care of that prob. tomorrow. So when mechanic put in new plugs to crank it, after running for a few seconds fine, it dies again, theres gas in the plugs and fouled em out. So thats the next prob. to solve (hope fixing the cats will take care of it). My son will be driving this to school every day so I was really wanting to find him a reliable ride. Alright you RX7 enthusiastics sell me on it!!!!!

[Capt.Moe]

Okay, so, the car is possesed? Well, if I am going to sell you on it, it's going to be by telling you that, once it is up and running properly again, so long as it is NOT babied, as that is the worst thing you can do to a rotary motor.

As for having to pop the clutch, almost sounds like your starter is going to kick the bucket, my buddies 86 would do the same thing, dead spot in the starter, with it being a Rotary it is really hard on them.

Where abouts are you located?

[sunflower4140]

Originally Posted by Capt.Moe

Okay, so, the car is possesed? Well, if I am going to sell you on it, it's going to be by telling you that, once it is up and running properly again, so long as it is NOT babied, as that is the worst thing you can do to a rotary motor.

As for having to pop the clutch, almost sounds like your starter is going to kick the bucket, my buddies 86 would do the same thing, dead spot in the starter, with it being a Rotary it is really hard on them.

Where abouts are you located?

LOL, the "possessed" thing just makes me more determined to break her! Dont think she gonna be babied much by my son (and of course I gotta take her out too). I'm really new to the foreign scene, so I got alot to learn. Im a chevy gal myself, (camaros to be exact, have had 6 of em). The gas backing up in the plugs has got us puzzled....especially after he had her running. So stupid question, if apex seals bad how do I tell? Told u I got alot to learn, and this mechanic is about to get the better of me. (another long story) I am in SC by the way, u?

[Capt.Moe]

Red Deer,

Well this 7 will smoke your Camaro stock on stock, 350 against the 13B.

Anyways, to me it almost seems that maybe something's up with them Injectors? Could be wrong but, who knows. Get him to test the pulse of the Injectors, there are 4 of them, for 2 rotors.

Telling if the seals are bad. Usually the thing doesn't run or turnover.

Are you sure you are getting the basics to the motor? (Gas Spark Timing is right)

I'm sure somewhere in SC they have a Rotary shop, American for a new block, probably cost you 900 give or take.

Is it a turbo? Just curious.

[sunflower4140]

lol! ok, I already know I will get smoked! Injectors tested fine, all the basics checked out. I'm hoping the clogged cats are the prob. Ok 900 not bad just dont wanna do it any time soon! Nope, no turbo. The mechanic said too that a little work on we could sell it and prob make a profit but thin I wanna keep it and tame her!

[Capt.Moe]

Trust me, you don't want to tame her. Yeah, 900-1000 should bet you a block down there, as it's 1800 up here for a 13b Block.

[sunflower4140]

well I mean not tame her just take her out and have some fun but gotta get it going first

[Capt.Moe]

Keep in mind, she likes to do about 5-6k rpm. on her own... I know Celine (my baby) purrs when she's at 6k. Shifting her... That's another story, they all have buttons that you gotta know to push and push properly..... with Celine it's 6900-7300 RPM that she really likes. lol.

I would suggest on getting a new block, as you'll have less issues with that.

[sunflower4140]

thanks for all the info, another thing I was told... to put in a switch to remove pressure in gas line when engine is off, install fuel cut off switch in line with fuel pump relay, then use the switch to turn off engine instead of the key , this will stop the vacuum lock I am getting, if u crank and move then shut off, 45 minutes til it restarts, maybe even help overflow Im getting into the plugs after its running

[Capt.Moe]

Would be a good idea, as that's what my buddy runs. It makes some difference.

Check the Rear Seal on that Tranny they like to go and lea all over the place.

[drftk1d]

1700, thats ownage for a non turbo with that much mileage.

my 87 na was $500, and im gonna pick up a 90 na for 1700, 118k on it

did you get new plugs yet? these cars tend to foul plugs easily

btw, i doubt a na Fc will beat a camaro, unless its a v6 or one of the 80s v8 ones

capt moe, apex seals dont get damaged from sitting, if anything the car will lose compression because of the lack of circulation of oil. im sure this isnt a problem that requires an engine rebuild

[FDTT]

I dont want o read this, coudl you coles notes the probelms and ill solve it for you. :P

[gigglesnirt]

i just saw he bought his son an rx7, gen 2, dunno if turbo'd or not, but now he's worryiing about some of the things going on about it, even taking auto tech i am taking it currently, bought a 1st gen and the teacher knows nothing about rotaries so im on my own on the learning XD