I have an N/A 87 automatic. If is in idle and i turn the wheel, the idle tends to drop to 500 and sometiimes lower. WTF is that? Is it the P/S pump sucking at life? That is the only thing i could figure. Any one else have this problem?

 

Well when you turn the steering wheel while the car is still, it is harder to turn it. This makes the p/s work a little harder, it then creates parasitic drag on the engine, to allow the wheels to be turned. Here to understand better do a little experiment: just drive in a car with out power steering. Try to turn the wheels while its still, its harder right? (just like how its harder on your engine thus lowering idle). Now turn the steering wheel while the car is in motion, a lot easier. If you turn the steering wheel while your car is in motion, put it in neutral, turn the steering wheel all you want, and look at you idle, it will not drop.

 

1) The rotary engine has low torque at idle, so any switching load will pull down RPM's.
This includes PS,
AC
electrical draw on the alternator from the heater fan high speed,
headlights,
rear glass defroster.
2) All the above have inputs to the ECU to bleed extra air by increasing the duty cycle of the BAC & increase idle power.

The short answer - check your BAC.

 

that makes sense. I was worried because my other cars never did that but they werent RX7's either....

thanks!

 

The idle should stay at 750 RPM.

See post #3 above.