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Old 03-30-06, 10:28 AM
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Saving up for an FD......

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Post your RX7 list of repairs...

Hi, im a little bit new to the site and I searched for 10 minutes before posting. If this is a repost im sorry, please delete...

I asked a few of you a while ago if the RX7 is the right car for me. Many of you told me that I should save up more than the car is worth before buying it. I have now saved double what I plan on spending on the car and have a pretty good job. Im almost ready for my dream car now.

I would like everyone to post their list of repairs that they have gone through since they purchased their car. Please include model, type of repair, cost, how long youve had the car and mileage on the vehicle.

Thanks alot guys.
Old 03-30-06, 11:01 AM
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what the **** dude?

are you trying to ruin my day? I ain't playing your game....
Old 03-30-06, 11:10 AM
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well though I was joking I really don't want to add it up.

but seriously the big ones are:

engine rebuild
turbos will have to be replaced at some time too (maybe multiple times if you get shitty rebuild ones)
5th gear synchro work.

remember EVERYTHING is expensive on these cars. And most mechanics don't know jack **** about these cars.


The FD has only left me twice in the 7 1/2 years that I have owned it and I put 95k miles.
1) when the engine died (@ 108k miles)
2) a coolant hose snapped

Keep the car at 10 psi and you can maximize engine longevity. No matter what mods. Boost any higher and the engine longevity decreases quite a bit IMO.

These cars are not as bad as people make them out to be as long as you are smart about how you mod the car. Number one rule is NEVER go cheap on these cars.
Old 03-30-06, 11:23 AM
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Cool. So you rebuilt the engine at 108k? How much did the rebuild cost and what did it include? Anyone else wanna share?
Old 03-30-06, 11:31 AM
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my rebult cost $3500 including a mild streetport. Prices on engine rebuild will vary depending on what items are usable. I only had to replace one housing.
Old 03-30-06, 11:40 AM
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Originally Posted by montego
my rebult cost $3500 including a mild streetport. Prices on engine rebuild will vary depending on what items are usable. I only had to replace one housing.

Wow. That alot of money for a rebuld.
Old 03-30-06, 11:42 AM
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one cracked flywheel
basic maintence

three years of daily driving, no problems.
Old 03-30-06, 11:55 AM
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Bought this car Oct. '05 since then...

rear pillowball replacement all six of them
RP trailing arms and toe links done at the same time to alleivate clunking

That didn't do it so...
Rear diff mount bushing replacement (one of them was totally gone!)
Motor mount replacement (once again, one was totally gone!!!)
Replacement of cracked PPF (because of previous two items I am sure)

Also:
welded a cat into the 3" midpipe to fix a boost creep issue (did solve the problem)
Replaced the PFS Purple EMS with a Power FC (what joyous day that was, solved MANY issues)
Replaced the water pump gasket to fix a coolant leak
Replaced a vacuum hose to fix a boost problem...but while I was there decided to go single turbo...I HATE vacuum lines!! (guess I bought the wrong car)

Replaced the fuel filter and spark plugs (WAY easy compared to the other damn stuff)

That is just the repairs...if you want to go into modications that is another thread...and I dont even want to think about cost, I mean I nearly faint everytime I get my credit card bill.

Good thing I dont have a wife or girlfriend, because I have difficulty justifying this car to myself!

I have driven the car aprox. 3000 miles since I bought it...

Last edited by cozmo kraemer; 03-30-06 at 11:57 AM.
Old 03-30-06, 12:01 PM
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2 years of every day driving
Broken tps
Problem with wheel bearings

Thats it for two years, not to bad, only 55k miles on it though.
Old 03-30-06, 12:08 PM
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Originally Posted by cozmo kraemer
Bought this car Oct. '05 since then...

rear pillowball replacement all six of them
RP trailing arms and toe links done at the same time to alleivate clunking

That didn't do it so...
Rear diff mount bushing replacement (one of them was totally gone!)
Motor mount replacement (once again, one was totally gone!!!)
Replacement of cracked PPF (because of previous two items I am sure)

Also:
welded a cat into the 3" midpipe to fix a boost creep issue (did solve the problem)
Replaced the PFS Purple EMS with a Power FC (what joyous day that was, solved MANY issues)
Replaced the water pump gasket to fix a coolant leak
Replaced a vacuum hose to fix a boost problem...but while I was there decided to go single turbo...I HATE vacuum lines!! (guess I bought the wrong car)

Replaced the fuel filter and spark plugs (WAY easy compared to the other damn stuff)

That is just the repairs...if you want to go into modications that is another thread...and I dont even want to think about cost, I mean I nearly faint everytime I get my credit card bill.

