I made a post here the other day about an 85' RX-7 I'm hopefully going to be purchasing. My question is, should I take it to my local Mazda dealer to get checked out? I asked if they did stuff like check the engine's compression and they told me they preform what's called an A to Z that costs $65.

My other option is taking the car to a Meineke tha my friends uncle works at, my only concern with them is that I don't think they see too many RX-7's and would be worried they wouldn't know what to look for when dealing with the engine.

So what do you guys think?

 

I would be willing to bet that the Mazda dealer sees as few RX-7's as the Meineke. I would suggest trying to find a rotary expert in your area and having him/her check it out. As a last resort, take it to the mazda dealer.

 

I've just fliped through the yellow pages and there doesn't seem to be any rotary specialists in the area I've just called up the mechanic my boss refered me to and then was refered to another and yet another different shop. The Mazda dealer might be my only bet.

 

For $65 I'd take it there... Just dont ever take it there for service... They will definiteley tell you everything that could possibly be wrong and a bunch of stuff that isn't...

 

Yeah, that's the only thing I'm worried about with taking it there, having them tell me it needs all kinds of work.

 

the dealer is a good choice in your case. you'll get a correct compression reading, one of the more important ways to know the health of the engine. they have the best tools. i took a $600 gsl-se to the dealer/ the diagnosis was $4000 worth of work needed. things like a slow electric window=$250.++, you get the picture. after MMOing the engine and cleaning the window connections this car starts everytime no smoke and the windows are fine. most of the work that they'll suggest you can do yourself. all in all the dealers buyers check was very helpful.

 

Cool man, thanks for the info. It's going to end up going to the dealer anyway since there's no one else in the area that has the equipment to check the engine.

 

sorry to thread jack, but what is 'MMO'?

 

MMO=Marvel Mystery Oil. It does many fun things, usually involving cleaning.

Yeah, get Mazda to check compression, but don't listen to a single thing they have to say.

 

Checking compression is about the only good thing the mazda dealer is good for. NEVER, I repeat, NEVER ask them to do any engine work though. Most people these days know NOTHING about rotaries. There is only about 20 people in my small city that know anything about rotaries. This is out of 43000 people.

 

I don't really know what checking the compression is all about so what should I be looking to hear from the dealer?

 

70-80 or less and you need to think rebuild. Above that ( over 100 even ) and you have time. The two sides should be nearly or exactly the same.

About the dealer: I live in a town/area of 75,000 and there are only a couple of knowledgable RX7 mechanics. The Mazda dealership here has one guy that has been a Mazda mechanic for decades, BUT he was not the rotary mechanic back then. So if it has to do with the engine, he's not the one to let have it. For other mechanical and electrical systems ? Sure.

Ask your dealer's service manager to let you talk to the RX7 specialist. Intervieew the son of a bitch. Ask him about his rotary experience and determine what his limits are. He may have rekitted a Nikki and balanced a prop shaft and done tune-ups on the engine. Chances are, he's never seen the inside of a rotary engine. The dealerships were alwys big on Mazda certified rebuilt engines.

If you find a good, honest mechanic, treat him like a King. Send him Christmas cards. Hell, introduce him to your old lady. Give him a house key.