saw an exploded 7 on the I-5 on sunday...
 

i was on my way to seattle when i noticed that there was a slow down in the traffic. also, there was this firetruck on the side with all its lights on trying to deter traffic. as i got closer, i realized it was an FC. didn't see anything else, but it looked like a bomb went off in the front. the entire hood was shot up and there were black burnt marks around the front part of the body. also, it looks like the FC left like a 20 foot mark of ice or something white on the freeway covering 3 lanes. however, besides the front, the rest of the body was perfect though. i don't really have any more details, but i just wanted to know what could have caused this? an engine fire while driving? i am currently in the market for a car or more specifically an rx-7 but seeing this last night kind of spooked me and is detering me from getting one. :(

sounds to me like the PD failed!

Or someone tried to reuse old injector O-rings.

Or old spring fuel hose clamps.

I would say PD went bad, but the ice you describe makes me wonder if something went terribly wrong with an NOS system (???). BTW speaking of the PD...if you guys haven't replaced yours...DO IT! Mine went bad and I was lucky to not have my FC burned to the ground. I've seen several beautiful FC's completely toasted due to the crappy PD.

-Joe

how do you test the PD, though? you can't just replace it, if it is still good.

You can test it by smelling for a fuel leak, but that's like driving in a fog toward a cliff hoping you see it in time.

BTW: If you smell fuel while driving, it’s not the car ahead of you – it’s YOU!

No point in trying to test it.
If you smell fuel, find out where it's coming from.
If you're swapping your engine, replace the PD.
If you're doing intake work, replace it.
If you woke up from a nap, replace it.
Unless you KNOW your PD has been replaced, it's a ticking time bomb.

Cory
replaced his this spring and the screw was gone...

Sounds like something in the fuel delivery system failed, The ice was probably the stuff that the fire department puts down when fuel is spilled over the road.

damn I still need to replace mine 143,xxx and counting. I have a banjo bolt though but I just don't know how to take out the UIM and MIM :(



*still driving with fear*

pd??:confused:

^ pulsation damper

Same situation as me, except I have 170,700miles on my odometer. I'm gonna read my hanes and FSM manuals and the the bitch apart, and replace it with a banjo bolt whent I get balls enuogh.

-Ian

Got a question... I've got a new engine with only about 30k miles on it, I guess I don't need to worry about the PD for a while, right?

assuming that the people who rebuilt your engine also replaced the pd or you have a S5 engine/fuel rail

Ask whoever rebuilt it if they replaced it. This is certainly not something you should overlook.

"5 engine/fuel rail"

These fail just the same....as stated by another forum member, its the actual diaphram that breaks and not the metal/plastic cover. The s5 PD has the metal covering around them but they still have the same diaphram.

is this correct?

^ from what I heard/read S5 don't have these problems

*and so it begins, many sleepless nights worrying/thinkg about my car*

Okay.

My engine wasn't rebuilt, it was a mazda-installed new engine.

Not to say that I trust the Mazda guys, I found an old rusted spark plug ratchet in the engine bay that definately wasn't mine, and the dude that owned the car before me only let the dealer touch the car.

cmon dudes... it's VERY easy to take off the manifold... just a few nuts and bolts and a line or two, or five here and there...

just remember where everything goes.

177,7XX. not trying to start a "how many miles on your car?" thread. i don't know if mine's been replaced. i dont know where it is or what it looks like. i just know its there and i'm supposed to fear it.

umm i have a 87 base and im pretty sure this has never been replaced by a previous owner where is it located whats it look like and how do i remove/replace it? also how much does a pd cost and do i get it from mazda or somwhere else? thanks im tryin too get all my maintance a preventative work done on my car before i start modding her

Yeah, basically correct.

Instead of a screw (as found on the S4 PD) the S5 PD uses a rubber nipple/stopper, pushed through the end of the PD.

So when the rubber gets old enough the nipple detaches from the diaphragm. But unlike the S4 PD's screw, the nipple does not fall out. So you can't tell if it has failed.

Well as soon as the rubber (or screw on the S4 PD) falls out, the diaphragm in the PD no longer has the correct tension, and will soon after rip. Then it is only a matter of time before the gas starts leaking around the rubber nipple/stopper, and you have a car-b-que.

being such a well-known safety hazard, why would this part not be classified as a recall?
i used to know the definition of recall, but alas have forgotten. was there at least a bulletin (is that what its called?) on these?

Is it allright if you get rid of the PD and put a banjo bolt there?

The banjo bolt work on a S5 rail, and I personally don't recommend banjo bolts.