Ok, I was in here a few months ago about Mom's Rx7. Engine wouldn't start, red-hot undercarriage...told to try the Cat converters, dug out the insides of both, new oil/plugs/wires... compression is low (45) and the rip-off dealer is saying "rebuild ya engine for only $3500.00!" Mom asks me on the phone: "Should I sell her?" I really don't want her to. Should we tow it to Portland/Eugene for a cheaper repair cost? HELP MY MOM!!

 

have you tried the ATF trick?

 

Ok, I give up, what's the ATF trick? And no laughing, either!

 

you can get your engine rebuilt for about 2Gs...Try some of the rotary specialty shops posted around this site.

Also, how much mileage does your car have? By the way it's probaby a bad idea to even try to run with compression that low since you may be damaging more critical engine parts.


Just my 2 cents.

 

The "ATF trick" is kind of a backyard mechanic trick that can be used to free up stuck apex seals which can boost your compression back up. Automatic Transmissoin Fluid is a detergent and when apex seals become stuck from carbon etc., the fluid can break away at the carbon and free up the seal. Theres alot of controversy about this...I personally have started to agree that it works myself, as well as my ASE master certified teacher. Search for how do to it....alot of posts, its just basically putting tranny fluid (via your preference) into the rotor housings. Replacement of plugs afterwards will be a must though. Some say it can damage O2 sensor as well as cats.

HTH

 

Hey washington state!
I wouldn't mind doing the ATF thing... there's nothing left of the cats to destroy: they're hollowed-out and a simple shell of metal is all that remains. We're not driving it at this point anyways... But, here's the rub: I've never done an ATF trick, do you know of any shops in the Central Oregon area? Don't mind working on the cars but I'd hate to do it blindly.

 

Hey dude,

pull your spark plugs and squirt some automatic trann fluid or the like into the holes. then pull the egi fuse out and crank over once. squirt some more oil in the top holes again. then repeat it once more(so you have succesfully oiled the 3 faces of the rotars.. Then clean or buy brand new spark plugs from the dealer. Let is sit and soak for an hour or two. Put plugs back in, put egi fuse back on. and start it. make sure you do it outside because there will be a huge white cloud for 10mins hah i accidentally did it in the garage once with the door open, so much smoke i couldn't see, had to back it out. Let the car run for 30min. be easy on the engine for 500km then just drive it REDLINE!!

 

now that I got thinking about it though.... 45 is pretty low. shouldn't it be @ 60 or something?

 

It should be at least 90 PSI. Any less than that is indicative of some major internal problem.

 

If it is 45 for all readings, engine just tired, needs rebuilding. If it's 45 on 2 adjacent readings, possibly a seal and atf might work, or seal cracked/worn. I like atf (lubricant) mixed with kerosene (cleanser).
A little more details would be nice esp. mileage.