FD maitnence
09-20-04, 08:28 AM
#1
ex-rx owner
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FD maitnence
How often do you FD guys have to fix crap on your cars, and what generally breaks? I've heard 3rd gens aren't that reliable but I got a buddy who's interested in one.
09-20-04, 08:44 AM
#2
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As long as you take care of it, she will take care of you..... a lot of the people you read about on here Race/AutoX alot, hense parts break faster......but on the other hand, yes rx7's are not very reliable overall.....if your friend is worried about having to fix it all the time, then he should get another car.
09-20-04, 09:04 AM
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I think the biggest issue with FD maintenance is the fact that so few people really know how to work on them. Other than the really basic stuff (changing the fluids) most mechanics (even those at Mazda dealerships) have no clue around the 13BREW and asking them to fix stuff usually results in other stuff getting messed up.
Most FD owners end up doing a lot of wrenching themselves. It terms of amount, I'd say it isn't terribly more than any other car.
Most FD owners end up doing a lot of wrenching themselves. It terms of amount, I'd say it isn't terribly more than any other car.
09-20-04, 09:29 AM
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FDs are as reliable as any other car as long as its left standard and serviced religously. As soon as you start changing stuff and doing major mods reliability kinda goes out the window to a certain extent. But for all the times that my FDs been off the road, when I do have it going its well worth the wait. My experience anyway.
09-20-04, 11:12 AM
#7
Super Snuggles
I'm just curious if anyone has ever stopped and wondered why they feel the need to lie about or at least downplay the maintenance requirements and potential problems the FD has when someone new asks. Is it because you believe that all the reliability mods and watch-******* the car requires calls into doubt your judgment in buying one? 
Just tell people the truth. IF you can find one in good shape that hasn't been previously abused, and IF you perform all the reliability mods, and IF you get a host of gauges to monitor the functions of the engine, and IF you don't abuse the car too much, and IF you can keep boost level reasonable instead of trying to be a dyno hero, then yes... the FD can be fairly reliable, and can require very little periodic maintenance. However, the chances of that happening aren't the best.
Just tell people the truth. IF you can find one in good shape that hasn't been previously abused, and IF you perform all the reliability mods, and IF you get a host of gauges to monitor the functions of the engine, and IF you don't abuse the car too much, and IF you can keep boost level reasonable instead of trying to be a dyno hero, then yes... the FD can be fairly reliable, and can require very little periodic maintenance. However, the chances of that happening aren't the best.
Last edited by jimlab; 09-20-04 at 11:15 AM.
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09-20-04, 12:09 PM
#8
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Originally Posted by jimlab
I'm just curious if anyone has ever stopped and wondered why they feel the need to lie about or at least downplay the maintenance requirements and potential problems the FD has when someone new asks. Is it because you believe that all the reliability mods and watch-******* the car requires calls into doubt your judgment in buying one?
Just tell people the truth. IF you can find one in good shape that hasn't been previously abused, and IF you perform all the reliability mods, and IF you get a host of gauges to monitor the functions of the engine, and IF you don't abuse the car too much, and IF you can keep boost level reasonable instead of trying to be a dyno hero, then yes... the FD can be fairly reliable, and can require very little periodic maintenance. However, the chances of that happening aren't the best.
Just tell people the truth. IF you can find one in good shape that hasn't been previously abused, and IF you perform all the reliability mods, and IF you get a host of gauges to monitor the functions of the engine, and IF you don't abuse the car too much, and IF you can keep boost level reasonable instead of trying to be a dyno hero, then yes... the FD can be fairly reliable, and can require very little periodic maintenance. However, the chances of that happening aren't the best.
09-20-04, 09:21 PM
#9
Old Rotary Dog
Well, shoot, I find myself agreeing with Jim. Darn. ;-)
Remember, the FDs were finicky cars to begin with. Now they are 10-12 year old finicky cars.
