New 1st gen, wondering where to start
 

Apologies if this is a repetitive post. Feel free to throw things at me.

So I recently got my first RX-7, a pretty-looking white job with a bit over 150k. Now when something I want is dangled in front of me, I get really single-minded, so I didn't check up on the car as much as I should've before forking over the cash. And now that I've gotten over my initial happy of owning the car, I'm starting to notice the problems. Maybe you guys can give me some pointers. Keep in mind that I've cleaned carbs, changed brake pads and various fluids, but I'm pretty ignorant when it comes to actual car maintenance. (Something I plan on changing now, BTW)

I'll leave out the obvious things (bouncy shocks, bad tires, squealing brakes, etc..)

First non-obvious thing I noticed was that 1st gear feels a bit sluggish, and in 2nd, the power lags in the lower RPMs, but then seems to kinda 'click' over and gives me a huge burst of speed. 3-5th seem normal. I can't say the actual RPMs since the tach isn't working(fixing that), but there's a sudden jump from not much accel to a whole lot more around the middle of 2nd gear. Not smooth at all, and definately doesn't feel normal.

Second thing, which is kinda stupid but is bothering me, is that when the engine is already warm(basically, when the choke doesn't stay pulled) and I turn the ignition, it starts fine, but I hear a nasty squeaking sorta sound until I let off the ignition. It doesn't sound like the starter, more like it's coming from the left other side of the engine. And again, this is /only/ when the engine is warm already.

Third thing, what are some general maintenance things that I should do (or have done) around 150-160k? Reason I ask is that I don't know how well the previous owner treated it, and I'd like to not destroy my engine just yet out of lack of preventitive maintenance. Besides, I know regular engines little enough, rotaries even less.

So yeah... I'm sure there's plenty of other things, but that's all I can think of for now. Thanks.

that sluggish problem probably has something to do with your tach not working. Replace the spark plugs, plug wires, cap, and rotor. After that, check to see whether you have spark on leading and trailing. if you dont on one or the other, it may be an igniter or a coil (never seen a coil go bad personally). To see if it is an igniter, switch the wires on the distributor from the leading to the traling ignitor and see if it makes it work. then try it the other way and see if it doesnt work.

For maintenance:
Rebuild your oil metering pumP!!! This can cause engine failure if it goes bad!!!! check cooling system (replace coolant, thermostat, ensure proper operation of water pump), new spark plugs, wires, cap, and rotor, check tranny fluid, rear differential fluid (make sure you use NON synthetic 75-90 only - especially if you have a LSD), brakes, etc. I have noticed the stock tie rods and ball joints usually go bad around 140 k. It is also a good idea to replace your wheel bearings in the front (the rear is really tricky and impossible if you dont have a press and a die grinder).

The unresponsive acceleration is probably due to a perforated accelerator pump diaphragm.
The tach doesn't work because your trailing ignitor is shot.
OMPs rarely need to be rebuilt.
Don't use synth in your crank case. Everywhere else is fine.
Read the FAQ section.

^^ Listen to Sterling^^...

FAQ, Archive.......search.

Hey, I did. Didn't really find anything with the main problem I'm concerned about (the squeaking when starting thing) Maybe I didn't look hard enough, but I've already spent hours reading all sorts of stuff. Sorry, not trying to be too defensive here.

I'll definately check the trailing plugs to see if they're sparking. If it ever stops being 20 degrees in the sun out here that is... :(

Oh yeah, remembered something else. The engine runs a bit rough at idle once it's warmed up. Basically smooth, but with sporadic bumps that I can hear and feel through the whole car. My newb answer would be timing on most cars(and that's probably wrong for all I know), but I'd imagine that the timing system is quite different on an FB, no? Almost sounds like it could easily be related to the sluggishness. Leading plugs not firing maybe?

well your brakes are probley wearing low. When brakes start to squeel its a sign that they are getting low. Its smart to replace them soon. For the rough idle search. Sterling has all kinds of helpful carb advise out there. Might be a vacuum leak? Might be a bad a/f mixture? May be a bad accelerator pump diaphragm? Theres a lot of trouble shooting required... Just continue reading and learning thats the best way, the search button is a powerful tool on this page, practicly any topic you can think of has been covered

Yeah, I've found alot of info using the search. Only problem comes when there's just /too much/ information scattered in too many threads for me to.. uh, tabulate it all.

As for the brakes, yeah, the pads are being replaced. Thinking Hawk HPS so far, unless somebody tells me otherwise.

Hmmm, the New Mexico first gen rotory fanbase is growing. . . . .

Time for a statewide club anyone?

Sorry, I know this is the wrong place, but I'm tiiiired.

Mine too runs like this... It runs smooth but randomly it seems to caugh, and when its cold it does this too, and just as it does you get some nice spray out the exhaust pipe... I still havent worked out what this is, hopefully someone has some answers :)

the gawd awful screech MIGHT be the throttle pull thing (can't remember the exact name of it) follow the cables from the carb one will go to the firewall that's not it if it has cruise control a cable will go to it....that's not it either the other cable will go to a small box near where the fender meets the firewall unplug the connector and see if the noise goes away.
that motor will make a nasty noise ONLY when starting......almost like a bad starter drive.

This is prolly gonna make my Sterling order become infinite, but I'm not sure if Sterling has read this. Prolly has. And RB recommends it.....but here is something on the syth oil in the crank case..

http://www.royalpurple.com/techa/faqsa.html#re2

Hey, I'd join. :D

The thing that makes me wonder about the screeching is the fact that it only does it when the engine is already warm and being started.

Oh, another thing... I'd imagine that normal operating temp in a RX-7 would be in the middle of the gague, right? Just noticed that mine really only goes a little above the 1/4th mark. Overcooling, or is there just a big acceptable heat range?

The cooler, the better!

Mine operates at 1/4 when it wants to operate, and that's about where my second gens stands as well, so I guess that is normal.

Email me about the club: (SoCal has one, why can't we?)
teepojay@earthlink.net

or just PM me.