L337rx7

I own an 88' RX-7 GTU. I've recently noticed a slight sputtering noise, not the normal back pressure pops after revving the engine, but a more consistant putputputputput. I've also noticed a loss of power, and when it is hot out from idle to about 4000 rpm there is a "woooshing" noise, i belive eminating from the fan, fanbelt. IF anyone has any ideas, please help.

geargrabber

when my cats were clogged i had major loss of power... topped out at 30mph going up a slight hill.

the two primary cats are prone to collapsing(from burning oil). Take your main cat up to your eye, if you can see through the catalytic matrix dont gut it! its VERY expensive to replace, which is crucial to passing smog. Do they have that where you are?

when its hot out the fan is going to go on... when it stays on when its cold out then i would worry about it. Rotorys disipate a ton of heat through the oil and cooling system. The wooshing noise is the fan itself, moving air. It is bad for the water pump bearing to rev the engine up past 4K or so when the fan is on... to get around this people have installed electric fans. Do a search to find what the best electric fan is available.


sputtering could be anything to do with the efi system, and its sensors. Bust out with the repair book(which you SHOULD already have) and check TPI, injectors, so on and so forth. I would say check everything you can. you just never know what could be giving you problems.

geargrabber

EDIT: TPS (not TPI)

geargrabber

EDIT: TPS (not TPI)

L337rx7

how'd you clean out your cats?? Im thinking of straightpiping my exhaust, because montana doesnt have emmision standards.. I have the factory manual, and i'll run through the troubleshooting part, see if i can figure anything out.

geargrabber

a big *** screw driver and lots of elbow grease. the matrix will crumble out, but it takes A LOT of sweat. Just keep working at it. the main catalytic converter is probably the hardest one.

Oh, i just remembered how i did it, i used a long 1/2 inch spiral wood bit(not typical for metal) i got the metal strands to wrap themselves on the bit, and pulled them out that way. when your done the cats will be completely hollow.

geargrabber

oh yeah, you will now have fireballs shooting out your exhaust when you shift or when you let up on the gas.

Falcoms

you know, I have dual cats and they are not gutted, yet I sometimes will shoot flames out my exhaust (couple nights ago, scared the stuffing out of my friend following in his caravan when I shifted at 8k and-according to him-a 4 foot flame came out of both exhaust pipes. All I know is I saw an orange flash in my peripheral vision off the sidewalk and buildings)

Syonyk

See if you can get that fixed... I noticed a loss of power in mine, blamed it on the hot air, and suffered a blown rear rotor a few days later.

The fan will "whoosh" - it moves a lot of air, and has fairly course pitched blades.

-=Russ=-

L337rx7

Also when i hear the fan if i keep it revved at about 4k, the wooshing goes away after about 15 - 20 seconds. And it doesnt woosh when its cold out. When cleaning the cats, do i need to remove the entire exhaust or just unbolt the cats? As a side note, i found an abandond RX 7 at a building, and its been there for about three months. My friend asked the employees at the building if they had any idea whos it was, and they do not. It is unlocked, and in pretty good condition. Its an 88 GXL, and it has a rather nice intake on it. My friend having the DMV trace the vin #, and if it turns out empty im jacking the intake .

geargrabber

you can take both your primary cats out without ubolting the main coverter-back.

first unbolt your primary cats from each-other, the exhaust manifold and the main converter.

get in a position with your head pointed tward the front of the car.

put both your feet on rear exhaust( i cant remeber if it was the rear hangers for the rear mufflers or the y-pipe )

brace yourself on the front cross member or something close and STRETCH your legs away from your body.

that will give a good gap to remove the lower primary cat. the bottom cat will come out first, then the top one.

-mike