On the other hand, I have a 94 RX-7 that is fairly stock. Yes, I have done a fair amount of maintanence on it over the years. But looking back I realize that my other cars have had mechanical issues that were just as significant as my FD. But in the case of my 94 Ford Exploder when I busted the radiator on it (twice) I just took it by the shop and told them "put a new radiator in it". When it was spewing coolant our of the block, I told them "put a new intake manifold gasket on it". "How about finding that oil leak and fixing it" was another common request :-)
The point being is that for a lot of these "routine fixes" *I* will do the work on the RX-7 myself rather than pay a shop to do it. There are a variety of reasons but in essence it all comes down to "if I want it done right I do it myself". So in this case I was the one who replaced the radiator on my RX-7 when it cracked. I rebooted the tie-rod ends when they cracked. I replaced the water temp sensor. I resealed the oil pan and tracked down the last of the leaks....
Wait a minute. Nevermind. I haven't done that last one yet.
The end product is that yes, I have done a lot more maintanence work on the RX-7 that any other of my more normal vehicles. But then I have people who look at it and can't believe that it's an 11 year old car. There is a significant price to pay in time and effort there. I am willing to pay it. Others may not be.
This aint no Honda, this ain't no disco, this ain't no fooling around! ;-)
-bill
Remember, the FDs were finicky cars to begin with. Now they are 10-12 year old finicky cars.
On the other hand, I have a 94 RX-7 that is fairly stock. Yes, I have done a fair amount of maintanence on it over the years. But looking back I realize that my other cars have had mechanical issues that were just as significant as my FD. But in the case of my 94 Ford Exploder when I busted the radiator on it (twice) I just took it by the shop and told them "put a new radiator in it". When it was spewing coolant our of the block, I told them "put a new intake manifold gasket on it". "How about finding that oil leak and fixing it" was another common request :-)
The point being is that for a lot of these "routine fixes" *I* will do the work on the RX-7 myself rather than pay a shop to do it. There are a variety of reasons but in essence it all comes down to "if I want it done right I do it myself". So in this case I was the one who replaced the radiator on my RX-7 when it cracked. I rebooted the tie-rod ends when they cracked. I replaced the water temp sensor. I resealed the oil pan and tracked down the last of the leaks....
Wait a minute. Nevermind. I haven't done that last one yet.
The end product is that yes, I have done a lot more maintanence work on the RX-7 that any other of my more normal vehicles. But then I have people who look at it and can't believe that it's an 11 year old car. There is a significant price to pay in time and effort there. I am willing to pay it. Others may not be.
This aint no Honda, this ain't no disco, this ain't no fooling around! ;-)
-bill
09-20-04, 09:35 PM
#11
No More 7
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my friend hiroshi in yokohama has an FD. And when i told him about how FD people in the states are he laughed. In japan, people hardly ever bitch about the rotary problems or whatever. The FD isnt considered an unreliable car there. Perhaps its because of the abundance of them, having been produced alot longer. Or maybe its the amount of knowledge over there. It was just interesting to me. oh well whatevers.
09-20-04, 09:47 PM
#12
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Originally Posted by saburo
my friend hiroshi in yokohama has an FD. And when i told him about how FD people in the states are he laughed. In japan, people hardly ever bitch about the rotary problems or whatever. The FD isnt considered an unreliable car there. Perhaps its because of the abundance of them, having been produced alot longer. Or maybe its the amount of knowledge over there. It was just interesting to me. oh well whatevers.
09-20-04, 11:08 PM
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Originally Posted by jimlab
I'm just curious if anyone has ever stopped and wondered why they feel the need to lie about or at least downplay the maintenance requirements and potential problems the FD has when someone new asks. Is it because you believe that all the reliability mods and watch-******* the car requires calls into doubt your judgment in buying one?
Just tell people the truth. IF you can find one in good shape that hasn't been previously abused, and IF you perform all the reliability mods, and IF you get a host of gauges to monitor the functions of the engine, and IF you don't abuse the car too much, and IF you can keep boost level reasonable instead of trying to be a dyno hero, then yes... the FD can be fairly reliable, and can require very little periodic maintenance. However, the chances of that happening aren't the best.
Just tell people the truth. IF you can find one in good shape that hasn't been previously abused, and IF you perform all the reliability mods, and IF you get a host of gauges to monitor the functions of the engine, and IF you don't abuse the car too much, and IF you can keep boost level reasonable instead of trying to be a dyno hero, then yes... the FD can be fairly reliable, and can require very little periodic maintenance. However, the chances of that happening aren't the best.
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