derek1987

How is the Na's Reliablilty I was just reading the thread "Im Done With Rx7s" a few post down and it seem the reliablilty of Rx7 suck. True or not?

And what is some things that a new rx7 owner should replace and repair

Peruvianrx7

iTrader: (25)

REliability? when you buy an rx-7 that word does not exist. BE Sure to have 5k in the bank before getting an rx-7. you think that after putting 5k on the engine to buy all new stuff the car would stop acting up but does it? oh hell no!.... rx-7s reliability sucks, sucks BIG HUGE *****. 1. if you dont have a rotary mechanic you better find him now or move close to one. start buying metric wrenches .. you will usually need the old 10mm the old 12mm and the 14mm... you will need mad money for gas we are talking u getting about 200-250 miles per full tank if lucky... and about passing emmisions forget about it... also you should save 300 dollars for a pulsation damper cuz your car will catch on fire =)... except for those tiny things an rx7 is NICE!! and HAS MAD TORQUE YO!!! ahahahahahahaha.

DAN CARWIN

any questions?

derek1987

$300 for a pulsation damper

Is it that bad?

hybridracer

Hmmmm sounds like someones had a bad experience. N/a's are actually fairly reliable, if you treat them right. Some people just look on here and see bad stories, but then again no one ever post good things about their rx7 when it runs fine. So what can you expect. Anyways, things to replace:
Pulsation dampner only if its leaking, if not your fine.
Dont buy a peice of **** 500 dollar car and you probably wont have problems. Or at least look at what your buying before you had somebody money.
Theres nothing you really need to replace when buying one if its in good condition. Its just like any other car, you buy a peice of ****, and well, your gonna have problems. I know they arent the most reliable cars, but that guy up there made them sound like a ticking time bomb.

Edit:
By the way, check out the FAQ thats stickied at the top of this section. It has just about all the answers you will need to this question and then some

derek1987

Thanks hybridracer.
I have had my car for about a year. I have not drove it but I fire it up every once in a while(don't have my license but in two months i will. I cannot wait.) After unflooding it, replace a starter, and a clutch it seem to run pretty good(only paid $1000 for a 1987 GXL and Turbo II that is not running and need some work).

1987RX7guy

iTrader: (3)

N/a's are reliable as they come man. Peruvian AKA vegeta is an exception because he got himself into his own trouble. HANS you know you did it to yourself. You are the one that wanted a pre-emptive rebuild and spent 3k dollars in a year on the engine when kevin landers could have gotten you an engine for 1600 shipped.

Sean_O

I'd say they're pretty reliable. I have an 86 and yeah, I've put a lot of money into it but that's because I've been replacing original parts. Original transmission, original alternator, original starter motor and some other stuff. 135k on the odometer and no engien problems yet (knock on wood).

Just be sure to do your research and remember to change your oil. Good cars, but you can't neglect them like you can a Honda.

BDoty311

Hey, n/as are realiable. Except for my waterpump failure nothing on my car has broke due to anything I didnt ask for by modding it. My idle kinda sucks now, but what do you expect with going that far off the Mazda map? Change all of your fluids regularly, and you might have to replace a clutch sometime if you drive it hard, but thats what you get.

Only bad that about n/a rotaries is that they are unique and parts can be alittle hard to find and sometimes expensive.

JerryLH3

iTrader: (11)

I'll attest to the N/A's reliability. My engine let go at 140K miles, which doesn't seem alarming to me. After the rebuild, it has gone 70k more trouble free miles. The RX-7 has NEVER left me stranded (knock on wood, wouldn't want to jinx myself).

I have only performed routine maintenance in the time I've owned it in the past four years. That and a few minor mods with more to come, but I doubt reliability will be compromised.

Digi7ech

iTrader: (1)

Both my NA's are champs.

The alternator and thermostats went on my car and then a clutch but those are parts which break on most cars.

My SE has 152 on the engine and I haven't turned it over a a couple months and I guarantee I can go out there now and start driving it no problem.

My GTU has taken 20,00 miles in 11 months with a stride and is actually running better now.

I beat on my cars pretty good and they still run. Out of all my friends cars mine is still running good after some abuse.

