New to RX-7's 1984
03-24-04, 09:06 PM
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New to RX-7's 1984
Well, just got back from purchasing a '84 RX-7. It's a manual. I think it was a fair price ($800), considering it has some quirks, and things to fix.
Tachometer doesn't work. It makes a clicking sound in neutral. When driving it does flutter about 3mm or so. So SOMETHING is happening there.
A little oil dripping under the engine, but the oil looks fresh, said he just changed it, oil on ground is not clear.
Has 220k+ miles. Not seeing any in the "mileage" thread on here that high, I am assuming it's been rebuilt or replaced. Or...who knows.
Clutch pedal stays down if you don't let off it soon, only in 1st and reverse. Told that is probably the master cylinder. If it's where he said it is, looks to be a very easy repair.
Mechanically, seems sound. I'd like to check the compression for myself, but not sure I want to disconnect stuff right away. And if it's bad...not much I could DO anyhow.
Trim inside isn't in great shape, but it's workable.
Glove box door latch is broke, door pops open on hard acceleration.
No radio connected.
There's a set of switches, looks like for power windows, but they're manual, in front of the arm rest. No idea what it connects to, but there's a wire connected underneath.
There's a mysterious RED BUTTON. To the right of the steering column. Previous owner never touched it, neither will I, until I have an idea what it is.
Wheel seems a little loose at center. Lot of play compared to other cars I have driven, but left and right of that loose spot, steering is tight.
Sunroof latch is broke, can see how it's supposed to connect, but the latch is broken. Stays closed tight though.
Driver's side window crank doesn't work. Doesn't feel like anything is really connected.
A/C not sure, has it, doesn't get cold I assume, I don't use it except for the defog thing anyhow. Has a R-134a conversion sticker, so I could check it and charge it to see how it holds. With summer coming up, guess I might eventually try that.
Muffler has a huge hole in it, don't think it's fully connected to the pipe, that'll have to go soon.
Anyhow...that's my new purchase. This is my replacement for the time being for my '88 MX-6 GT, which overheated last year, and has been an experience working on it replacing the head gasket.
Tachometer doesn't work. It makes a clicking sound in neutral. When driving it does flutter about 3mm or so. So SOMETHING is happening there.
A little oil dripping under the engine, but the oil looks fresh, said he just changed it, oil on ground is not clear.
Has 220k+ miles. Not seeing any in the "mileage" thread on here that high, I am assuming it's been rebuilt or replaced. Or...who knows.
Clutch pedal stays down if you don't let off it soon, only in 1st and reverse. Told that is probably the master cylinder. If it's where he said it is, looks to be a very easy repair.
Mechanically, seems sound. I'd like to check the compression for myself, but not sure I want to disconnect stuff right away. And if it's bad...not much I could DO anyhow.
Trim inside isn't in great shape, but it's workable.
Glove box door latch is broke, door pops open on hard acceleration.
No radio connected.
There's a set of switches, looks like for power windows, but they're manual, in front of the arm rest. No idea what it connects to, but there's a wire connected underneath.
There's a mysterious RED BUTTON. To the right of the steering column. Previous owner never touched it, neither will I, until I have an idea what it is.
Wheel seems a little loose at center. Lot of play compared to other cars I have driven, but left and right of that loose spot, steering is tight.
Sunroof latch is broke, can see how it's supposed to connect, but the latch is broken. Stays closed tight though.
Driver's side window crank doesn't work. Doesn't feel like anything is really connected.
A/C not sure, has it, doesn't get cold I assume, I don't use it except for the defog thing anyhow. Has a R-134a conversion sticker, so I could check it and charge it to see how it holds. With summer coming up, guess I might eventually try that.
Muffler has a huge hole in it, don't think it's fully connected to the pipe, that'll have to go soon.
Anyhow...that's my new purchase. This is my replacement for the time being for my '88 MX-6 GT, which overheated last year, and has been an experience working on it replacing the head gasket.
03-24-04, 09:24 PM
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I was up all night Monday, all day and half the night Tuesday reading up on 1st gen RX-7's, both here and a few other information sites, after seeing it up for sale.
