ghettostamps

So i picked it up from a used cars dealer, i was ridiculously excited to say the least...

Unfortunately It took me about 5 minutes to realize that the speedo isn't f-ing working! Great, I can't time my 0-60... So I have to call them and bitch about that. I also had to get used to the car in city street with huge potholes and traffic.

The deal is this. I have 1 thousand miles / or 30 days in which i can bring the car back. There is also an implied warranty which in legal terms is the lemon law, tell me if Im wrong.

I want to know if my experiences in driving the car are normal for a car with 100k miles on it. So here they go numbered in order...

1) Start up takes a second, not long but "1-1000"...vroom
2) Idle is at about 1 grand maybe 1200
3) After about an hour of driving I finally brought it up to about 6k rpm and i can definately hear the turbos spooling. By the way the car hauls ***, so i dont think im having boost issues. But again, I'm new and could be wrong.
4) I picked the car up and it started like I stated above, drove it home, idled it for 2 minutes-shut off for 20 min, started up again and was on my way, idled 2 min-shut off 20 min, start up again, went to eat, the car won't start in the parking lot...WTF MATE? It won't even attempt to turn over, all the lights were on, so we decided to push and jump it, so we did and it worked...after that I was able to start it up both times I tried after that.

Now I'm really worried, but i still have time to bring it back. The car is going in tomorrow for a 400 point inspection, full diagnostic, the whole 11 yards.

5) The idle is ever-so-slightly loopy, i mean pretty faint, you have to listen to it.
6) The temp guage never went past half way but again its pretty cold out.
7) The ACT, is the small tank near the intercooler? and green is a warning sign? Well I had a hard time looking for something I wasn't sure about, but i looked pretty hard and I think i found it, It was basically black except when the light hits, you can almost-kinda see some dark green, I'll take pics and post later.

Aside from the speedo not working being bad enough, what do you guys think? Is this normal? Should I bring it back right away? Because I know and plan on the car having problems, but not the first day and a no start-up worries me.

The final call will be made tomorrow when i get the "test" results back but I wanted to know what you guys had to say as Im sure some of you have been down this road.

I'm also going to video tape the start-up, and the drive to the garage so if anyone is able, they can see and listen...

Thanks in advance as you guys have already been so helpful and accomodating.
I feel bad, hopefully Ill know enough soon I can actually start helping out around here...
and if anyone needs work on your VW, holla at me...

raiden

Pics????

ghettostamps

i'll have pics when i get back to boston, because thats where i left my camera... sorry guys, same with the video

jeremyb

Well, if it's going in for a 400 point inspection, then just make sure everything is covered. Try to be there when they diagnose/fix things. Its under warranty... thats the beauty of it... so take ALL the advantage you can... cause once it goes out of warranty... you're on your own my son =)

ghettostamps

Yea I mean the good thing is, i get a chance to make sure everything is ok, if not, back it goes...

Im just curious if those things I listed sound normal.

TIA

pianoprodigy

I believe the issue about it not trying to start at all has to do with a connection/solenoid in the starter. I'm sure someone else can chime in with the exact technical problem/fix.

turbojeff

iTrader: (30)

Good long post.

The green AST is not a warning. There are a couple different colors, some have a greenish tint to them. The "green" warning sign would be a liquid at the seam between the top and bottom of the tank, that is where they split.

If the idle isn't perfectly smooth that is normal, sometimes new plugs and wires along with an injector cleaning will clear it up. When I say not perfectly smooth I mean you have to be really paying attention to the idle. If it is rough, like you walk up to the running car and hear it sputtering, that is bad. Doesn't sound like you have a problem.

The speedo fix, should be pretty simple, either the sensor on the trans or the speedo itself.

It takes just a second for the cars to start up, no worries. It shouldn't take 1-1000, 2-1000, 3-1000 though.

Jeff

ghettostamps

Thanks a lot guys, and im sorry for the mile long posts i've been giving, Ill owe you guys a radiation screen for your monitors next time.

I'm glad this all sounds normal and that the start problem might be solenoid, I'll give you guys the diagnostic results tom and pics if i can get back to my home comp

areXseven

iTrader: (1)

As you'll soon find out, it's pretty normal for our FDs to have abnormal problems

KaiFD3S

iTrader: (37)

congrats on the new car

fd3s_rx7

iTrader: (13)

congrat on the FD...

Hopefully everything will turn out nice..

vel525

iTrader: (4)

congrats on the new car. i had a ground issue when i went for to eat and my car wouldn't start up. might want to check that too. anyway, enjoy the car and good luck.

