Man i got my fd a couple of days ago and had to give it the once through. It wasnt boosting. So i took a look and found that one of the charge pipes coupler was split. Pretty common from what i understand. Also started to notice that pretty much all of the vacuum hoses were cracked or looked like molded plastic. So i went to bmw and bought a bunch of vacuum hose cause i hear from a reputable source that it is the best and not silicone cause i dont want to zip tie my friggin vacuum hoses. So i start taking the hoses off and the vsv's start busting. Seriously. Its amazing. Like one out of three. I'm so angry right now. I mean i'm even cutting them off. With a razor knife. And the mere force of the knife is causing them to just basically disintegrate. I hear these things are like 80 bucks a piece from the dealer. What so you guys know about this!?!?!? If they are 80 bucks a piece i'm going to have to be a thousandiare to be able to afford all of the ones that are busted. Friggin crazy. So bumed that i'm not driving this wonderful car right now!

--Hank

 

VSV? what do you mean?
only check valves or solenoids can really break when you do this... check valves are cheap from DaleClark (if he still does them) and the generic solenoids on the rack are pretty cheap too i beleive.

 

He must be referring to breaking the plastic nipples off some solenoids. Look in the Classified section and there are plenty of used solenoids for sale. Check this webpage out to figure out which ones are broken:

http://www.fd3s.net/vacuum_hose_replacement.html

Also, most people here use silicone to replace the vacuum lines. I did not use zip ties and I havent had one pop off. Check here for silicone hose kits:

http://www.rx7store.net

 

I have a few for sale $15 each.

 

I do still sell check valves, if those are needed.

IMHO, you should just leave the rubber lines alone unless you need to pull a vacuum line. Even if they're rock hard and crusty, they aren't going anywhere and they most likely aren't leaking.

Dale

 

Don't listen to this reputable source again. I would guess that it is hotter in the engine bay of an RX-7 than any street BMW. Silicone works very well. Zip ties are optional (and since most vacuum nipples in an FD engine bay are not barbed, pretty pointless IMHO). Viton is also a possibility, but will cost more.

Did a Google search and VSV is Vacuum Switching Valve! Never heard the solenoids called that before.

 

Yeah i'm a tech at lexus and thats just what they call them. What is viton?

 

Viton is an alternative material to silicon. They make hoses out of it. It is stiffer than silicon, but it also stands up to much higher tempratures, as isnt affected nearly as badly by fuel/oil as silicone hoses are.

Dont get me wrong, silicon hoses aren't bad - ive had mine on the car for a year now, and the only problem i see is a little tainting of the line on the oil breather, the rest of the pipes are like new.

IMO there is no need to use viton, silicon works fine (For vac pipes, DONT use it for fuel or oil lines!) but viton is an option if your **** about durability. If i get a split vac line once a year, id be happy to just use silicon, mine have stood the test of time fine. You have to look at everything on an RX7 as a consumable really (even an engine lol) so silicon does me well on a cost/year basis.