1st Generation Specific (1979-1985) 1979-1985 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections

My $1k car needs $700 dollars worth of repairs!!

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 01-15-03, 02:53 PM
  #1  
Full Member

Thread Starter
 
subgraphic's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: San Diego
Posts: 61
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Unhappy My $1k car needs $700 dollars worth of repairs!!

This is a straight up newbie question but I'm just curious about a couple of things. My car died on me the other day and the shop said both my ignition modules and my fuel pump & filter was the problem. Fine. I asked if I could get away with only fixing one problem at a time and he said no, both were bad. I totally trust the shop, and they have done excellent work for me and many others in the past. That isnt an issue. My question is, what are the odds of both of these things conking out at the same time, and when they are replaced with stock parts, will I see a performance increase at all ? Im replacing rotor, cap, plugs and wires as well.

By the way- the car sputtered one day, the next it sputtered and died... wouldn't crank again.

scot
Old 01-15-03, 02:59 PM
  #2  
'Last Minute' Rallying

 
MikeLMR's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Lincoln, England
Posts: 1,193
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
that doesn't sound like $700 worth of faults !

is it the ignitors that have gone ? if they have you can get some from or a junkyard or someone on here will sell you some for a lot less, I'm sure

Mike - £885 of bodywork on a £1200 car
Old 01-15-03, 03:00 PM
  #3  
I read your email

 
inittab's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: NW New Jersey
Posts: 2,624
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Chances are your shocks need replacing too. The point is these cars are old and just about everything needs to be fix/replaced sooner or later. It's too bad you don't do your own mechanical work 'cause it would save you a lot of money in the long run. So to answer your question, yes it is possible but chances are that only one of the problems put it over the edge so to speak. And to answer the second part of your question, yes, if the parts are that bad you will most definitely see a performance increase. Good luck!
Old 01-15-03, 03:06 PM
  #4  
Banned. I got OWNED!!!
 
79+80_rx-7's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Da Barrio!!!(Irving, Texas)
Posts: 984
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
dude, hate to tell ya, but ya got jipped


its just the trailing ignitor on the distributer.... it kills the fuel pump when it goes bad, so it will sputter and die... it could also just be a bad connection.....



the filter would loved to be replaced though...... just do it so your car will love ya!

peace, oh yeah, i got som spare ignitors ill sell ya cheap



laters
Old 01-15-03, 03:11 PM
  #5  
Full Member

Thread Starter
 
subgraphic's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: San Diego
Posts: 61
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Not the ignightors- they say I need 2 ing. Modules @ $171 each. I was informed that this is the cost of the part.

I just moved here so im not sure of the best salvage yard to go to. Couldnt get there anyway without my car.. and wouldnt know what to get anyhow

I have already replaced the shocks and adjusted the steering...
Old 01-15-03, 03:14 PM
  #6  
Full Member

Thread Starter
 
subgraphic's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: San Diego
Posts: 61
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
well hell... now what.. I havent had them do anything yet. they gave me an estimate and I told them I would call them tomorrow about what to do...
Old 01-15-03, 03:16 PM
  #7  
I read your email

 
inittab's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: NW New Jersey
Posts: 2,624
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
iginition modules sounds like ignitors to me! Mazdatrix sells new ones for $203.95 each. But, as 79+80_rx-7 you can get them at junk yards pretty cheap. I've bought a few on eBay for about $20 each. Oh and I seriously doubt that they have BOTH gone bad at the same time.

Last edited by inittab; 01-15-03 at 03:18 PM.
Old 01-15-03, 03:29 PM
  #8  
Full Member

Thread Starter
 
subgraphic's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: San Diego
Posts: 61
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Well, I guess my next question should be- Are the ignitors for sure the same as modules and should I get a set of used ones and stroll back in there and just say- use these? If thats the case- its going to save me about 350 bucks...
Old 01-15-03, 03:30 PM
  #9  
Full Member

Thread Starter
 
subgraphic's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: San Diego
Posts: 61
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
oh and thanks for everyones replys so far...
Old 01-15-03, 03:34 PM
  #10  
Banned. I got OWNED!!!
 
79+80_rx-7's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Da Barrio!!!(Irving, Texas)
Posts: 984
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
if they did BOTH go out, check the fuses, or fusible link...



Anywho, THREE HUNDRED BUCKS?!?!?!



Do it yer damn SELF!!!

Its just TWO screws....



yikes!


I am not trying to be harsh, or anything, I jsut dont like to see people getting ripped off..... Shopd should be honest, not greedy...


