New Rx7 Owner!
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Joined: Jul 2005
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From: Chicago
New Rx7 Owner!
Thanks to the advice on this forum I felt comfortable becomming a new FD owner.
I found a completely bone stock, premium condition, red rx7 with 55,000 miles for sale and snatched it up after a test drive.
I've just got finished adding the boost gauge this afternoon and the turbos show a good 10-8-10 pattern at WOT in 3rd gear, so I feel pretty safe for now that the car is in reasonably good health. It certainly feels very strong throughout and idles without hiccup.
I have slated on my list a lot of the reliability upgrades before touching anything purely for the sake of performance. First on the list are replacing the coolant and vacuum hoses, fuel filter, and inspecting all the drive belts for wear. Also flushing the coolant, transmissions, and differential fluids as I have no idea when any of this was done last and want to start fresh before doing anything else. Second I intend to install a new radiator just to beef up the cooling performance of the car.
After that I had intended to install a new Downpipe to get rid of the pre-cat possibility of failure. Having done some more research on the tendency of the rx7 to run lean after opening up the exhaust and intake, I am a little worried about the effect on just a downpipe replacement with the stock airbox and exhaust. Is this being overcautious, or should I really wait and do an ECU upgrade along with the downpipe? I am more after the reliability aspects of the upgrade more than the performance at this point and I am starting to get into the failure range of the pre-cat it sounds like. Additionally, for a purely street car, will replacing the pre-cat remove enough heat from the engine bay to make a radiator upgrade mostly over the top?
Eventually my goal for this car would be something along the lines of the mostly mazda stage 3 package, upgrading the intake, exhaust, ecu, and intercooler. I'm not looking to run 10s or anything like that, more interested in maximizing reliability and performance by removing the stock failure points and omissions. 315whp the mostly mazda stage 3 claims would be plenty fast for me.... for the time being anyway.
Thanks in advance for any answers.
I found a completely bone stock, premium condition, red rx7 with 55,000 miles for sale and snatched it up after a test drive.
I've just got finished adding the boost gauge this afternoon and the turbos show a good 10-8-10 pattern at WOT in 3rd gear, so I feel pretty safe for now that the car is in reasonably good health. It certainly feels very strong throughout and idles without hiccup.
I have slated on my list a lot of the reliability upgrades before touching anything purely for the sake of performance. First on the list are replacing the coolant and vacuum hoses, fuel filter, and inspecting all the drive belts for wear. Also flushing the coolant, transmissions, and differential fluids as I have no idea when any of this was done last and want to start fresh before doing anything else. Second I intend to install a new radiator just to beef up the cooling performance of the car.
After that I had intended to install a new Downpipe to get rid of the pre-cat possibility of failure. Having done some more research on the tendency of the rx7 to run lean after opening up the exhaust and intake, I am a little worried about the effect on just a downpipe replacement with the stock airbox and exhaust. Is this being overcautious, or should I really wait and do an ECU upgrade along with the downpipe? I am more after the reliability aspects of the upgrade more than the performance at this point and I am starting to get into the failure range of the pre-cat it sounds like. Additionally, for a purely street car, will replacing the pre-cat remove enough heat from the engine bay to make a radiator upgrade mostly over the top?
Eventually my goal for this car would be something along the lines of the mostly mazda stage 3 package, upgrading the intake, exhaust, ecu, and intercooler. I'm not looking to run 10s or anything like that, more interested in maximizing reliability and performance by removing the stock failure points and omissions. 315whp the mostly mazda stage 3 claims would be plenty fast for me.... for the time being anyway.
Thanks in advance for any answers.
Replacing the DP is a good first mod. You should be safe with just this mod. Any other performance mods will require a boost controller. Changing the fluids is a must, as is replacing the AST. The radiator can probably wait, and there is no reason to do the hose job if you don't have a problem. With only 55k, your hoses may not need replacing for several years.
Congrats
Congrats
reliable performance
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 383
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From: MA, USA
That's a great plan Onyxjl. It's very well thought out. I wouldn't worry about the radiator too much. It should be adequate for cooling the car, especially in the state you have it in. The rap on the radiator is that over time the plastic end tanks can crack and leak. In most cases you'll get a warning in the form of a leak, and there are plenty of people running around in these 10 to 13 year old cars who have never replaced their radiator.
