dieseldell

Hi everyone

I found a '90 convertible automatic for sale. Yeah I know, autos suck.

Anyway, the speedo and odometer in the car do not work. Is it possible that the cable from the tranny is bad? Broken? Any ideas? The 7 has about 165k miles on it.

Any other things I should look for? I’ve always wanted a 7 and now, finding this deal, I may be able to finally have one.

Thanks for your input.

Ruffryder_29

1. yes your cable is broke
2. do a compression test
3. welcomr to the forums

dieseldell

1. OK how easy/hard is it to fix
2. How much is the tester and can I do myself
3. Thanks!

Ruffryder_29

1. The cable is not hard at all to fix.....it takes 15 min and you can probably get a replacement at the autozone.

2. about 20$ and yes if you know what you are doing

3. No Problem

dieseldell

I thought the compression tester for the rotaries was a bit different than for a piston motor. Where can I find a tester for a rotary?

kiyoshi

You can check it at Mazda dealer or rotary specialized shop.

90WhiteVrt

The convertibles are nice and fun to drive but DONT make this a primary driving vehicle. Coupes are much better for that.

NAVDREG

1. Compression tester for a rotary is different... take it to an RX7 Tuner to test that properly.. if he uses the same unit that he would use on a piston driven car then that Tuner doesnt know his stuff...

2. Automatics generally run hotter... they also consume more fuel... I would not get into an automatic... it takes away from what a sports car was designed to be ... a Sports Car... gotta have a 5 speed... its like getting a V6 motor installed in an RX7.. its no longer an RX7

3. If you do get the Automatic because you are stubborn then dont pay more than $1,000.00 for it... you will regret it later on and then want to do a motor and tranny swap for a five speed anyway. more headaches will arise... it may look pretty but its an Automatic !

4. In most instances.. the speedo cable breaks from the plug in the back of the speedo cluster... You can get a new cable or if you cannot find one then you use to nylon P ties.. one on the cable and the other to secure it to one of the mounting bolts (screws) on your right side to prevent it from slipping off. If the cable has been broken for some time then guess what ? the miles on the speedo are not accurate.. therefore you dont know how long its been like that not reading mileage. it becomes TMU (True Miles Unknown)

Some people are just too lazy to get it fixed... or the person driving the automatic was just not too mechanically inclined to fix themselves... I dunno.. to me only chicks drive automatics.

One last note.. the vert is 800 lbs heavier than the coupe... so if you are not getting good gas MPG because by default automatics dont get good MPG .. imagine what it will be like wit h a vert that is 800 lbs heavier.

I have a vert... 5 speed ...

Parastie

I've acually seen the nut holding the speedo-cable in the tranny work it self out. You just have to put it back in and tighten the nut down. If it does need to be replace, don't you have to take the dash (or at least the cluster) out? I think it'll be a good hours worth of work, but still not hard.

You'll really want to get rid of that auto tranny. The Verts are heavier then the coupes and are slow with your typical 5-speed. The Auto is just sad really...

You can use a piston compression checker on the rotaries, you just need to know how. Check the FAQ.

dieseldell

I have a Jeep as well. The 7 won't be driven in the snow. Its mostly just going to be a toy

Aaron Cake

iTrader: (1)

Since no one has mentioned, I feel the need. The FAQ contains several comprehensive buying guides. Covers many of the common problems and concerns.

Parastie

I said it!!

efinigtu

convertibles suck..they have shitty suspension. buy a coupe

dieseldell

Why are the suspensions crap? The extra weight? How far off does this added weight throw off the near 50/50 weight distribution (of a coupe)?

vaughnc

Uh, no. The convertible is a blast to drive in the city and it feels more "connected" to the road than the coupes. It makes a great daily driver and like any high-mileage car be sure you do ALL of the maintenance including tuneup, checking boots & bushings, cleaning debris from the fins on the radiator & oil coolers, checking hoses, changing fluides, fixing leaks, etc...

Great cars.

dieseldell

[QUOTE=Parastie]
You'll really want to get rid of that auto tranny. The Verts are heavier then the coupes and are slow with your typical 5-speed. The Auto is just sad really...
QUOTE]

OK I've looked and found a few write ups on doing the swap. Now who has done it and really how bad was it? Total $$ invested?

DrewD

The auto tranny on a vert ain't bad. 0-60 in less than a day :-)

Bukwild

don't buy it if its a auto. Please listen to us on this one

Tournapart

iTrader: (4)

i drive my vert everyday. 800lbs heavier than a coupe? where the hell do you get that? its more like 300lbs maybe a little less. i love driving my vert, and i have driven both the coupe s4 and s5 and verts s4 and s5 and from how it felt the vert handled better stock and the coupe had a bit more off the line. Gas mileage in a seven is crap no matter how you add it up, unless you are running an EMS get used to hopping from gas station to gas station, lol.

Probably the thing i love about my vert most is when i take it out in the twisty turns and i have the top down and the windows down and i can see everything sround me, it s really great feeling. Verts are a taste and feel, not every one agrees, but i love mine.

another big plus with the RX7 vert compared to all of the verts of the same era is that there is a soild targa top which helps the aerodynamics of the car and the big one a GLASS rear window, these were the deciding factors when i bought mine, because these were my biggest hates of convertables, the rear window would oxidize and the top would sag, both of which mazda remedied(sp?) with this one.

So thats a bit of positive through out all the negative, decide what YOU want to do, not what they want you to do.

RRTEC

iTrader: (13)

I sold off all my rx-7's and bought a Vert. They are approx 300lbs heavier then the Coupe- nowhere near 800lbs, Try not posting if you have no-idea what you are talking about. If you don't mind the auto then buy it. The S5 is the way to go. With a few easy mods you'll never know the difference between the coupe and vert.. My vert handles way better then the couples I have owned, right out of the box....

dieseldell

Well the person selling is keeping firm at $1500. I think this is steep. I may just wait and find a T2 if I can somewhere.

jamesc760

Please stay away from an RX7 vert! All RX7 verts are belong to me, heh heh

Seriously, I've never had such a blast driving a car, bar none and I've driven a variety of cars since 1983--Yes, I'm a dinosaur. I've never driven an RX7 Coupe, so I can't compare it to my 89 Vert. BTW, I bought mine for $800, and it was in running condition. I think $1500 is too much, unless it's in good condition.

RRTEC

iTrader: (13)

$1500 is fair for a S5 in running condition.... Where is it, I would buy it....

Turbo II

iTrader: (1)

T2 is going to be much more expensive on initial cost and things needed to do as soon as you buy it and after you buy it.

I'm glad to see all my 'Vert "brothers" come out and support and defend our beloved car. I daily drive an '88 and love it. If you've never owned one then shut the hell up about what you think you know about it. BTW, I also drive a '91 Turbo so poo on you!

Juiceh

iTrader: (4)

The vert is actually STIFFER than the coupe due to all the bracing. The 2nd gen rx7 was designed with a vert model in mind. The rx7 vert is not an after thought chopped up coupe.

The auto tranny sucks ***. I bought my 91 vert and it was an auto. The fact that the tranny started to go out on me and that I was being beaten by SUVs made me do a full turbo swap with Rotary Resurrection. PM Kevin Landers of Rotary Resurrection and see what he can do for you.

https://www.rx7club.com/member.php

The full TII swap was the best thing I have done for that car yet.