KOUPATROOPA

Hi everybody!

So I recently picked up my first rotary and it is a cool little car. It does have a few little quirks I was hoping someone could help out with. Its all stock and supposedly has a newer japanese 12a motor with approx 48k miles on it.

First off it has a slight stutter at idle and at cruising speeds, I was thinking it was a vacuum leak or maybe it is out of time? I dunno just guessing haha.

Second is it has an odd buzzer that goes off when I start it, kinda comes from behind the left side of the dash.

Third is the ''add coolant'' light is always on even thought the coolant level is fine. Sometimes when I hit the brakes the light next to it also faintly lights up. Was thinking a short or something?

Lastly, and most importantly, I have no power going to the headlights. They pop up fine but don't light up like the rest of the lights. I have done quite a bit of forum research in the past few days on this subject but haven't found much in the way of help. A lot of could be's but haven't found anyone with this specific problem.
If I can't figure it out soon I plan on just removing the sealed beams and replacing them with some round LED lights and wiring them to their own switch in the cab, it would be much brighter and I could have them installed in no time.

Sorry for the book haha but thanks for any help you guys can provide

diabolical1

iTrader: (3)

welcome to the board.

did you give a tuneup since you got? if not, you should.

could be either of those things. additionally, it could be the idle mixture needs tweaking or could be the carb need cleaning. start with vacuum leaks, they're free. if you have a timing light, then checking the timing is free, too. cleaning the carb would be next because messing with the idle mixture (especially if nothing is wrong with it) can lead to a bit of tail-chasing, so i would do that only after you've exhausted the other options.

if the level in both the radiator and overflow container are good, i would start by checking the coolant level sensor. the chime you hear is because of the coolant level. can you tell me/us which light is lighting up when you hit the brakes?

check the fusible link for the headlights.

as long as it stays on point and isn't just a session of rambling, i don't mind a book (as you put it). more information usually leads to quicker, more accurate responses.

KOUPATROOPA

Thanks for the response diabolical1.
No I haven't given it a tune up yet, I just got it last week and have been very busy. I will see if I can talk my buddy with a timing light help me out and we will also attempt to address all of the things you mentioned.
The coolant level is fine but the guy I bought it from said the coolant sensor was bad so I will have to address that at some point I'm sure. The light right next to the coolant light is the one lighting up, I can't remember what light it is though haha.

I have gotten somewhere on the headlights. Turns out they were on high beam when I was checking them and I didnt think to flip them to low beams (which work!) so now I am guessing it is in the switch which I have read is a weak point.

diabolical1

iTrader: (3)

do the tuneup first. if that doesn't work, then address the things i said. the tuneup may very well not fix it all, but it's the best place to start as well as a good idea for any purchase of a used car.

i concur with checking the headlight switch.

KOUPATROOPA

Oh I forgot to mention that the light that lights up when I brake is the Washer light so its actually not right next to the coolant light.

Had a fun trip into work today, the tach decided not to work properly so the dang buzzer was going off my whole trip in lol. After work the tach was back to normal and no buzzer.
The electrical in this car cracks me up.

KOUPATROOPA

Oh yeah forgot to mention that the headlights went out on me for a split second on the way in at 4am as well lol. It was an eventful trip

diabolical1

iTrader: (3)

check the plug for your trailing ignitor. if it is secure and intact, then your ignitor may be on it's way to the crapper.