Well, lata!
Old 01-15-03, 03:55 PM
  #11  
Apprentice Guru

 
PaulFitzwarryne's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Cloud Nine and Peak of God
Posts: 1,425
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The real trouble which few people recognise is that an Rx7 is an expensive car. Replacement costs are based on the new price not the secondhand value, to make it worse the total cost of spare parts to build a new car cost about 3 times the cost of the car bought complete.

Its quite possible you are not being ripped off but have been given an honest price at their cost levels. Of course it can be done cheaply if you do the work and are lucky enough to get a working junkyard part.

I fully trust my mechanic, when I take the car in for service he can usually find a list of things needing attention. Its just part of owning a classic car.
Old 01-15-03, 03:58 PM
  #12  
#!/sup_mod/üb3rg33k

 
error402's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Kansas City
Posts: 96
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Just a FYI for people, iginition modules and ignitors are the same thing. Different parts of the country/world call it different things. Haynes manual actually calls it by both name, but doesn't explain that they are the same thing. Points to the same part though. Gotta love it.

Anyways, you can get them usually for "free" from a junk yard because they are so small.

-Error402

Last edited by error402; 01-15-03 at 04:01 PM.
Old 01-15-03, 04:02 PM
  #13  
all aboard!

 
nimrodTT's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Houston
Posts: 1,204
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Ignition modules are igniters. It's two screws and a connector, buy 'em used and bring 'em in. Is he trying to charge you $350 for a new fuel pump, or are you leaving something out?
Old 01-15-03, 04:13 PM
  #14  
Full Member

Thread Starter
 
subgraphic's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: San Diego
Posts: 61
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Well,
I dont think the guys are trying to rip me off at all. I know they are pretty honest. I am a little upset that he didnt suggest an alternate source for the parts- seeing as though this seems pretty common, but on the other hand- I didnt know to ask.

they want $171 each for the modules, $30 to replace them, 135 for the pump and filter and 60 to replace them.
Old 01-15-03, 04:33 PM
  #15  
Senior Member

 
Sammymatik's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Wayward Hayward
Posts: 735
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Damn! Screw that man... you should go buy a manual, and either have one of us sell you the parts or check ebay. That stuff is way cheap to buy plus its pretty damn easy to replace. Save your self the $700, and spend the rest on a new intake, or muffler, or new shocks and struts.
Old 01-15-03, 04:41 PM
  #16  
My FSP Fiesta eats Jettas

 
Wankelguy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,616
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
I don't know, sounds like you're getting hosed to me. Just get an ignitor/ignition module (or two) from the junkyard and replace it. It's located on the side of the distributor. There are actually two of them, leading and trailing. If you replace one and it doesn't work, just swap it to the other side and see if your car doesn't start right up.
Don't be scared, the people on this forum know what they're talking about and will help you do it yourself.

Welcome to the fun-filled world of old cars! -WG
Old 01-15-03, 04:52 PM
  #17  
Full Member

Thread Starter
 
subgraphic's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: San Diego
Posts: 61
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks Wankelguy - and everyone else.
I have learned a lot since I posted this.
I didn't know that igniters were the same thing, so I didn't know to search that. I have an email out to 79+80_rx-7 asking to buy his.. I hope I hear from him soon. I guess I will have them replace the fuel pump for me, but me installing the igniters will cut my cost down to about 200 bucks.

Again- thanks. I'll post the results of all this.

scot
Old 01-15-03, 04:58 PM
  #18  
I read your email

 
inittab's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: NW New Jersey
Posts: 2,624
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Here's one on eBay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...category=33689

Buy it Now for 25 bucks. That's a good deal!
Old 01-15-03, 04:59 PM
  #19  
Senior Member

 
Sammymatik's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Wayward Hayward
Posts: 735
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
OH YEAH! I just can't wait till I replace everthing... then I"ll have a brand new old car... err... sorta

Originally posted by Wankelguy

Welcome to the fun-filled world of old cars! -WG
Old 01-15-03, 09:30 PM
  #20  
Full Member

 
suntzumd's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: California
Posts: 93
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Dude, you need to pay a visit to Brown's Field ( I think that's the name ) near the border and crawl through some junkyards. A fewmonths ago I was down there and they had a 79 rx-7 stashed on one of the lots.
Old 01-15-03, 11:15 PM
  #21  
Senior Member

iTrader: (6)
 
2GSLSE's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Front Royal VA.
Posts: 525
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
if you go to a salvage yard just get the whole dist. so you have both igniters and the pickup (they will go bad sometimes too)
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
astrum
2nd Generation Specific (1986-1992)
24
11-15-17 08:44 AM
FDNewbie
3rd Generation Specific (1993-2002)
161
09-06-15 11:10 AM
cam_7779
2nd Generation Specific (1986-1992)
9
08-18-15 07:48 AM



Quick Reply: My $1k car needs $700 dollars worth of repairs!!



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:51 PM.