The1Sun

1985 Mazda Rx-7 12A. This car was sitting complete and untouched at a junk yard for a couple years (im not sure why somebody decided to junk it), and then was moved to storage and abandoned for another 5-8 years.

I found it in this storage unit and I was able to get it to start up with just a new battery and some fresh gas. So i ended up acquiring it for basically free, and have taken it on as a project car. I was hoping all id have to do was give it a wash and a tuneup and some new tires and she'd be ready to go, but ive run into a few problems. Hopefully im not getting in over my head on this car...

(also note im new to rotary cars so not completely familiar with how they work)

I changed all the filters and fluids, spark plugs, wires and belts.

I started it up and and it sounded pretty good and smooth, except that as soon as i let off the gas pedal it dies and wont stay running.

The rpm gauge appears to be working (but maybe not 100%), as when i give it throttle it moves up but sometimes sticks or jumps around a bit. Also the warning buzzer sound will come on sometimes even though its only showing/sounds like its at 3000 rpm, and I thought that only came on as you approached 7000 rpm.

The gas gauge isnt working, the temperature gauge isnt working, the battery gauge sometimes jumps to 8-10 volts and rest of time is at 0 (alternator tests good putting out 13v). The oil pressure gauge isnt working. The MPH and the odometer are working. The red battery light and the Overheat Exhaust light are both on, but they show very dimly and you can barely make them out during the daytime, like they arent getting enough current to show brightly. The high beam dash light works and the hazards lights on the dash work, but neither turn signal (actual light or dash light) works. The horn does not work.

Why would the overheat exhaust light and the battery light be on? Alternator is putting out and the battery is new. The overheat light comes on even when car is still cold.

The headlights work perfect and pop up and high beams work fine also. The taillights come on as normal when the headlights are on, but when i push the brake the brakelights dont come on.

Radio works and the heat/air works (ac doesnt work).

So i know this sounds like a mess and im hoping im not getting myself into something too deep or will go broke with haha.

But mechanically the car seems fine, except it wont idle..lol

So any thoughts at whats going on here? I checked the fuses in the fuse box under steering wheel and they all are good.

Is it possible all those different switchs/lights gauges just went out from sitting? A short somewhere? Broken wires? I cant see anything wrong anywhere. Is one gauge/light bad and effecting everything else? Or is the whole dash panel bad? A relay? Something im overlooking here?

Thanks for any insight!