Power Steering and door locks
 

Just a few questions - I'm finishing fixing up my N/A RX7.

I'll soon be loosing my garage and my parts car, so I need to make sure my RX is in decent condition before leaving. The last few minor problems I have are:

Sometimes when I'm about to go around a corner, it feels like the power steering cuts out. The belt to the motor seems to be good, and right now I do have access to another power steering motor. Anyone think it would be advisable to swap them? It doesn't really bother me, but if its going to die and just be extra weight/a huge problem with the steering rack later, I would rather replace it.

When I lock the door and shut it - the lock disengages. This happens on both of my doors. Is this a normal thing with our door locks? I really don't want to tear my door down that much - I've heard it was a real pain in the rear. This makes me lock both doors from the inside or with my key, which the key mechanism on the drivers door also is sticky at best. My drivers side door handle is also coming out on the outside, its really annoying and I can't get it to stay in. I think that alone requires me to tear that door apart and put it back together. Anyone here experienced that before?

Thanks in advance,

Roarke

the locks are a Finicky Bugger!..they will only Lock when you Get out of your car,push the lock down on the inside,and then Hold the Outer door handle UP,then shut the Door..The door will then Be LOCKED..if you just Push the Inner lock and shut the Door,the Door WILL NOT BE LOCKED.....The Outer Door Handle Coming off: you can get at the two 10mm nuts On the inside of the door.To do this you need to remove the Inner Door Panel..(a couple screws,and then it just Pops off,with the Push pins that hold it to the door)..the Bolts for the handle: you have to get at One when the window is Down,another one when the window is Up..there is a Small hole on the Inside of the Door to get at one bolt,the other one,you go through the Plastic.....As Far as the Steering..I can't really help ya there.I can mention Fluid,the Power steering Computer,the Belt,the Rack..but as far as Me trying to diagnose it,I'd just be guessin..I'll leave it to someone who actually Went through what you are going through..Good luck though..Cheers,STYX!~

Are you taking the corners fast? Lets say you take a hard left, then try taking a hard right RIGHT after (aka, lock to lock in a parking lot lets say). Does the steering become really difficult, then easy when transitioning from one lock to the other? If so, mine does the same thing, however I've got the lame ass base power assist. Doesn't bother me, as I've never had it happen in on-road driving situations.

Dumb question, but you are holding the handles up when you close the door, right?

For the PS issue I had the same issue until I realized that my cap was leaking. Start the car and turn the wheel lock to lock with the hood up and listen for fluid squirting out of the reservoir cap. I filled mine up with fluid and plugged it with a vacuum cap and have never had the problem since.

And for the door handle coming out you can just take your door panel off and stick a bolt through the handle from the back. I think you have to remove a black plug to get to it but I'm not sure I did this a while ago.

I didn't know about the handle thing - that helps a lot.

I'll look at the nuts. I saw how to get to the one towards the front of the car but I couldn't see how to get at the back. Now I know where to look I'll see if I can get at that.

Its not when I take an s-type curve, the only time I've had it do that is when I just take a right corner from going straight, I'll look at my cap though.

Thanks for all the help,
Roarke