New to the group. I just purchased a 1989 RX7 convertable non-turbo and it's obvbious I know nothing about these cars. Already, the fun has begun. I burned out the battery because I didn't realize there was a fourth position for the key all the way to the back of the ingnition. Or that the radio had to be turned off manually. Took about 15 days for me to realize what had happened. Then cost $80 for the battery.

Then one day I start it and the coolant alarm comes on in the car, and I of course shut it down immediately to check. Well, you know what happened next, the engine flooded because it was only on for 15 seconds during the alarm. Turns out that when I checked the coolant, it seemed as though the radiator cap was very loose and just kind of came off in my hand. Added 50/50, dropped the hood and tried to start. I am lucky because using the engine flood starting procedure, I got it up and running immediately in 40 degree weather.

The left side of the car is a gigantic blind spot and I don't know how I'm supposed to be able to change lanes without knowing what is in the next lane over. Put a large round mirror on the exterior driver side to help. This works during the day, but at night it's a real problem.

The only mechanical problem seems to be exhaust sputtering noise coming from almost directly under the driver's seat. put-put-put, put-put-put, stuttering a little bit, almost like some type of exhaust leak or something. I can smell it when I'm outside next to the driver's door but I can't see under the damn car!

Out here in San Diego, it seems like everyone wants to pass me or run me over or come into my lane. I've had the car a friggin month and no one can see it when on the highway and people just turn into my lane. I have to drive with the headlights on and my finger on the horn button (the right one is broken, how do I fix that?) I swear to god, with all these SUVs and Hummers on the road, it's a pretty unsafe, but fun car to drive.

I would like to make the car belch fire from the dual exhaust system and make noise - let's say - 95 decibles. Any ideas???

Thanks!

 

Did you put a towel over your window or something?


Welcome to owning a small car. The only reason I want an SUV is to protect myself from these other crazy drivers that drive **** like H2's (tanks that you can put a tag on).

Remove all emissions and run with no cats.

 

You should not have to turn the radio off manually. It should be keyed to the accessory 12V supply like all other cars. I assume someone installed an aftermarket deck? Sounds like they screwed up the wiring.

They make little round stick-on mirrors that you can stick to the edge of the side mirrors. I hear they help alot if you can't get the side mirrors adjusted properly.

The blind spots in the FC take a little while to get used too but I don't find them any worse then any other hatchback.

Yep, exhaust leak. It's likely one of the gaskets between the cats, or the gasket that joints the precat to the exhaust manifold. Or it could be the gasket that joins the catback to the main cat. So basically, any of the exhaust gaskets.

The horn button contacts are probably just dirty. I can't give you any solution to the other crappy drivers on the road, but modding the headlights to always turn on might help some:
http://www.aaroncake.net/rx-7/lights.htm

There are plenty of exhaust options. Check with the vendors like Mazdatrix or Racing Beat for some high quality options. There are also plenty of cheaper systems like the Corksport exhausts by they may be too loud.

 

When my horn's broken, I just use my finger.

I'm not sure how it is on the newer cars, on my s4, (1986-1988 Rx7), there's a philips screw on each side on the back of the steering wheel that holds the center piece in place. With that removed, you should be able to see the contacts for the horn. They're probably brass, and probably have a wire going to the horn side and the button side of the button, so that when they short together you get horn noises. :P

Convertibles are always pretty bad with the top up because there's no plastic behind where the B pillar would be in a coupe. You may have to resort to the old-fashioned method of looking over your shoulder.

And be careful with exhaust modifications in California, because a lot of them won't pass emissions. They have a rule about having to look original from a visual test. I guess that means rusty and full of holes.