I also don't think you'll have a problem with just the downpipe. Again, widespread experience has shown that to be safe.
I don't think you mentioned the AST. It'd be wise to replace that even if you just buy a new stock one.
People on car forums tend to post their problems. That can give you a false impression that makes you think the car is more unreliable than it is. I am the original owner of my car and it has been the most reliable car I have ever owned. True, it's not a daily driver, but still ..................
Your car seems in good shape, and if you do the maintenance and mods you've outlined, you should have few, if any, problems. Don't worry too much, and enjoy the car. It was designed to be a pure pleasure drive.
I also don't think you'll have a problem with just the downpipe. Again, widespread experience has shown that to be safe.
I don't think you mentioned the AST. It'd be wise to replace that even if you just buy a new stock one.
People on car forums tend to post their problems. That can give you a false impression that makes you think the car is more unreliable than it is. I am the original owner of my car and it has been the most reliable car I have ever owned. True, it's not a daily driver, but still ..................
Your car seems in good shape, and if you do the maintenance and mods you've outlined, you should have few, if any, problems. Don't worry too much, and enjoy the car. It was designed to be a pure pleasure drive.
Last edited by JConn2299; Jul 23, 2005 at 11:33 PM.
ZZzzzzz...PHshshshssshh
Joined: Jul 2001
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From: Washington State
Congrats on the new ride bro!! Any pics?!? Sounds like you have a pretty good plan. After you complete all of your reliablity mods, I would get an ECU (PFC).
You'll be constantly upgrading anyways so this will take out the worries about detonation with every new mod you install. Also as adam C said, you should replace the AST.
You'll be constantly upgrading anyways so this will take out the worries about detonation with every new mod you install. Also as adam C said, you should replace the AST.
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Originally Posted by JConn2299
That's a great plan Onyxjl. It's very well thought out. I wouldn't worry about the radiator too much. It should be adequate for cooling the car, especially in the state you have it in. The rap on the radiator is that over time the plastic end tanks can crack and leak. In most cases you'll get a warning in the form of a leak, and there are plenty of people running around in these 10 to 13 year old cars who have never replaced their radiator.
I also don't think you'll have a problem with just the downpipe. Again, widespread experience has shown that to be safe.
I don't think you mentioned the AST. It'd be wise to replace that even if you just buy a new stock one.
People on car forums tend to post their problems. That can give you a false impression that makes you think the car is more unreliable than it is. I am the original owner of my car and it has been the most reliable car I have ever owned. True, it's not a daily driver, but still ..................
Your car seems in good shape, and if you do the maintenance and mods you've outlined, you should have few, if any, problems. Don't worry too much, and enjoy the car. It was designed to be a pure pleasure drive.
I also don't think you'll have a problem with just the downpipe. Again, widespread experience has shown that to be safe.
I don't think you mentioned the AST. It'd be wise to replace that even if you just buy a new stock one.
People on car forums tend to post their problems. That can give you a false impression that makes you think the car is more unreliable than it is. I am the original owner of my car and it has been the most reliable car I have ever owned. True, it's not a daily driver, but still ..................
Your car seems in good shape, and if you do the maintenance and mods you've outlined, you should have few, if any, problems. Don't worry too much, and enjoy the car. It was designed to be a pure pleasure drive.
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Joined: Jul 2005
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From: Chicago
Thanks for the advice!
Replacing the AST is definitely on the list, I left it out in the original list. I do know that the AST has already been replaced with another stock one, but it was do to a smaller coolant leak, not the full dump of coolant that can occur. I've checked the replacement and so far so good, it is not leaking yet. I still plan to replace it in any case rather than worry about it.
That's some good news about the radiator. It doesn't get too hot here in Chicago and the past few days it has been > 90. I was driving on the highway and in stop-and-go traffic a bit and the car has never moved off the middle temp setting. I'll probably wait and do the intercooler and radiator together some point down the line as they look like its probably easier that way. I was a bit spooked with some of the horror stories.
