Blown420

Hi guys,

i would like to say that i am a newbie. I bought an 88 n/a se for 900 bucks about 5 months ago. there was only one problem with it: vibration

it had vibration problems around 50+ mph. i got a new tranny mount.. put that in and it didnt fix the problem. then i was told that its probably the driveshaft. i was going to take it out and get it rebalanced but i havent had the time due to having to graduate. its been about 4 months since ive started the car.

i have to move back home because i just graduated and i have to bring the car home or else sell it. last time i checked it still has the vibration problems. i dont have insurance for it and the registration expired in may; which means i have to smog it soon.

i dont know how i should get it home because im not sure if im gonna get pulled over or anything. also since its been sitting for a long time, i dont know if it can take the 2 hour haul back home. i have a few days left here before my lease ends, does anyone have any suggestions? thanks

Evil Aviator

First of all, don't drive it 200 miles without insurance and registration. Not only could you get a ticket, but also if you happen to get in a collision you could get sued and have your paycheck garnished for the rest of your life. I recommend just renting a U-Haul Auto Transport or similar, which will probably only cost about $60 for your distance. I assume you are renting a moving truck anyway.

Secondly, many things could cause the vibration, but on these cars it is usually from failing u-joints on the driveshaft. Balancing will do no good in this case, and when the u-joint finally siezes, the vibration is so violent that the interior is commonly ripped out of the car. You can buy a replacement driveshaft from Mazdatrix, or you can take a chance and try to replace the u-joints with pin-in aftermarket parts that are not really supposed to be used on these cars.

Congratulations on your graduation.

Spectator

iTrader: (1)

If it starts to vibrate around 50 mph, I would guess you have unbalanced wheels, not a driveshaft.
And when you say vibrate, do you mean the steering wheel vibrates, or the whole car?

Blown420

yes, the steering wheel also vibrates. the vibration seems like it is coming from the center of the car.

i wont be renting a uhaul because I pretty much moved everything I have and I used my dad's truck to move it. 60 bucks is not a bad deal to get my car down there. are there any other suggestions to getting my car down there without the uhaul?

thanks.

-Six-

iTrader: (10)

Could be out of balance wheel, or even wheels being out of alignment. If it were a driveshaft, I would think you'd feel it before you even get to 50 mph.

schmol

sounds like it needs a good alignment and have the wheels/tires rebalanced. If it was a drive shaft ujoint, it would vibrate/squeal when you let off the gas.

TheDarkRacer

deff get the tires balanced. And make sure its dynamic. Some shops dont always do dynamic and they do static witch will start to shake the car at 60ish.... so do that. and to rent a uhaul dolly is like 60ish. I did so this past weekend...

Blown420

thanks for all the advice. i really appreciate it. when i become more experienced with the rx7, i will definitely post some constructive posts.. with pictures. thanks again.

sharingan 19

iTrader: (16)

I've got a wheel bearing thats going bad, it causes vibrations at higher speeds. But if it's comming from the middle of the car it's drive shaft related, my friend had a similar problem that kept getting worse over the course of a week, and then his drive shaft broke...

Spectator

iTrader: (1)

Driveshaft. 99.9% sure.

phoenix7

I'm not sure the u-joints will hold up the 200 mile trip. If you try you WILL damage your tranny and anything that breakable within the reach of a spinning, broken driveshaft.

Spectator

iTrader: (1)

Why am I stupid?

phoenix7

that's the only smilie that has an arrow pointing up. not an actual "you're stupid" smilie, it's more of a "i agree with that guy" thing.

Blown420

i knew it was too good to be true.

so i went into discount tires today to ask about balancing the tires. he said he would 'hook it up' for free and said to bring the car in etc.

i also called up uhaul and they said that since i dont have my car registered, no part of it can touch the ground. so i asked what other options i have. and the lady said that i could rent one of their trucks and an auto transport for 150 bucks (179 miles one way). i have driven with the vibrations for about 200+ miles when i first got it and i had no problems..

i really want to jus drive it down and save the 150 bucks, but with my luck ill probably get caught.

other option is to jus leave it here (i just moved it today from the driveway to the side street) until i have a job(i just graduated) so my parents wont bitch about me having a "junk" car (parents are asian).

and my final option is to sell it to my neighbor for 900 bucks.. how much i got it for.. but i already spent 350+ on maintenence. such a waste. he doesnt even have the money yet so im jus stressed out.. thanks for everyone lookin into this post and offering me their ear and their advice.

