rx7chik_since1991

I just thought I'd say "hi" since I'm new here.

I found this forum while trying to learn more about my broken driver's side door handle. There's sure a lot of info here!

I called my RX7 mechanic about my door today and he says it is the handle...they all go eventually. A new one from Mazda is going to cost me about $170, so I thought I'd get one from a wrecker. I sure don't like the idea of having a different coloured handle, but I like reaching through the passenger side to open my door even less! I called at least a dozen wreckers today and the few that have FCs on their lot don't have any door handles.

Tomorrow my BF is going to help me take off the door panel to see if we can do something to fix it (I say "we", but I know I'll be the one passing tools and holding onto loose screws, etc). I've read about the temporary fix with JB Weld. I hope that works!

Geesh! Why do the things on my car have to break after everyone else's so there are no parts left for me? I'm not into doing any big modifications on my car, it's in good shape, but it's getting to the point where it's going to need a lot of attention...and $$$! I went through a bunch of wreckers to find a wiper switch last fall. I replaced the engine 7 years ago (from Mazda), I'm on my third clutch, repaired the tranny last November after breaking some shifter thingy in the top of it (it just wore out!). I need a new antenna mast (if I ever want to listen to AM radio again) and a lot of my dash lights are intermittent (they aren't burnt out, just work when they want to).

So what else can I expect to 'go'? If I do happen to find one at a wreckers, I want to take all the parts before someone else does!

snowball

theirs a parts for sale section here, that will have everything you could ever need.

jgrts20

eventaully lots is gonna go, just buy the whole car for part. Take what you need as you go. How many miles you have on her?

rx7chik_since1991

I don't have room to store a parts car. I live in a large enough area that you'd THINK I'd be able to find what I wanted when I wanted it!

I'm really not sure how much longer I'm going to keep this car for. I'm considering a new car (test drove an RX-8 and I'm in love), but the question is whether or not to keep this one and fix it up. I don't really have the time/space to do that right now, but I might in the near future. There's less than 50,000 miles on the new engine, so lots of life left in her and the body is in decent shape. After 15 years it would be really hard to part with her!

jgrts20

Welp if you have the money I would go with the 8, sorry new cars less problems most of the time. Older cars are hard to figure out cause you never know. I had issues but I fixed them im still happy with my 7.

RotaryEvolution

iTrader: (30)

new cars are even more of a money pit but usually less of a headache however not always. imo keep the car and fix things as they go, even new cars will have to be maintained.

if you think about the payment on a new car, the maintenance on your 7 would be fractionally less than the payment would be and insurance we also be a bit less also. so really it just depends if you want to drive a new car or an older used one.

rx7chik_since1991

My car needs more than maintenance, though. I feel good about the tranny, engine, and clutch, but brakes and exhaust will be next. My seats are worn out (the foam has deteriorated) and will either need to be replaced or lots of $$$ to rebuild/reupholster. I need to replace my speakers, probably should replace the factory stereo, too. While I'm at it I'll install a security system. I can probably hold off on new tires for a while, but not too long, next year for sure. Then there are more boring things like new spark plugs, an air filter, fuel filter. Oh and the release for my fuel door is sticking...gotta do something about that before it breaks!

The thing for me is it's all money since I don't do this work myself. I can do little things myself (like the air filter!), but no, I don't even change my own oil! We'll see. I have stuff going on in my life that could change things. Maybe a new car AND restore this one. Or, maybe I'll see if I can find a convertable. Only time will tell.

RotaryEvolution

iTrader: (30)

still, if you look at the long run those things would still be less than the payment an insurance on a new car for the first year, and the first year of paying on the new car will be like throwing money away since the price just dropped 30% after you drove it off the lot.

yes an older used car is more of a pita but if you put it on paper i gaurantee you the pita will wind up saving you a ton of money in the long run. i just hate seeing people throw money away, if you do buy an 8, buy a used one and buy it with cash if possible.

rx7chik_since1991

Sorry, when I said new, I didn't mean "off the lot" kind of new. When I bought my car, it was less than 2 years old with about 10,000 miles on it for about half the price of a new one, with tons of warrantee left. My friend's dad was the sales manager at a Mazda dealership...he didn't make a dime off it. Unfortunately, he's gone now, but I would definitely look for a similar deal again.

A PITA isn't a big deal if you have another vehicle you can rely on. Whether I'm going to keep this car or not is still up in the air, but I still see myself getting something 'new'.

ericgrau

iTrader: (1)

Tires: Try the penny test.

Stick a penny in the tread
Overlapping Lincoln's head.
Otherwise you'll soon be dead.

I got this from a .gov site. Did the ryhme myself .

Maintenance: Check owner's manual or Haynes manual and do everything on schedule.

Electrical: I don't bother with it but I read you can simply pull the boards and resolder all the joints. Free, but it takes some time and basic soldering skills.

Other Common Problems: Do you smell any gas? After driving, check for a fuel leak from the fuel pulsation dampener (above the exhaust manifold, below some junk). It's a common cause of engine fires. Anything plastic or rubber tends to go too. You seem to have hit most of the other common problems. Though as it happens my own car is due for a brake slave cylinder in a few thousand miles.

Replacing the Door Mechanicsm: I once had trouble with my door mechanism before - door wouldn't open.. That might be what your mechanic means. Mine turned out to be a snapped spring (not easily replaceable). A friend had a parts car, so I pulled the whole mechanism. It was easy to replace, but it took half a day with lots of tight-spaced fiddling (hmm... this won't move with the window rolled down, that won't move with the window rolled up...). You may want to look for the mechanism, not the handle, in a junk yard. To remove the window crank you need to squeeze a horshoe-shaped wire spring with thin plyers or a loop of a thick cord. In fact, you may want to pick up a spare crank in case you break yours (I did).

RX-8: The 2004 RX-8 had some problems, especially fuel/ignition (flooding?). The 2005 was fixed to an amazing level of reliability: Consumer Reports dug up some paint/trim/rust problems (not necessarily all 3), with the highest possible marks everywhere else. The 2006 doesn't have full reliability #'s out yet but there's supposed to be some problems. I'd get a used 2005 RX-8 if you get one. The rust problem seems to be the brake hubs. No biggy, I think.

Miatas and s2000's are nice too. IMO those & the RX-8 are the only 3 worth considering.