Gotta admit...I'm fairly new to the rotary world...BUT:
I am driving an '85 stock with a 12A...just a little over 100k on it (original)...the only modifications have really been to the exhaust (GSL SE exhaust pipes with a high flow cat) and dryer hose running to the intake...I know it sucks, but I have no $$ !!
Anyway, I KNOW I should be getting more power out of it than I am. My top end SUCKS...It pretty much hangs around 115, and it takes FOREVER to get there once I hit 50...It's not even that great off the line...And it is sluggish until I hit 3 grand, then I feel a little "boost" and it drives with more ease. I did replace the alternator, which gave me slightly more power, but didn't fix the problem (not that I expected it to...the alternator just went out). The car is originally from Virginia, and I have now moved it to Colorado...the "sluggish to 3 grand" thing has only happened since I moved it to altitude. I'm wondering...maybe I should adjust the carburetor (sp?)...? But the lack of power in general happens both at altitude and sea level. HELP??!! Any suggestions would be GREATLY appreciated!....I'M SICK AND TIRED OF GETTING MY *** HANDED TO ME ON THE ROAD!!!!

 

Get a Mazda Factory Service manual for your car.
There could be a ton of things wrong with your car to hurt the power.

You need to start eliminating systems as a problem and go from there.

Things that might cause a general lack of power:

Fuel,
Air,
Spark,
Compression.

More specifically, you could have a carb out of adjustment or not functioning, i.e. secondaries not opening. Or the fuel could be inadequate, i.e. bad pump or clogged filter.

The air filter could be clogged or there could be a vacuum leak.

The Timing could be off, the plugs wires cap rotors bad, the ignitors or coils could be bad.

You could have a bad apex seal or worn motor causing a low compression condition

I would start at the compression move on to the Fuel and ignition system and then see if it was a carb problem. But that is because I understand the carb the least. Ant the other systems are easy for me to diagnose. Just eliminate as much as you can and go from there. And get a Mazda Factory Service manual for your car.

Just my $.02

 

Sounds like Fuel Starvation, with a small lean condition surge..
Make sure the Fuel Filters are clean, and the pump is putting out enough.
After that, make sure the carbs are not screwed.

 

I am assuming you live at high altitude since your in colarado? The carb is jetted for virgina altitude not the mile high city. You are possibly running too rich as you need to lean out the mixture the higher you go. Altitude compinsators on carbs are not really effective. But you can't really find a stock carb with adjustibility, mabye find a RX-7 in a junkyard there and put on that carb? Usually cars are tuned for where they are headed, such as California for lower HC emissions or Minnesota set lower for CO because these are the main problem concerns for those areas. Intended high altitude cars with carbs are set for high altitude from factory. 85octane is another benfit of high altitude which burns slower due to thin air up high.

 

I'm with him. I ride dirtbikes up in the mountains and it is highly necessary to re-jet your carb for the altitude you plan on running in. My friends bike was tuned for roughly sea-level when he first got it, and it would kill mine in a strightaway (CR-125 vs. KX-125) out by our houses. We took our bikes up to the mountain where I usually ride, and his was hard to start and what-not, and then once he did get it started, it ran like crap all day. So, he went and bought an extra set of jets that he swaps in everytime we go up to the mountains. Plus a new set that he runs at home because of the altitude here (I dont remember what it is). So in any case, I think that your carb may have something to do with it, but also look for any possible problems anyway. Its always a good idea, and it may save you in the long run.

~T.J.

 

I've would have never even thought about that as an option. Sounds like a good reason. I am from South Florida (Sea Level) and have never driven any of my cars across high altitudes to notice such an effect. Although, he did state he went from Virginia to Colorado. As far as I know (not much..) Virginia is not exactly Sea Level either..

Before I get flamed, I do know that higher altitudes have less oxygen, thus less power, yada, yada, yada..

Does this altitude affect Fuel Injected engines as well? Or do the ECU's compensate for it automatically?

 

Hey my '85 is also rather slow... it's called "stock port 12A" Remember these cars were only good for mid-17's when new, and they've had 17 years to age.
The "kick" at 3k is the secondaries coming on-line - that's normal. 3k is the happy point. Keep the revs over 3k and below 6k (no point in going over 6k - no power up there) and your right foot to the floor.

One nice thing about having a lack of power - it teaches you to be a better driver, since you can't just power your way out of mistakes.