He said he literally had 2 calls within minutes of posting the car. I'm sure his inbox is getting full, until they find out it was sold. While I don't know a LOT about cars, I am OK at deciding if what I do see, is something I can tolerate. This car has several issues I need to address soon (clutch, muffler) the other issues I think can be tolerated until I know that I didn't buy a bigger problem than I can handle, mechanically.
I am drawn to older style cars, so the cries of "buy a new car" from my family, friends, coworkers, and in the minds of neighbors, go unheard. The 1st gen is a very attractive vehicle, and even with some paint not in great shape, there's no rust, no bare spots, etc.
Car seems to pull good, and I'm sure the louder exhaust is mostly from the busted muffler.
And I already looked in the AIM thread...added about 50 names, just in case
He said he literally had 2 calls within minutes of posting the car. I'm sure his inbox is getting full, until they find out it was sold. While I don't know a LOT about cars, I am OK at deciding if what I do see, is something I can tolerate. This car has several issues I need to address soon (clutch, muffler) the other issues I think can be tolerated until I know that I didn't buy a bigger problem than I can handle, mechanically.
I am drawn to older style cars, so the cries of "buy a new car" from my family, friends, coworkers, and in the minds of neighbors, go unheard. The 1st gen is a very attractive vehicle, and even with some paint not in great shape, there's no rust, no bare spots, etc.
Car seems to pull good, and I'm sure the louder exhaust is mostly from the busted muffler.
And I already looked in the AIM thread...added about 50 names, just in case
03-24-04, 09:37 PM
#4
Yeah, shutup kid.
Re: New to RX-7's 1984
Tachometer doesn't work. It makes a clicking sound in neutral. When driving it does flutter about 3mm or so. So SOMETHING is happening there.
The tach gets its signal from the trailing ignition. The ignitor is probably bad. They are around $200 new, but you can get them on the forum usually for around $25 each. Get a Haynes manual, there's a simple circuit you can setup to test them. If yours is bad I've got a few extra here I could sell you for $25+shipping.
Has 220k+ miles. Not seeing any in the "mileage" thread on here that high, I am assuming it's been rebuilt or replaced. Or...who knows.
Yeah, it is high, but I have seen one of the forum members(Denny) cars go past 300k. They'll run a long time if taken care of properly.
Clutch pedal stays down if you don't let off it soon, only in 1st and reverse. Told that is probably the master cylinder. If it's where he said it is, looks to be a very easy repair.
Probably is the master cylinder, and yep, it's an easy repair.
Mechanically, seems sound. I'd like to check the compression for myself, but not sure I want to disconnect stuff right away. And if it's bad...not much I could DO anyhow.
Compression test is very simple to do. You put the tester in a spark plug hole and crank the engine. If it's a piston comp tester, hold in the release valve while cranking and watch for the needle to pulse 3 times, each pulse is for a different rotor face.
There's a set of switches, looks like for power windows, but they're manual, in front of the arm rest. No idea what it connects to, but there's a wire connected underneath.
If it's got a little joystick, it for the stereo. It controls the balance/fade, maybe something else too, can't remember since my car doesn't have one.
There's a mysterious RED BUTTON. To the right of the steering column. Previous owner never touched it, neither will I, until I have an idea what it is.
Cruise control on/off switch.
Wheel seems a little loose at center. Lot of play compared to other cars I have driven, but left and right of that loose spot, steering is tight.
Normal for RX-7's. There's a writeup on how to tighten the steering box somewhere on here, shouldn't be too hard to find if you search for it.
Driver's side window crank doesn't work. Doesn't feel like anything is really connected.
The cranks are plastic, the gear on the crank is probably stripped.
Good luck getting it working right, have some fun with it
The tach gets its signal from the trailing ignition. The ignitor is probably bad. They are around $200 new, but you can get them on the forum usually for around $25 each. Get a Haynes manual, there's a simple circuit you can setup to test them. If yours is bad I've got a few extra here I could sell you for $25+shipping.
Has 220k+ miles. Not seeing any in the "mileage" thread on here that high, I am assuming it's been rebuilt or replaced. Or...who knows.
