I just bought a 93 3rd Gen maybe 3 weeks ago and I think there might be a bad coolant seal already. Theres about 1900 miles on the new motor and tranny rebuilt by Malloy (Have reciepts and it hasn't been a year yet). Heres some background info:

I will be driving and the car will just shut down. Took it to a mechanic who scanned the car and said there's no spark. Tested the coils and they were fine, put it back together and starts up. When driving it still just shuts down un announced. Thought it might be a problem with a ground, just something giving the coils power. I have oredered a new set of coils & ignitor, I havn't gotten em yet.

No biggie, easy fix. Yesterday at work my car wont start, since this prob. as been happening I roll with my set of tools in the hatch. Pull off the NEW spark plugs and they're black. WTF? I dunno, so I put em back in and she fires up fine, maybe 10 sec. after starting the car the add coolant light turns on. I shut the car off, run next door to walgreens and bought 50/50 Peak Antifreeze and Coolant pre-mix (thats all they had). - BTW, what affects will running 50/50 have on the car? I didn notice that when I took off the cap to refill the coolant was low..

Now I burped the system 4 times before driving. I let the car run maybe 3 min. in between each burping "session". I drive home (very short drive to/from work) with some white smoke coming out of the exhaust (not a lot). As far as I know, white smoke is bad...

After searching it seems as though there might be a bad coolant seal i.e. white smoke out exhaust. It could tie in with the fact that the new spark plugs were black. Now here's the thing, the temp. needle has never gone beyond the halfway point. Theres a Fluidyne, 1990 thermo, fans kick in like norm., and a FMIC so I dont THINK the car has overheated. From what I understand, when you overheat the needle goes to the top.

I havn't noticed any coolant on the ground (except from when I spilled some) as in a leak. But then again I never would've thought this would happen so its not like I've been looking. I'm scared that its a bad seal b/c since I just got this car..I have no money for a rebuild already. I dunno whats going on with the car..help.

 

Is the motor stil under warranty by Malloy?

 

I would definately check that. White smoke means you are burning coolant. You might also have a leak, but some if not all of that missing coolant is being burned.

 

****..yes it is till June. I cant believe this..is this really happening?

This is my DD, I have work, and college.

 

I see two things in your future:

1. Taking up Malloy on that engine warrenty. You may be pushing coolent through the seals. Although a little white smoke is ok at cold start-up( condensation), lots, especially while driving is a bad sign.

2. Buying a real daily driver. Its the best peace-of-mind mod you can do for your FD. Since it sounds like you drive a lot from school and work, I highly recommend it. The odds are against you on something like this happening again.

Good luck.

 

Wish me luck guys. Car was towed to a mazda dealership that has a RX-7 tech. Hopefully everything will be covered under warranty...