well i was driving home from school and i came to red light so i put the car in natural then i started hearing this ticking noise and i idle started going all screwy and then the light turned green so i pulled into a parking lot and as i was pulling in the check engine light came on. so i parked the car and turned it off. then i turn it back on and it starts ticking again but the light is off and i open up the hood. and i pin pointed the noise to be coming from my air pump. so i called up ray at MM and talked to him and told him whats up he said its the alt and i need to get it checked out and the pump does this when the alt is going bad so i need to check it out but what you guys think the problem could be?

the pump or alt??

vid for you to see.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpiMDMBh1lU

 

Try unplugging the power to the air pump and see if it still makes the clicking noise. If the clicking is gone the air pump is bad.

 

it is the air pump that ticks you can see in the video move up and down.

the thing is ray at Malloy Mazda said it could be either or im just posting it to see if people have the same prob or have input on it.

 

I'll say alternator. Do your warning lights come on when the engine is running? does the alternator feel hot?

Check the battery voltage, connections and the alternator wiring. If thats OK, have the alternator checked out.

 

yeah they do the oil light and coolnat light are as well as the battery one. and the alt is on fire ill look into it thanks

 

I agree.

 

there's an alternator for sale here:
https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generation-rx-7-1993-2002-parts-99/fd-alt-front-calipers-air-pump-stock-sway-bars-835428/

or Malloy has them for around $175 with a core charge.

 

2FARx SpOoKs
Mine does the same thing but only at the track after the engine gets really hot. So which one is it alternator or air pump? Under normal driving conditions it's fine.