Oh boy...electrical.....
 

My rex has an on and off electrical problem. When I am accelerating, the dash lights, as well has head lights get brighter. Also, the voltmeter reads as high as it can go, and then the oil pressure gauge read at the top (110 I believe?) I know the oil pressure is fine, because the car is running fine, and there is no change in oil consumption. Can anyone tell me what the problem is, and how to fix it?

Im having that same goddam problem its driving me crazy except the gauge problem though i dont have that yet.
When i accelerate hard my dash lights light up to full even though there at the lowest setting. And just recently my blower motor when turned on simply goes to full when i accelerate. Have no clue how to fix it ive asked so many times. The only good answere ive gotten was;
https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showth...ctricle+system

I read somewhere recently (perhaps this very forum) that somebody had a similar problem and it was related to grounding issues... also, that may be a problem with your voltage regulator (I think its built into the alternator on the RX7s, as it is on many vehicles). I don't know where the ground was supposed to run to, though. Check the forum for something about an oil gauge misreading and a grounding solution.

Hope this helps...

-- D
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Come to think of it, the alternator was recently replaced. Do you think I need a new alternator AGAIN, or what else might the problem be?

Mike
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'86 NA
no mods

Well, perhaps have somebody test the alternator to make sure it works properly, but definitely check to make sure its not a grounding problem. There are lots of articles across the 'net about grounding issues with these cars, and it may just be the case that that takes care of your problems. Other than that, I personally have no idea, tho I'm by no means an RX7 wizard... just another dude who ownz one.

I was having wierd electrical problems (not the same as yours, but just wierdness), and it was fixed by resoldering various circuit boards in the cockpit. But I don't think that will help you out here much.. it sounds like a voltage regulation issue to me.

I am a bit surprised not too many other people have responded to this yet, there seem to be a number of those with good understanding of these cars' systems. But it may be that you can find what you are looking for by a good search out on the rest of the 'net too... post back here if you do find a solution... it may help a lot of other people too!

Don't rule out the grounding issue until you have replaced them on any car with over 10 years of age. Since according to your profile you have an 86 (which was the worst year for electrical issues) the grounds most cerntinly need to be replaced. All the main grounds...like the multiple engine grounds to body, the body to the battery, not just the battery to car ground.

All that given it also sounds like a bad alt. Which will get worse with a bad engine ground. In fact a bad ground will smoke a brand new alt faster than almost anything else (well except for using it as a arc welder).

If you have replaced the stereo with a amplified or high power system, that will make the situation worse as well.

Sounds like a bad alternator. Specifically, the voltage regulator.

Also, as others have mentioned, grounding problems are common.

Im leaning toward the voltage regulator too but maybe you should check your CPU (it makes weird crap happen). Are you having any of the symptoms of a cpu with cold solder points?

What would these symptoms be? And I doubt it is the alternator, it's a new one.

Mike

The alternator on my old accord messed up one day. lights got bright and things were really wierd. Smelled some electronics burning. Damn the stereo was cheap and sounded much better!! Until my ig coil burnt out. Then I realized the thing was charging at 19 volts dc.

Yeah, my stereo isnt working properly either. It works great without this problem, otherwise it does nothing.

So SaabGuy, how's it going? Remeber me, the kid with the Silver '86, no mods, from the meet at the Burlin Turnpike ? This is also the car that has 258,000 miles on it.

Mike
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'86 NA
no mods