I have an 80 RX-7, Bought it while in the military, and now it sits in a shed. I have tried to fix it a few times and discovered that Chilton's tends to skip steps. The first and most important problem is that it has California Smog.

I will not lie, I have had a lot of fun driving that curse up and down the coast of Ca. While liveing in Ca, it was easy to find a machanic that knew how to work on it, now in nowhere midwest, no mechanic will touch it. All the RX-7's I've seen here are in junk yards. In a world of fuel injections, who wants to touch a four barrel carberator that does not have a computer hook up? Pour thing needs more work than a hillbilly with bad teeth.

I got two bottles of migrane pills, a couple of sets of metric wrenches, now all I need is a decent "RX-7 Repair for Dummies" book. Can any of you recommend a good one?

 

you can try looking around online for a rapair manual or go straight to the dealer for it. im not sure where to get a manual for a 1st gen online but im sure someone else does

 

There's a .pdf of the 84 factory service manual that just got scanned recently. Do a seach on here for 'factory service manual'. Also get yourself a Haynes manual, you should be able to pick one up off ebay for about $5 as they are no longer available at Autozones. Good luck.

 

That PDF file is just for the Factory WIRING manual.

Here it is, originally thanks to Branca:

 

Ya know what, you're right. Here I thought it was the whole thing, what a disappointment. If I didnt have the '83 manual...

 

Hey, whats your problem???? We can probably help with it..... LATERZ, Andrew

 

yup, tackle it one issue at a time. unfortantely there isn't the one screw fix like in dexter's lab. if you have any questions on what you're doing or how to accomplish something, ask away.

 

I have the full version of the 84 service manual in pdf format if anyone is interested


sworry guys I just opened and doublechecked its an 83

 

First problem is that it will not idill (sp), if the rpm's drop below 2000, it will die. I had this problem ounce before, and a friend said I crossed a couple of air tubes. I was informed that it could mean that I have lost compression in my engine.
When that is done, then it will be a matter of chasing down the wiring for the lights. I have difficulty getting the head lights and tail lights to work at the same time.

 

in minnesota there is a shop called RX&heaven.
It is well known for there work on rotarys.

 

Roy, are you from Lafayette MN over by New Ulm and Winthrop area? IF so, give me a personal message, I happen to have a good friend that lives there who is a mechanic believe it or not! Tell him you know me, and he'll fix ya up. Or you can have me help you, I may visit him sometime early in June or next week sometime.

By the way, I'd stay clear of RX7 heaven AKA RX Hell except to purchase used parts from them as nessessary. They are known well to have a negative reputation by the BBB.

 

I think the Haynes Manual is 10 times better that the chiltons book

 

Here is how I rate the manuals
Factory Manual #1
Haynes #2
The Daily Newspaper #3
Toilet Paper #4
Chiltons #5

 

Tip 1: Always have a fresh cold beer at the ready

 

It's pretty hard to say about the idle, true, if you have lost compression in one rotor it would cause that problem, but so would a cracked hose.
Look for hoses first, then do a compression test. Search the archive, use my name as a keyword along with compression. Let us know what happens.
hanman

 

I reside in Lafayette Indiana during the winter months, and I do research around various parts of the state during the summer months. This year I am working outside of Fort Wayne IN.

I will Check the hose out with more detail, and see if I can locate the Factory or Haynes manual. I have given up on Chilton's after it could not point out the fuel filter on my pick-up. I guess it knows domestic vehicals about as well as foreign vehicles. I will try o post next weekend wether or not I made any progress.