phoenix7

spend the 150 and tell your parents that the battery died and you're going to replace it after you get a job because you want to be responsible. inspect it and make sure it's the Driveshaft and replace it with one from the for sale section on this forum. You just graduated you can FIND a way to keep your parent from bitching you out right?

go get the wheels balanced. when the car is on the lift get under there and grip the driveshaft and look for play and if it's too wiggly then replace it. while it's up there have him check the suspension, bearings and then hook HIM up with a tip if he's hooking YOU up.

mazda.junkie

When I got my 7, the u-joints were very bad and it would vibrate at any speed "no lie". Basically, just lay down next to the car and reach under it.
Find the front of the driveshaft and push and pull on it. There should be no noticable play, then check the joint at the diff. Any place specializing in drivetrains
will replace both u-joints and rebalance it for $100 if that turns out to be the problem. Im going to say its a tire issue though, just my $0.02

Spectator

iTrader: (1)

Dont ever do the fat guy dance again please. :vomit:

Sideways7

iTrader: (7)

I would say that it is most likely an unbalanced wheel. When I got my FC it behaved exactly the same way, wicked vibration in the car and especially the steering wheel above 50. It was a bad tire. When I replaced it it was as smooth as glass. Before you go chasing expensive stuff do the easy thing and get the tires balanced.
On a second note, I actually drove it about 100 miles unregistered after I bought it. I was pulled over and the ******* cop gave me a ticket even though I had proof I had bought it earlier that day and couldn't have gotten to the DPS yet....
Also, I don't know about Cali, but if you are caught with a seriously out of date registration and no insurance it will cost you a lot more than your entire car is worth..... Just get it moved properly and legally. 150 is a drop in the bucket compared to the fines possible.

Blown420

thanks, i will definitely do it legally. i was wondering though, how much did u end up paying in fines for not having it registered?

so my plan is now to get my tires balanced then check the driveshaft.

also, since i need to register it before getting insurance, does anyone know how much it would cost to register it.. my friend says i can do register it "temporarily" and then get insurance.

PinkRacer

https://mv.dmv.ca.gov/FeeCalculatorW...VehicleForm.do

Blown420

wow thanks. very helpful

phoenix7

that's my favorite smilie! and it's not vomit it's PUKE


as far as registering it?

I registered a car 3 years after we bought it (had a driveshaft break due to U joints and it broke the tranny, replaced the tranny, blew the tranny, and after about the years it was roadworthy) and we paid $650+custom plates fees.

If it has not been registered in years then expect to pay around the same otherwise expect $100-$200.

Blown420

ok, with phoenix7 advice i decided to go ahead and register my car. i went into the dmv today and paid 82 bucks to register and got a temp sticker till the end of september. i have to smog the sucker now.


i decided to try and make the 2 hour haul down on friday or monday. i remembered before that my car had some problems starting because my battery cables were old and crusty. so i decided to pop open the hood again and take a look at the battery. i saw that there was corrosion on one terminal so i decided to try to pull the battery cables off the battery. the bolt on one is so corroded and rusted up that i couldnt even turn the nut without stripping it. also the other terminal, i can turn the nut but the whole bolt goes with it. so all i did was put battery cleaner on it and cleaned it best i can.


i start up the 7, five seconds into it, my car starts rumbling a lil more than i think it should. i let it warm up for a bit. i check my readings..

oil pressure is at 31~
voltage is at 13
temp went to about 3/8 - 1/2... i checked to see if the rad hose was hot.. nope. checked coolant ... seems ok. rad is not even hot.

can anyone tell me what they think. im gonna have my friend look at it tonight and ill let u guys know whats up.

-also, do you guys think i should forget the battery.. since it started up, should i just not worry about it? i was thinking of replacing the battery cables and i searched the forum.. found nothing.

thanks.

phoenix7

rumbling as in it sounded weird? or it was shaking?

I would worry about the battery after you figure out what's making it shake on the hwy. As far as the cables, well, go find the right connectors and replace them.

If your battery dies you can go buy another one but if your DS breaks you're screwed.

Blown420

yes im afraid it after 5 seconds it was more like shaking.. i could see my shifter shake left and right.. i think i hit the clutch instinctively and then it went away...

but as far as the oil pressure etc does that look nominal?

also is it normal for the radiator to not get hot and the rad hose too?