Zer0 Cylinder

hi, ive owned 3 FC's, and now im thinking of purchasing an FD.

my questions are, do you guys think it's the right car for me?

what ill need the car for is, to travel between 10 and 100 miles a day varying.

i do want something reliable, and not breaking down every month.

n/a FC's were always reliable, is the turbo setup going to be as reliable? i wont be driving hard except maybe on weekends occasionally.

also, what are some common problem's with FD's?

what kind of compression readings should i expect from a rebuilt FD with around 15k on it?

thanks for your input!

Fatman0203

Honestly. No. Ive yet to see a reliable FD. My record, is 4 months without a problem.

Wing0

hybrid civic for you!!!

importrx7

reliable and a FD don't go together, They're not pieces of **** but they do have there problems. Stock Radiator is ****, and same with the stock intercooler to i think. Make sure you have a boost gauge to detect boost problems.

Just do the reliablity mods and you should be good, but a FD as your only form of transportation wouldn't work.

I would've have been screwed without my back up beater..

Zer0 Cylinder

what goes wrong with them so often?

Mahjik

iTrader: (1)

If you have to ask, the answer is no.

Tad

Heheee,
i used to have an FD, years ago..

and since then I drop in here every so and so...

and I always see the SAME DAMN POST

THIS ONE and its always by a different person!!

hahaha

hey basically if you love the car and you can handle the upkeep,
then go for it.

Just make sure to read up about em, find a reputable mechanic that knows how to deal with these cars.
and when you get it, do all the reliability mods right off the bat(dont even think about go fast parts till you get everything in place).

After that it actually might NOT be unreliable,
might be a good steady car.

Just dont get stupid with it.

"what goes wrong with them so often?"

well there are plenty of little things that are no biggie,
the BIG problem is that there are various things that can cause engine DEATH.
FD motors die usually from either overheating or detonating(not properly controlled combustion).
so the first one, thats simple, adress your cooling system make sure its in tip top shape, new radiator, AST, make sure all ur hoses are proper.
the 2nd one is alittle tougher.. but you want to make sure everything is working right, PROPER boost pattern, over boosting can easily = detonation which = death.

Fatman0203

Id say problem #1 coolant system. Its under INTENSE heat + pressure. Hoses pop off and over heat is common with stock radiator. Even with aftermarket radiator your still going to pop hoses because the system is under 13 psi or 16 psi depending which one of the two you have. Ive been trying to cute this problem by finding EVERY leak and replacing EVERY hose and run the car on Evans so I can run on 0 or very low (7psi) pressure. This will save the cooling systems life.

Problem #2, tired/bad motors. Tired are those that have actually made it to their prime and now are on their way out, low compression and what not. Then you have those that over heated and cooked the seals and need a new engine.

Problem#3, to much boost.

Problem #4, interior is UBER crappy dam plastic breaks 24/7, I think more people have superglue/JB weld then the clips.

Problem #5, electrical, its not common but sometimes it is

Finally problem #6 Boost issues in the sequential system.

If your interested still in buying one, I have a spare FD with 55,000 original miles, 93 that I may be selling soon in the 12k range. ALL ORIGINAL, nothing touched, but since its original it hurts me to sell it.

Zer0 Cylinder

#1, get an aftermarket radiator im sure, but what else would be involved? where i can get the parts?

#2 17k on a rebuild

#3 the car im looking at now has a "greddy profec B spec 2 boost controller"

#4 as long as it runs!

#5 ive had FC's.......electrical gremlins there.

#6 would the boost controller fix this also?

thanks again for all you guys help!

L8NightDrifter

if you want a beautiful fast rwd car that is a freeking money pit get the fd..
if you want reliable and go fast, soup up a honda, there is a guy in my town with a maxed out turbo fc street car in low 11's... he got done bulidng a 96 hatchback with a bulit turbo type R motor last year and his best time is a 10.1 full interior, pump gas. and he drives the hell out of it as a daily driver, drove it to CA and back once, goes to the track all the time and beats the hell out of it never had any problems and hes already put over 20,000 hard daily drivin miles on it

ive been daily driving a fd for the past couple years, its about to die, im finally getting a new motor and turbo and everything else, and i just bought a hatchback wiht a b16 for a daily driver

Tom93R1

iTrader: (2)

Exactly what I always say. If you dont already KNOW that the FD is the car for you then dont get it.