Is the hose replacement really something to wait on? I've heard this one go both ways. Some people are saying why wait until they break, others are saying don't bother until they do. I guess from a reliability stand point, which would be better to do first, the DP or the hoses?
While running the boost gauge I noticed a few stray hookups that I can't find what they are for. The first is under the driver's side foot well. It's a little wire connected to what appears to be a 1/8" mini-plug like the kind on headphones. The second is an ethernet/phone style jack located next to the console on the passenger side. The last was an RS-232 style hookup in the trunk. Any idea what these are? I didn't find any mention in the owner's manual, and the shop manual is still on the way.
I have some pics posted on a friends site. I had just given it a wax.
http://www.redhavana.net/files/Onyx%20Rx7%20001.jpg
http://www.redhavana.net/files/Onyx%20Rx7%20002.jpg
http://www.redhavana.net/files/Onyx%20Rx7%20004.jpg
http://www.redhavana.net/files/Onyx%20Rx7%20008_np.JPG
[Warning to 56k users, these are all full res pictures so they are ~ 1MB]
Replacing the AST is definitely on the list, I left it out in the original list. I do know that the AST has already been replaced with another stock one, but it was do to a smaller coolant leak, not the full dump of coolant that can occur. I've checked the replacement and so far so good, it is not leaking yet. I still plan to replace it in any case rather than worry about it.
That's some good news about the radiator. It doesn't get too hot here in Chicago and the past few days it has been > 90. I was driving on the highway and in stop-and-go traffic a bit and the car has never moved off the middle temp setting. I'll probably wait and do the intercooler and radiator together some point down the line as they look like its probably easier that way. I was a bit spooked with some of the horror stories.
Is the hose replacement really something to wait on? I've heard this one go both ways. Some people are saying why wait until they break, others are saying don't bother until they do. I guess from a reliability stand point, which would be better to do first, the DP or the hoses?
While running the boost gauge I noticed a few stray hookups that I can't find what they are for. The first is under the driver's side foot well. It's a little wire connected to what appears to be a 1/8" mini-plug like the kind on headphones. The second is an ethernet/phone style jack located next to the console on the passenger side. The last was an RS-232 style hookup in the trunk. Any idea what these are? I didn't find any mention in the owner's manual, and the shop manual is still on the way.
I have some pics posted on a friends site. I had just given it a wax.
http://www.redhavana.net/files/Onyx%20Rx7%20001.jpg
http://www.redhavana.net/files/Onyx%20Rx7%20002.jpg
http://www.redhavana.net/files/Onyx%20Rx7%20004.jpg
http://www.redhavana.net/files/Onyx%20Rx7%20008_np.JPG
[Warning to 56k users, these are all full res pictures so they are ~ 1MB]
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 466
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From: East Coast
hmm, not sure about the others, but the one in the trunk may be a residual wire from either the bose stereo system that might have been in the car, or maybe a wire leading from the rear window wiper. Does your rear wiper work?? do you have a stock head unit or an aftermarket one?
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From: Chicago
The Bose system is still in the car fully stock. It is possible that it is part of the strereo system I suppose but that would be a highly unusual stereo connector, and it seems like it is much too big to have anything to do with the rear wiper.
It looks like it would be used to capture output from an ECU or a datalogger, but I have no idea why that would be located in the trunk. I was wondering if maybe they were diagonostics equipment. I'll take a look at them again today and see if I can give a better description.
It looks like it would be used to capture output from an ECU or a datalogger, but I have no idea why that would be located in the trunk. I was wondering if maybe they were diagonostics equipment. I'll take a look at them again today and see if I can give a better description.
Just so your aware the gauge will never move off the middle unless it's almost too late. Stop by the shop when you get a chance I don't think you 'll ever see so many FDs in one place. At least that's what everyone tells me
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Joined: Jul 2005
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From: Chicago
Zero R,
I am actually not that far from A-spec. I had planned to bring the car buy and talk with you guys for a while to see what you recommend.
Probably see ya in the next week or two.
I am actually not that far from A-spec. I had planned to bring the car buy and talk with you guys for a while to see what you recommend.
Probably see ya in the next week or two.
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