Just check the belts/coolant flush/oil change/fuel filter/ and you'll ready to drive in to the 100-200k range without a problem.

Peruvianrx7

iTrader: (25)

ummm no?..... i spend about 2200 on the rebuild everything else was on parts.. new waterpump, new radiator, new hoses, new alternator, rebuild fuel injectors, new wires, new battery, new clamps, new cluth, resurfarced flywheel, silicone hoses for the rats nest, new radiator caps, new thermostat, new o2 sensor, new heat shield, and the list goes on and on....so basically yes i wasted about 600 bucks extra but it was only because i needed to buy the tools required for an engine assembly... true i did mess up my rotor and my e-shaft but you learn from your mistakes....but i gained the experience of building an engine myself.... i only complain because you expect the car to work after 85% of all its parts have been rebuild or replaced with new oem ones.

Peruvianrx7

iTrader: (25)

not to mention i got my engine ported for 100 bucks instead of paying kevin 250 to port my 6 port 13b., oops i almost forgot, new master cylinder, new slave cylinder, new throw out bearing, new coolant bypass hoses and heater hoses. used but in working condition actuators, new belts..

sectachrome

my car has been a daily driver for 16 years. it has 150k on it and there have been any major engine problems (KNOCK ON WOOD). i remember reading that someone on here has an n/a with 290k on the original engine. if that aint reliable i dont know what is.

Center of The Universe

N/A's are bulletproof. Just keep them cool, filled with the fluids they need, change them at the proper time, and they will last.

Center of The Universe

... I love my car.

Peruvianrx7

iTrader: (25)

i didnt say i hate rx-7s!! im just saying i wish mine stopped giving me problems.. i love my car to death like everyone on the forum does.. i just dont want to have it end up in a junkyard.

ScrapFC

iTrader: (5)

I can't personally attest for the NA's reliability, since I've only had mine running and legal for a few months. However, after pulling a horribly abused GXL out of the junkyard, cleaning it up and throwing a motor out of an '86 base with about 170,000 miles it runs and drives great! I get about 17-24mpg depending on city/freeway and my right foot. I've had very few teething problems that weren't my own damned fault. When I finally got my emissions equipment hooked up right and got everything tuned in, I passed smog with less than 10% of the average HCs. My HCs were 2ppm at idle and 3ppm at 2400rpm.
Your results may vary.

BDoty311

Did you ever stop to blame the installer instead of the car....

Peruvianrx7

iTrader: (25)

ouch that hurts deeply... the engine is good.. the reason my car is dead is due to one of those gay grounding problems at least 50% of all s4 rx-7s have. is not my fault the ecu decides to be gay on me or a wire burns out or whatnot..

Icemark

Loose nuts behind the wheel are easily tightened for better reliability.

The N/A RX-7 is one of the most reliable cars out there. Compare it to any other mid-eighties car and you'll see a very high percentage of RX-7s and happy owners. Many many of them hit over 120K miles without a thing being done to them other than regular maintence. I don't know an american or many imports that match that.

Yes there are a few bad apples because of poorly maintained vehicles like the one that Peruvianrx7 must be owning, but by far that is the minority rather than the majority. And as far as working on them, they are very very simple to work on, and there is seldom a problem that can not be solved.

Peruvianrx7

iTrader: (25)

tru very true... I JUST GOT OWNED for the 500,000,000 time. thanx Icemark KING OF THE ROTARY!

Mephis

only had 2 problems that made it undriveable untill i fxed it and ive had it for a year and the stuff has been fixed for more than 6months, everything else was nickle dime restoring parts(interior and such)

the major problem was $400 for a new computer
and the problem that kept it off the road was a bad alternatior and that cost $80 to have it rebuilt. all in all its the most reliable car ive driven, just dont port em, just put an exhaust and intake on and leave it if ya want to have fun.

my friends cars are brand new and they have to replace something every week, i laugh at em when they cant get em runnign when they buy new, i always say i told you to buy used, never once have I bought a used car that is inreliable.

Dan H

When I had my NA, I had ZERO problems. My only gripe would be horrible mileage, but oh well...its a sports car. My friends with NA's also don't have any major problems as well.

hybridracer

Awesome, glad to see this thread turned out like I hoped it would. I was hoping some more people would chime in.