Hawaii-RX-7

First of all I just want to say hi to everyone, I am new to this forum, I just got my first RX-7 in July. It is from 1983, 108.000 miles on it. Both engine and body is in great shape, and not much have been done to the car since 1983....and it is the best car I have ever had!

Over the weekend I have been reading almost every post to see if any had the same problem as mine, some were close, so sorry if I am repeating.

When I borrowed the car from the owner over a year ago it did a weird thing going up a hill, loosing power, or the power came in surges. It only lasted for some seconds so I did not think about.

In July the previous owner gave me the car, and I started driving, the compressor gave out, so I cut the AC belt (the mechanic put a little bolt in the hose going to the airfilter), and I also changed the alternator and battery on it.

But recently this loss of power has increased on some uphill driving, and once on a regular road. I can be at 50 mph. and all of a sudden I loose power and the car starts "jumping" until I gear out, I try a lower gear, same thing happens, untill speed is almost at 5mph. and I can start in first again, and then the car spins again as if nothing happened...

I am in Hawaii, so I would not think temp. is a problem, I did try to warm it up the other day, and it happened again. The hill is usually 3-4 miles into my drive.

And since I remember it happen on a very small scale a year ago then I don't think that the bolt in the hose or the change of alternator has anything to do with it???

I must say I am not redlining the car or anything like that, Hawaii is a small place, so there is not really room for that...

I hope that you guys can help me????

Pedestrian X

Redline it up the hill.

Hawaii-RX-7

Well, when I try to push the pedal, the jumping gets worse....and the powerloss seems bigger...

wwilliam54

fuel filter

Hawaii-RX-7

Sorry I am a novice when it comes to engines, I did change the alternator myself though...is it easy to change a fuelfilter???

thanks for the suggestion, I was thinking it might be something with the fuel...

LongDuck

Hey, welcome to the club.

As to your car and what it's doing strangely, the previous poster suggested the fuel filter as a source of the problem. This could be, and here's how you take care of it;

The fuel filter does just that, and is located in front of the rear axle on the left hand side, mounted to the back of what would be the bottom of the storage bins. The fuel filter on your carb'ed car is a white or clear plastic canister that is run in-line from the tank to the carbureator. What may be happening is that the fuel filter is clogged, and going up this hill each day, it allows the debris to clog the fuel flow, resulting in stumbling under power. As you decrease in speed, and downshift (per your description), it gives the float bowls on the carb more time to fill up, thus then returning to normal operation. Replacement of the fuel filter (a $5 part, usually) may or may not fix the problem.

If the fuel filter replacement doesn't fix the problem, you may need to dig a little deeper, including looking at the fuel pump which may be providing low pressure, or even rebuilding the carbureator if it's a problem with the float valves and seats. Stumbling under power like that is usually caused by poor fuel flow to the carb, but could be caused by any number of other factors.

Exactly how steep is this hill that you have the problem on??? HTH,

Hawaii-RX-7

the hill not that steep...after getting over that hill I have 8 miles of flat driving, and then an even less steep hill is giving me the same problem...I will go and get the fuel-filter replaced...

Thanks for the help...I am glad that I found this forum...great information!

Rx7carl

I answered your email, now I see you posted this. Cool, more info.

So its ok driving on the flat roads?

mar3

iTrader: (8)

It's either fuel filter or time for...



Don't cheat yourself with a nasty ol' Carter...

Hawaii-RX-7

Hi guys,

it was the fuel-filter and fuel-pump...as I am not the greatest mechanic then it is at a little shop now...hope it is not going to cost to much...

Thanks for the help...

LongDuck

Learn by doing - that's how we all learned it!

Seriously, there is enough expertise here that we can walk you through just about anything, up to and including rebuilding your engine. As these repairs come up - post a new thread, get advice, and build up the confidence to work on this car by yourself.

You will save yourself some serious money (which can go toward modifications), learn something about your car, and gain some technical and mechanical talent, as well - it's a win, all the way around.

Good luck with it, and I hope you found an honest mechanic...

bliffle

Yeah, keep checking the forum. I do much of my own work, but I don't go underneath anymore (I'm 67 and that's one luxury I allow myself), but I am well-informed when I take the car to my mechanic in order to help him and also to dodge mechanic BS (you can save a LOT of money that way!).

B

web777

You cut the air pump hose not the AC compressor. This causes your cats to melt which causes excessive back pressure which causes loss of power!

Rx7carl

Good catch. I couldnt make sens outta that part.

Hawaii-RX-7

He is an honest mechanic, he only changed the filter, and not the pump which was still working, and it was cheap too...now the car has a lot more power (this should have been done a year ago even before I got the car...) the hose we plugged was coming from the compressor into the airfilter (I think)...would that make any difference???

Unfortunately I live in apartments, there are not enough room to work on the car here...

Rx7carl

There is no hose from the AC compressor to the air filter housing.