SVT Squasher

Lots of little things. And I mean lots. My FD ran for 2 monthes on a rebuild that had 18k miles and it blew a O-ring. Why? Not sure. I can gurantee this, it was nothing I did. Could of just been a bad rebuild by mazda.

Alot of these problems are overlooked after you relize what you have and you just except the problems in the future.

Just make sure you have a daily driver. I dont know what I would do if I didnt have a company rig.

sub9lulu

iTrader: (7)

i wanted a civic ....

Fatman0203

Boost controller controls boost to the point of a maxed out wastegate can handle. For example a stock FD with full open exhaust and intake will probably creep into 12 psi or more of boost since the stock wastegate cant let any more exhaust out. 6, the boost controller will fix if your boost is weird or something, but usually a selenoid, vacuum hose, or something is wrong with the stupid vacuum system.

diablone

iTrader: (2)

Zer0 Cylinder

thanks for the help.

anyone with a quick link to reliability mods? that's really all im interested in while in the process of buying an fd. i want to take all necessary steps to make the car as reliable as possible.

fdslave_g

FD is the best car i have in my life. But i dunno if it would make you feel the same thing...good luck with it tho

Fatman0203

THe Newbie Thread has the links but here is one ..

http://www.scuderiaciriani.com/rx7/

diablone

iTrader: (2)

If you're having this much trouble just finding the information on your own already, you're going to have a hell of a challenge with an FD.

Search: Key Word(s): reliability, mods; Forum: 3rd Generation Specific (1993-Current) and child forums
Showing results 1 to 50 of 500

You cannot make this car a rock hard reliable by just doing some "reliability mods." Plenty have had their engines let go after doing no more than these mods.

blueskaterboy

just do reliability mods and pay attention to everything: fluids, plugs, etc.

i've been pretty much daily driving mine continuously since the beginning of spring. i use the corolla for road trips because of gas (places 100+ miles away). usually run 7psi on rebuilt stock nonseq. pettit streetport, pettit tuned ecu, dp, mp, catback, it is FAST even at 7psi. yanni, i believe has the timeslips for when he ran it at the track on 11psi.

no major problems yet...

Efinity

iTrader: (6)

ive had my fd for almost 2 years and ive had the most reliable bulletproof fd ive ever seen. in either case id say go get an s2000, they are alot nicer than FDs. i own one and my friend and i race our s2000's (his with triple adjustables ect ect) and my FD with triple adjustable shocks. his of course handles better, and stock enough about the same speed. also they are reliable, good looking, girls love them, great gas milage, and convertable! thats my 2c
russell

KaiFD3S

iTrader: (37)

but an FD and have a daily driver....jsut drive the FD when you want to have fun...

Efinity

iTrader: (6)

i use MY fd as the daily driver and my s2k as the fun car lol. trust me the fd is becoming what i usedto think of the FC as far as age. a classical race car from a different time. the s2k outclasses it in terms of reliability, handling, looks, build quality, and its ******* fast as hell for na. if you supercharge it WATCH OUT! lol plus you get a warrenty, and fds resale value goes down fast as ****, mines dropped a few k in a year. s2ks resale value is about to go up as theya re canceling the production in 05 (rumor because of nsx). i know this is a rx7 forum but this is a non biased forum. im on the s2k forum too! ive owned both and have felt both when the cars' suspension is extremely modded. the s2k is hands down a better car than the fd. the only reason i am keeping my fd is that i wouldnt strip the s2k and such, or take it to such extremes as i would with the FD. also i dont have penskes 3 ways for it =).

HEns

Um, s2k's have very "floaty" handling, though honda have said they have worked this problem out with the 2005 s2k's. Although you did say the suspension was modded. What then of the lack of torque? (hahahah, this coming from a rotary owner) the sk2 is an awesome ride, but its very uninspiring for the majority of its power band.

But regardless, the s2k is a more "sensible" car and thus a more sensible purchase, but you know you want an FD, just buy one, or dont ask, even though it sounds rude, its points to the fact that you may not be committed enough to the problems that may occur through the ownership of the FD.

HEns

FD3S LIGHTNING

read
https://www.rx7club.com/2nd-generation-specific-1986-1992-17/my-1000th-post-time-say-few-things-102773/