Hi

So I went to look at an '88 Turbo today, and I used this guide here as a basis of things to look for when buying one of these cars: http://rx7.voodoobox.net/infofaq/bguide/bguide.html

Well almost everything on the car worked and is in good shape, but I have a couple of important questions I need some help with (because of my inexperience with these cars). PLEASE help...

Upon startup everything was normal, and the car revved to around 2,000+ for about 5 minutes and then dropped off to around 700 - 800 rpms. Also upon startup, there was a bit of usual white smoke, and it lasted the full 5 minutes or so until the idle slowed.

Is this normal? The car also reaked of exhaust and the smell was almost overpowering... it was a strong gas smell (???) I reaked like exhaust the whole night after looking at this car.

Next came the test drive, and the car drove surprisingly tight for an '88. Once it was fully warmed up, I got on it to test the turbo and it pulled very well. However, I'm not sure if it was my foot or the turbo but there was a slight surge or drop in power around 5,500 to 6,000 rpms, as well as a bit of a sucking noise under boost.

The sound was kinda like the noise you can make with your mouth when you take a deep breath with your mouth slighty closed. (Sorry but that's the best I can describe it.)

Is this anything to worry about, or is there anything specific to check if I go back to look at the car again?

And lastly, after the test drive I shut the car off and let it sit for 5 minutes before trying to restart it. Well the car started right up, BUT then the rpms dropped almost immediately and the car died.

The owner said it's because the car is warm and you need to give it more fuel, but to my understanding it could mean low compression?

He proceeded to get the car started, but it was a bit of a pain in the butt with some throttle prodding, and I'd hate to have to do that everytime you go for gas or groceries

The guy used the yellow button on the left of the steering column to start the car because the key stopped working... I have no idea why, and actually didn't even know this button existed.

Any help you can provide with this would be very appreciated, and I apologize if this post is a little long winded. I obviously need your help, lol

Thanks!!!

-Mike

 

I'd venture towards mild nightmare...

White smoke is coolant burning. Typically the coolant seals are leaving.

 

dont buy it... the problems you listed means the motor is more than likely to go out when those coolant seals go....

 

There is no 'yellow button' in an '88. That's something he installed as a band-aid fix.

 

The car may be sucking coolant into the rotor housings after it is shut off.. which is causing the hard start after you shut it off when its hot....

Run away... Run Away...

Also.. the sucking sound is normal if he has a cone filter on it... you are hearing the turbo pulling air in.

 

Buy it if you can get it from him cheap enough to make a rebuild worth your while

 

Hi all

Thanks for your replies!

About the white smoke, it didn't smell like coolant at all -- just really gassy like a badly tuned car. But when I was driving it, I turned the AC on (to see if the car would overheat) and it smelled a little like coolant then.

I also did the other checks like looking in the coolant resevoir for oil, and there was none. I checked before and after the test drive.

And from what I can tell, the car didn't smoke under hard acceleration either.

Oh, about the turbo sucking noise.... yes, he has put a cone filter on the car.

He's got the car for sale at $5,200 CND, which is roughly $3,900 USD. Sounds like I may have to make him an offer quite lower than that.

Any more advice about all this would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
Mike

 

Too much for a car that the engine could die at any minute. You can find a nicer, cheaper TII if you look.

 

its to much i paid 2500 cnd for mine.....it's a na but runs excellent and is in great shape