RX7doc

Hi I'm a newbie all the way from Malaysia and I have an imported 1981 1st Gen RX7 Savannah 12A. Anyway there haa been this "ticking" sound coming from my emmission control unit at the passenger side and this warning light on my dashboard. It's driving me nuts!
Can you help me confirm that it is an emmission problem and how to overcome it? Back in the 80s there was no unleaded fuel available here so I may have clogged up the cats.







Thats where the sound is coming from...

Thanks for your time!

kettlman

iTrader: (2)

i think its trying to tell you that your exhaust is getting too hot. i have an 80 so i don't have that. but it looks like a cat to me.

YapaKanichi

your exhaust is clogged. Hinse the too hot ligt. Check yor cats.

RX7doc

Thanks for the quick reply...how do I check if my exhaust is clogged? It's frustrating here as there is no specialised rotary engine mechanic...it's all DIY! I'll do a search first about the cats and the exhaust but any input is much appreciated!

steve84GS TII

Yes,thats the exhaust overheat light..........
But judging by your tachometer,you have a 79-80 model RX-7.The giveaway is the voltmeter integrated into the tach.Only the 79-80 cars here had that.And the 79-80 cars didnt have any catylitic convertors either.They used the old thermal reactor systems,which are unaffected by lead.They do however collapse internally,as do the mufflers.This can cause overheating of the engine and exhaust system,due to the backpressure, not to mention killing your power.
Its possible a 79-80 gauge cluster was transplanted into the 81 and you do have cats.Can you get a picture of the right side of the engine?Specifically the exhaust manifold below the air filter.That will tell us if you have a reactor or cats,and you can get more precise opinions on a course of action.

RX7doc

Thanks you guys are great! This used to be my dad's car, but it's been lying around till I started using it. Here's the pics of the right side of the engine. I think u are right..it is a thermal reactor. Please excuse my newbiness!

steve84GS TII

I wonder if thats the original motor?You've got a later model alternator on there,not to mention the air control valve,air cleaner and later model exhaust manifold.Thats not a thermal reactor,which means there should be 2 or 3 catylists behind it.Looks to me like an 84-85 RX-7 engine was swapped into your car.If smog isnt an issue,you can punch out the catylist's internal guts and never worry about exhaust overheating or catylist meltdown.Or just install headers(extractors) and a good freeflow exhaust system.
Also,that body style,with the square metal bumpers,seperated tailights,volt/tach gauge and the "baroque depression" in the back......is considered a 79-80 model RX-7 here in the states.The SA on the ID plate gives it away too.The FB body style went from 81-85 and has numerous cosmetic and mechanical changes to it.
Are you sure its an 81?

RX7doc

Hmm all I know is that this car was imported from Japan originally and it's been in my family since 1981. Everything is stock except the exhaust which needed to be replaced and it was originally metalic light blue. The engine says 12A. The alternator may have been changed earlier.

RX7doc

By the way is this the ECU? It's under the passenger side. By the way over here it's right hand drive so the passenger is on the left side.

faye x7

I just wanna say that FBs only exist in the USA...technically. I think everywhere else, all RX-7s 79-85 were SAs.

Anywhoo...this is an interesting car. Where's longduck when you need him. heh

RX7doc

OK after searching the forums I know the warning sign comes from the exhaust overheat sensor either because my cats are clogged or some electrical short. I read up on the useful forums and found the sensor wire under the carpet just in front of the passenger seat. There were 2 plugs and I disconnected hopefully the sensor wire. So now there is no more clicking sound. However the light is permanently on. Is there anyway to disable the warning light on the dashboard?
Before doing that I did try to increase the fuel-air mixture but to no effect. I know disabling the sensor is just a band aid, till I can find out how to remove my cats. Hopefully nothing will blow up!

jimmdog

My SE did this when my girlfriend was driving it. My light said Exaust system over heat. I was like WTF, I dont even have a converter. Turns out some thing went haywire in the emissions ECU. I just removed the bulb & disconnected the sensor under the right seat , no more problems. Good Luck And Cool car you have there

RX7doc

Thanks...I'm slowly learning how to care for this baby! Anyway I'll take some pics of where the sensor wire was. However can you tell me how to remove the bulb from the dashboard.

Rx7carl

Thats probably not the original motor. Those components that Steve mentions gives it away as a later model engine. Check under the car or take pics of the exh so we can see if it has cats or not.

Oh, and that a nice clean car!

BARF1

Manchester United!!!!

RX7doc

Sadly my original mazda labels were meticulously bitten off by my puppy. He loved my Rx7 sooo much that he munched off all the mazda labels. I can't seem to find the replacements anywhere in Malaysia so .... temporarily Manchester United covers the exposed areas!
I have just degreased the engine block..20 years of dirt and grime doesn't come off easily! Will take some pics after this.

RX7doc

Ok here are the pics of under the engine...hopefully I've caught the right parts. Also the pics of where my overheat sensor wire is under the left passenger seat.







OK here is the location of the overheat sensor wire..


Under the passenger seat, just in front of the seat


Lifting up the carpet after removing the black plastic guard strip


There seem to be 2 wires...I disconnected the bigger one on the left. Not sure what the one on the right does.

RX7doc

Since I am in a tropical country where the temperature is always about 27-30 degrees celcius I guess my warning light would go off more often? Anyway do you think I have cats? I know I have a few dogs...

steve84GS TII

If you could get a shot of the exhaust system that would be best.From the right side,and from the front of the car looking up at it.The thermal reactor has what looks like a cat,but its actually the heat exchanger.Theres also a small exhaust pipe that parallels the mainpipe,all the way to the back of the car.Thats the dump pipe for the exhaust cooling system.
The regular catylist equipped cars just have a single pipe with a couple cats after the engine.