Greetings All!

As you can see I'm new to the list. I've been eyeing an FD for a couple months now, and have finally had the chance yesterday to take one out for a spin...
Needless to say I am totally sold.
However... I want a car that I can work on. I am by no means a pro mechanic, but I am very technically minded. Is this the FD the type of car that for every repair/upgrade I'll need to take to a shop, or can I do most of this myself with hand tools?
BTW, I live about .5 miles from my work, so an unreliable car is not a concern.
Thanks for any advice!
-Paul

 

Any reasonably skilled person can work on this car himself. All you need is basic hand tools. It's really not too hard to work on.

 

I'd agree with that totally... it can be a pain to troubleshoot sometimes... but pretty easy to work if you have a clue about working on cars and some decent tools

 

You'll be fine. Becareful with the Orlando heat waves. Get a water temp guage, AST, DP.

 

Don't worry, you'll learn quickly.

 

If you want to learn, you'll learn. It's not hard. Most of the effort will be building up the ***** to actually do the work, because the engine bay so intimidating.

 

Get in, and join us in the obsession...

 

I appreciate the info... You guys definately work fast. The engine bay definately looks a little squirrelly in there, but I'm more than willing to learn...
Does anyone have any book or manual suggestions?

 

You can download the shop manual from

http://www.iluvmyrx7.com/

 

There is no question the 3rd gen is one of the most complicated vehicles out there to troubleshoot, and working on it can be a challenge if you have big hands.

There is a lot of satisfaction for me getting it to run exactly the way I want it to run, and I would not dream of letting anyone else touch it. When it's running right it is absolutely one hell of a machine and contrary to what you may read on this forum, it is VERY dependable if you only do light modding. In ten years of ownership it has never stranded me.

Just be aware that parts prices are insane unless you buy them from Malloy Mazda. Here's an example:
New front turn signal housing and lense complete, $138.00 from my local dealer, $78.00 from Malloy, including free shipping, a Mazda MotorSports calender and two pens.

I can guarantee you one thing, if you buy one your life will never be the same.....

 

Special tools: No more than any car.

Easy of working: I'm sorry, but I've worked on lots of different cars, trucks and motorcycles, and I'd have to rate my FD as being worse than average. With the FD it seems as if before you can do anything you will be removing 1/2 dozen hoses, manifolds, belts, etc.etc.
The standard stuff like oil changes and spark plugs are not too bad. But compared to other cars, things like changing the fuel filter, replacing water hoses, working on vacuum lines, etc.etc. the FD is worse than most.
But then the FD is probably typical for a high performance sports cars.
And if you _LIKE_ working on your car, if you consider it hobby instead of a chore, its no big deal.

 

Working on it is not much worse than any other modern (less than about 15 years old) car. All you need is are a few sockets (10, 12, 15, 17, 19 mm), a philips and a slot screwdriver, a pair of needlenose and standard pliers, a floor jack and jackstands, and a 12mm wrench. Download the shop manual as LAracer posted and use the search feature on these forums. With those tools you can do about 95% of anything that would ever need to be done to the FD.

 

I suggest just buying the manual. It $100 for the large print version and I think it's worth it. Sometimes I thumb through it while watching TV right before I go to bed...


... I know it's sad, but not ashamed to admit it.




One tool you MUST have if you are going to be fooling with vacuum hoses is this pair of needle-nosed pliars that are like a foot long and have a 30° bend at the tip. Costed me $8 at a hardware store, but are invaluable on a hose job.

 

Jonski.......i thought i was the only freak that reads the manual for enjoyment.

I really need to get a life

 

And strong gloves. I don't think I've been cut up more in my entire life than in my 4 months of owning my FD.

 

"Jonski.......i thought i was the only freak that reads the manual for enjoyment.

I really need to get a life"

All of us that own FDs are freaks (in some obsessive manner)!

I read it before I go to bed sometime too! It seems that everytime I scan some pages, it seems easier to understand the next time.

-HeX

 

Right next to my bed, I have the Mazda FSM and the Yamaguchi 3rd gen book