Yeah, it is high, but I have seen one of the forum members(Denny) cars go past 300k. They'll run a long time if taken care of properly.
Clutch pedal stays down if you don't let off it soon, only in 1st and reverse. Told that is probably the master cylinder. If it's where he said it is, looks to be a very easy repair.
Probably is the master cylinder, and yep, it's an easy repair.
Mechanically, seems sound. I'd like to check the compression for myself, but not sure I want to disconnect stuff right away. And if it's bad...not much I could DO anyhow.
Compression test is very simple to do. You put the tester in a spark plug hole and crank the engine. If it's a piston comp tester, hold in the release valve while cranking and watch for the needle to pulse 3 times, each pulse is for a different rotor face.
There's a set of switches, looks like for power windows, but they're manual, in front of the arm rest. No idea what it connects to, but there's a wire connected underneath.
If it's got a little joystick, it for the stereo. It controls the balance/fade, maybe something else too, can't remember since my car doesn't have one.
There's a mysterious RED BUTTON. To the right of the steering column. Previous owner never touched it, neither will I, until I have an idea what it is.
Cruise control on/off switch.
Wheel seems a little loose at center. Lot of play compared to other cars I have driven, but left and right of that loose spot, steering is tight.
Normal for RX-7's. There's a writeup on how to tighten the steering box somewhere on here, shouldn't be too hard to find if you search for it.
Driver's side window crank doesn't work. Doesn't feel like anything is really connected.
The cranks are plastic, the gear on the crank is probably stripped.
Good luck getting it working right, have some fun with it
03-24-04, 10:18 PM
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Thanks Coldy13, that makes me feel better about some of that stuff.
And the red button...that's awesome if the cruise works. It made me think someone put it there for something else, and best not to touch it.
I LOVE having cruise control. Drove to PA from FL last spring, in my MX-6 GT, cruising along at about 80mph. But there was some wiring misconnection- when I put the wipers on high, it was like holding the accelerate part of cruise on. Not a good thing in the rain, especially not heavy rain with lotta torque (:
And the red button...that's awesome if the cruise works. It made me think someone put it there for something else, and best not to touch it.
I LOVE having cruise control. Drove to PA from FL last spring, in my MX-6 GT, cruising along at about 80mph. But there was some wiring misconnection- when I put the wipers on high, it was like holding the accelerate part of cruise on. Not a good thing in the rain, especially not heavy rain with lotta torque (:
03-24-04, 10:19 PM
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Coldv13 has given you some great answers. The only thing that I can add is to try using a small hose clamp or wire tie on the inside of the latch column of the glove box to make the latch hold under those hard accelerations. That way you can use the same key if you ever wanted to lock it.
Welcome to the awesome world of the RX-7 and the forum!
Welcome to the awesome world of the RX-7 and the forum!
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03-25-04, 09:20 AM
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Last thing I forgot to mention because I've not had one on any other cars- Oil pressure gauge doesn't seem to work. Maybe the sensor? It just stays all the way down.
The ticking from the tachometer might be something else...not sure. It only does it when I hold the brake down, or in neutral with the lights on. I think I had that right...anyhow that almost sounds like something to do with cruise control having some issue. Perhaps cruise is trying to engage, but the tachometer shows dead, so it disengages? I dunno. Just guesses.
The ticking from the tachometer might be something else...not sure. It only does it when I hold the brake down, or in neutral with the lights on. I think I had that right...anyhow that almost sounds like something to do with cruise control having some issue. Perhaps cruise is trying to engage, but the tachometer shows dead, so it disengages? I dunno. Just guesses.
03-26-04, 12:00 AM
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Damn, $200 after shipping? I have somewhere I planned to check the exhaust, he did my wagon, think I got a good price. I'm aware it needs to be higher quality, has to use stainless steel, etc. I'm thinking for $200, he'll definitely be able to put a muffler on, including labor.
It sure looks nice though. Would be interesting when someone asks what kind of muffler it is, I'd just...shrug!
It sure looks nice though. Would be interesting when someone asks what kind of muffler it is, I'd just...shrug!
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