coolant leak near spark plugs
 

Tonight on the way home from dinner my 88 vert NA started to heat-up and the alarm to add coolant came on. I stopped the came and steam was coming from under the hood. When I open the hood I noticed it was leaking (steam was coming from the area near the spark plugs) Does anyone know the common failure of hoses in this area? Anyone have the same problem?
I park the car in a safe area a couple blocks away and hope I can fix it tomorrow withoout having to tow it home.
Thanks,
Bob

heater hose below the oil filter is common to pop if it has not been maintained (oil often drips onto the hose when the filter is changed if the filter has not been drained first or if the pedistal O rings have failed).

Yes, this exact thing happened to me not two weeks ago. That fifteen year old hose split right at the bend nearest the lower hose clamp and made a huge mess. I was told the hose is a dealer item, course I may have been lied too. Cost me about 25.00 to replace, plus coolant and new clamps (the original ones are crap!)

The hose goes from the heater core fittings at the top center of the firewall to the lower rear driver's side of the engine (in close proximity to the aforementioned oil filter.) and is not too hard to get to.

Just as Icemark says. It's a common problem because the heater hose is just below the oil filter.

coolant leak
 

thanks for the help. It does seem like and easy fix. I tried calling 3 local Mazda Dealers so I could just go over ther with the hose. No such luck. None of the parts people where at all familiar with the RX-7 and which hose it could be. With giving them a part number or bringing in the hose itself I am out of luck. So I am going to have Triple A bring it home for me and deal with it there.

Mazdatrix normally stocks it

Yank out the hose and see your parts store has one similar. There is a bend but not a sharp angle so you could get away with a generic one.

I did go with the generic one. I just had it cut longer and made mild bends around so it didn't kink. I am going to order the part from Mazdatrix. I was worried about overheating damage but there wasn't any. I shut it down in time. Thanks everyone for your help.
Bob

Cool

and because the factory hose clamps are the worst ones ever created in automotive history.

LOL
No comment! I use stainless clamps on all hoses .