I was in a car audio shop today, having one of the issues with my stereo wiring(it's all kinds of fucked up) checked out, when the guy there noticed the erratic "bucking" it was doing while idling. He told me very confidently that he was certain it was an exhaust leak, and one of the rear gaskets was worn and needed to be replaced. He said there was no way it could be anything to do with spark plugs, fuel injectors, etc and that it was a leak. He said it was pretty easy to fix, and that i could do it myself in about a half an hour.

I'm just wondering your thoughts. If the engine is "bucking" while idling (and sometimes while in drive but the car is still fairly cool but stopped, could he be right? Another thing to consider is that it doesn't always do it. Only about 50% of the time i drive it. Sometimes it starts up and runs smoothly, while others i can really feel the "bucking". I'm going to take it into the Camp Foster auto hobby shop and pull out the gasket myself, but i'd like a second opinion. What do you think?

 

So you're taking advice on your car from a stereo guy?
Is there electrical load when it's doing this "bucking"?. For example if you start it up with all stereo components off is it fine? How about when you turn on your system does it start getting bad?

First thing might be to ask him to check all the grounds he ran and any wire he has run off your battery. Cars with grounding issues and other electricat deamons do weird things.

 

also check your vacuum lines if you can. ive had a couple fall of. its pretty annoying. i got all new ones with my rebuild.

 

Also check your TPS sensor and your idle control solenoid.

 

I went back yesterday to have wiring done in my car, and another guy recommended i get a grounding kit for my car, since the grounding was pretty terrible to begin with. They ran a new wire to the battery, but suggested i run at least 4 more, one for the firewall, alternator, and left and right sides of the hood.

 

you are trusting a guy that didn't install your stero right hens having to take it back. I would listen to anyone from there. You are in the land of rotary gods so there are pleanty of shops about.

 

That's the right idea...

 

Negative. I was simply hearing what he had to say on the issues. I was also giving me a few pointers, and pointed me in the direction of people here on island who also drive RX7's(FC and FD), and also gave me directions for an UBER cool performance parts store.

I checked it out today, because he suggested i buy a turbo timer(my car doesn't have one), and i could have gotten a decent one, the harness and installation for about 148,000 yen(something like $145.00, depending on the yen rate for the day). I'm not sure if that is a good deal, but i'll look it up. I didn't get it today, because i want to bring someone back who speaks Japanese so they can help me find the right one for my car, for the best price.

I plan to go back to look into a new intercooler, and possibly alternator.

As far as turbo timers are concerned, what should i be looking for if i'm running stock(the car is pretty much bone stock, aside from intake and boost gauge)? Any particular brand you would recommend?

 

I wouldn't get a turbo timer for our cars unless you have an aftermarket oil cooled turbo. Ours are water cooled. Running the car with the turbo timer on and no airflow is really pointless....

https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showth...ht=turbo+timer

 

Aha! So it seems i continue to get bullshit advice for my car. I almost blew 148 bucks on something i didn't really need today. Lucky me.

Also. With the stock turbos, where the hell are they at? I try tracing them from the intercooler, but i get lost halfway there. My friend can't see them, either. Where did Mazda hide them?

 

1. Turbo timers are joke toys for suckers. The only people that have them are kids that don't know any better. Don't buy one.

2. An exhaust like won't effect your idle. Think about it! By the time the exhaust reaches the exhaust system, it is well past anything that effects idle.

 

Well, any idea how much an aftermarket horizontally Mounted intercooler will run me? That's the next order of business. The one that's on there now is jacked up, and part of the plastic covering leading down to the radiator is torn off.

 

I love how people argue about whether turbo timers do anything when it's already a proven fact that idling your car helps cool it down after being driven and let's be realistic here for just a minute. We own sport cars that are capable of going very damn fast ok. Now tell me you don't like to just acclerate fast and get them revs goin seriously. Point being we all like to go fast even if it isn't insanely fast but still why waste time driving around to cool the car down when revving at 2k really doesn't help cool it down as well as a turbo timer just letting the car idle would. Anyways GG you guys and turbo timer is just something nice to have so you don't have to worry bout your car when you are busy.

 

Idling a car makes the temperatures rise because of the reduced airflow over the radiator.

Turbo timers are designed to keep oil flowing through turbochargers to prevent coking. Stock FD twins are water cooled. Ergo, a turbo timer is pointless on this car.

This debate was settled in the late '90s. Do a search.

 

Tell me there is a faster stock FWD car then the Stage 3 SRT-4 and you can win this one. Just something my friend and I realized tonight haha damn Neons man.

 

Pretty interesting that you are preaching him to do a search about an issue that was settled in the 90's, as if it was common knowledge. Especially when you were on a search for Turbo timer's parts just 10 months ago.

https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...ht=turbo+timer

 

I think someone was just owned!

/hi5 montego

 

Hey guys. I do mostly the reading on these forums to learn and find solutions to problems. I just wanted to add that an exhaust leak at the gasket where the downpipe connects to the turbos will actually pull some air in giving poor oxygen sensor readings which can lead to rough idle, failing an emissions test, and poor fuel economy. Yes, I know, exhaust LEAK, so yes the exhaust will come out too but, to explain more, between the pulses from each exhaust cylcle, air will actually be drawn in. So oxygen from the air pump further down is good for emissions but, before the oxygen sensor is bad.
I would also like to add, the stock turbos are oil and water cooled. Turbo timers are not needed if you let it idle a little bit before shutting her down but, the chances that everyone actually does this is probably not that high. Imagine hauling in the car for a while till the turbos are red, then pull over and stop the car, you will burn and coke the oil in the turbos - bad! It is always a good idea to idle for a while and let everything settle. Your fans will be running, cooling the coolant which flows through the turbos which results in cooling them off. A turbo timer is just convienient if you have to run into the bank or you may need to run to the crapper before or after work, ha ha, I hate that. Ok never mind that. Anyways, just like to add that everyone on this site rocks cause I'm learning a lot more than I could ever imagine. Thanks guys, Kent.

 

To the original poster,

If your spark plugs haven't been changed lately, they could be causing a poor idle. Every time I change plugs, I notice that the car idles more smoothly and has better partial-throttle response. One more thing: most car stereo guys don't know much about cars, they just want to sell you stuff.

-s-