Juan

iTrader: (28)

The stock temp gauge will always read at the halfway mark. You could be at 180F or all the way up to 230F, it will still read the same. Get a decent aftermarket temp gauge for actual temp readings. If the car doesnt crank like you mentioned above, press the clutch pedal all the way down and try cranking it.

dgeesaman

iTrader: (7)

I think you should pick up a pressure/vacuum gauge and some 1/8" rubber hose and see what your boost pattern is. Just plug it into the manifold and route the line under the hood by the windshield wiper and into the passenger window. The idle vacuum and 3rd gear WOT boost pattern would be really good to know.

Dave

alberto_mg

I don't know where you took in to get checked out, but a 400 point inspection sounds like BS. J&R in Elmont is a good, honest, reasonably priced rotary specialist if you need one. Let us know the result of the 'inspection' before commiting to anything.

I personally would never buy a car, especially an FD, from a used car dealer. The thought of it just makes me nervous for you.

apneablue

The car has 100k on it but is the motor original? How much did you spend on it? If an FD has 100k original miles on the motor you may as well buy it as if it had a blown motor.

The not starting thing sounds like battery to me...Sitting at the dealer may have run it down...I bought my 94 R2 from a dealer and it had a couple boost issues which were easy fixes..It has 80k on it and by 86k the coolant seals were toast.

tobecontinued

iTrader: (4)

It isn't from CAR-NU supercars in jersey is it?

ghettostamps

No it's not, its from a place in queens....

I took it to my friend who works at bmw, but is an rx-7 maniac, like rebuild with his eyes closed maniac...

The problem with my car not starting is this, the power doesn't got from the relay to the starter. The Speedo still isnt working, and the windows are slow to go up so there maybe some serious electrical issues here.

The car has obviously been in an accident when the guy said that it hasnt. There were some bolts mismatched under the hood so someone has played with it. It was also a convert from auto - manual transmission. I'm having some transmission problems, like I can't shift too qucikly from 1st to 2nd, and i have the 5th gear synchro problem as it always grinds a bit when i shift to 5th. The oil pressure is also low, and there is a slight oil leak.

He took it for a test drive and said the engine itself felt good.

My question is this, would you take it back? or work with what you got...

The car is a f-ing beast as I'm sure you guys know, i mean straight line, hits boost and I'll spin 3rd gear with good tread. I'm really trying to keep my FD but some people are lookin at me like I should give up...

I talked to the used car place and they said they would fix the starter problems, but I want them to make sure this car really runs as reliable as it should when rolling off a lot. Anyone had any experiences like this with any car? How did you fare? Did it get ugly, so on so forth...

Thanks once again, i think im ganna start paying you soon.

turbojeff

iTrader: (30)

I'd return it.

It could end up costing you a lot of $$ if it has been hit and not repaired correctly.

Converted from auto to 5spd, again it can be done correctly but likely it wasn't.

Bottom line, how much did you pay? $5K, keep it. $10K, give it back. Look in the forum for sale section, you can find a better starting point.

If you don't have a good foundation the house will never be nice.

papsmagu

iTrader: (19)

i agree...depends on what you paid for the car and the condition. did you check carfax? is title clean? is this car your daily driver? if so, return it. if it is a project car..........enjoy!

ghettostamps

8,500...I mean I really didn't expect to find a FD for this cheap and not expect problems. Ill prolly end up spending the same amount as a newer FD with the maintence and whatnot. So I guess maybe the question is do I want the work or not, and I kinda do.

And the yea it's been in accident, but I really am more of a driver than someone whos like look at my flashy new car. Same with my GTI, all engine and driving action packed fun.

Everyone I see is like damn man thats awesome, you got 93 RX7. Strangers, friends, people on the road. It's really a beautiful car, I hope you guys appreicate this, and I'm pretty sure you do.

So am I just selling myself on this car or should I man up and give the keys back...

And if you say give it back, I'll stab you in the neck with a screwdriver...twice. Ha I'm kidding, be honest.

turbojeff

iTrader: (30)

Impossible to say without good pics, even then it is hard to see detals in pics. I think you have your mind made up though.

seanbrowning

Yeah, you sound pretty convinced. A low entry price means you'll be paying for it sooner or later. But atleast later on when you fix things and pay for them, you know the quality of the work.

Its your call, tis a nice car. Expect to have a few "What the heck is that" moments.

Fritz_X

iTrader: (1)

That car is Black on Tan leather isn't it? They probably told you it had a remanufactured engine as well right?

--Fritz

ghettostamps

no the car is red with tan leather, they said it had no engine rebuild and is the original 100k miles on it, which was surprising to my rotary expert friend because he expected the engine to have some problems and not the other things...

The car will be fixed on sat, I'll see how far I can squeeze in terms on money and things to be fixed, if he doesn't take care of some other things, i may actually give it back, at which point he may want to fix them, cause that would mean he has to sell the car again...