Almost all 2nd GEN's I've seen or test drove have FAULTY wiper switches! And also the stock stereo lights on the equalizer are always partially burnt out. What are others common problems you guys found?

 

- stereos like to die over bumps
- driver's side door speaker likes to die with age
- sunroof sticks
- VDI sticks
- 6PI sticks
- faulty ECU ground
- faulty motor ground
- antenna retractor cable breaks
- hatch drains get clogged
- secondary fuel injectors come online too slowly (3800 RPM hesitation)
- all fuel injectors leak (flooding/hot start problems)
- 2nd gear synchros go bad in N/As
- every ricer in sight tries to race you
- Clutch-pack rearends wear out fast
- driver-side seat bolster gets ripped/worn
- oil cooler lines break
- PULSATION DAMPER
- thermowax gets "sticky" (erratic idle)
- BAC and ABSV go bad, causing "bouncing" or"hunting" idle
- various vacuum leaks
- brakes unexplainably feel "squishy" on 4-pot models
- erratic boost fluctuations in TIIs

How's that?

Brandon

 

Funny, I haven't had ricers try to race me T2 much. Usually I'm cruising on the highway, and when a ricer goes to pass me, he won't even look over, like he's afraid to make eye contact and initiate a race... hehehe

I think some of the squishyness has to do with having a crappy brake booster possibly. When my motor is off, the brake pedal is stiff as all hell, but when you start up and the booster comes online, it gets all squishy. Also I have stainless braided lines. Also my @#$&@(!@#@$*&@#&!$@!# ABS box is leaking again. Time to dispose of it and go non-abs I think

 

I think the key is good components when it comes to brakes. I've got a NEW master cylinder and all of my other compenents are in good shape and my pedal feels great. The other KEY that I believe in is having the system professionally bled. This involves having the master cylinder pressurized and pushing the fluid out.

 

3800 rpm hesitation
flooding
basically everything electric

 

The majority of those are common to any car with 12-15 years and 100k miles on it, not just RX-7s.

The most common would be minor electrical issues (minor like the car is seldom disabled) Like the wiper switch, CPU, Logicon solder joints.

Things that are potential big problems:

Improperly maintained/driven/modified.
Pulsation Dampner (but common on all FI 13Bs - 84-95)
Thermowax pelt (oil).

 

Emissions Wiring Harness (a lot of suppliers call this the Engine Wiring Harness, but that's not what Mazda calls it!) - the one that goes to the FI, the computer, the solenoids, gets fried by the heat.

Vacuum Control Solenoids - also fried by the heat

Non-stock exhausts, including cats, if cheap, burn out quickly.

For the first 10 years or so, these cars were very reliable. Then foom.

Oddly enough, I haven't seen any switches go bad, though the sunroof can get balky and the center console lights can go out (all or part).

I've gone through two differential mounts - contrary to what your mechanic tells you, you don't have to take the whole car apart to replace it, just use LOOOOONG extensions on sockets...

 

HOLY CRAP...I didn't there WERE that many!

 

www.exit13b.com has a how-to on removing/disabling ABS for whatever reason.

And yeah, grounding on FCs almost everywhere seems to be a problem. Electrical Gremlins Must be drawn to FCs

 

FLOODING!!!!

 

http://www.aaroncake.net/rx-7/buy1.htm

 

the biggest problem an rx7 has is definately its owner!!!!!! think of an rx7 like a plant, you dont treat it right its gonna die fast.

 

oh and by the way, Aaron cake i think you car looks sweet as hell but man i cant stand those exhaust tips. i like those as much as those stupid *** bow tie tips people put on their camaros. TACKY.

 

No cup holder.

 

Dood...isnt that no cup holder thing a BITCH??!?!?! My biggest complaint right there!

 

Yeah I agree, it should have come with a cupholder! such a pain!

 

Driving a 5 speed without a cupholder isn't that bad. I can drive my RX-7 just fine while holding a drink and shifting. I also have my power steering removed so there that extra effort. When I HAVE to put the cup down, my crotch takes over as cup-holder extrodinaire.

wussies.

 

From what I've seen the heater hose that runs under oil filter from the engine to the firewall likes to take a crap too. Maybe you should add that to this list also. Mines just died and leaked all the coolant out my ride.... it'll be fixed tomorrow i got they day off......