Good thing I dont have a wife or girlfriend, because I have difficulty justifying this car to myself!

I have driven the car aprox. 3000 miles since I bought it...

Thats alot of things that have gone wrong, but it looks like your engine is still in good shape.
Old 03-30-06, 12:11 PM
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I hope so...

but keep checking on my other thread to see if others feel like the engine is still ok..
Old 03-30-06, 12:13 PM
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Ive had my FD for a little over a year. Been daily driving it ever since... havent had any huge prob's other than the normal little ones. Vac lines, couplers popping off, that sorta thing, nothing major though.
Old 03-30-06, 12:25 PM
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I've had the car for 4.5 years, it's a huge money pit! But i love it none the less.....

I had the engine rebuilt at 56k, one winter day it started and the next it wouldn't turn over, ended up being an apex seal problem, hints the rebuild. It cost me about 4,500 for my rebuild. Now i have 99k on the car with no engine problems accept for the occasional need for tuning.

That's the only thing that HAD to be done, i've had the car in the shop a lot for reliability mods and performance stuff as well.

My door hand on the drivers side broke about a year ago.
Window switch (drivers side) broke about 6 months ago.
I've replaced all brake rotors twice because of warping. (about $160 per rotor)
New clutch was put on around 65k due to slipping (most likely a result of the performance mods and not so much wear)

I've never been stranded on the side of the road or anything like that and i bought the car with 49k on it, so during the last 50k the car has been good to me.

The worst thing is trying to pass emissions with this car. I have found it to be impossible here in northern Va. A lot of money went to trying to get it to pass and then even more money went to pay a guy to pass me.

I've probably invested about 10-15,000 in the last 4 years on top of what the car cost me.
Old 03-30-06, 12:27 PM
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Oh, and my car was a daily driver until this past January when i finally purchased a beater civic.
Old 03-30-06, 12:29 PM
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I have the car for almost 4 years now. I bought it with 18,000 miles it has 28,000 now, no replacements totaly stock.....

I recommend you buy a low milage car and save yourself the head aches.... Mine is for sale...
Old 03-30-06, 12:57 PM
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well i got new turbos, new brakes, blown engine rebuild engine all new seals, new rear rotor housing parts list $ 4000 +labor = to total of around 10k
Old 03-30-06, 03:34 PM
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Originally Posted by samerooo222
Wow. That alot of money for a rebuld.
actually no it's not. It's on the cheaper side to be honest. If you think that it is then you are in for RUDE awakening.
Old 03-30-06, 03:35 PM
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Originally Posted by montego
actually no it's not. It's on the cheaper side to be honest. If you think that it is then you are in for RUDE awakening.
What exactly does this rebuild include?
Old 03-30-06, 03:46 PM
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Got my ride about a year ago (April 2006) with a reman and currently latest repairs within the past year:

1) 5th gear/tranny repair
2) Master Cylinder/Slave Master replacement

...more coming! Haha...I hope not really though! ^_^
Old 03-30-06, 03:55 PM
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Originally Posted by samerooo222
What exactly does this rebuild include?



An an engine rebuild typically includes:

Taking it out
complete tear down
new seals
replacement of any unusable components
installation
Old 03-30-06, 04:00 PM
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so far:

1. replace fuel filter
2. Fixing to replace the stock clutch with 53K miles...it can't handle the new power output.
Old 03-30-06, 05:21 PM
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to be better put:

I have spent enough money and time that I have reached the level of friendship with my mechanic that I can come over to HIS HOUSE and work on my own **** while he works on his. Actually I'm scheduled to that this sat...
Old 03-30-06, 05:38 PM
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My car was treated very poorly by the previous owners. Thankfully it was never in a wreck or anything like that though. Basically everything in my engine bay was replaced with either new OEM parts or aftermarket parts, I am too lazy to list all of it right now. As long as you find one that was taken care of you shouldn't have to many big expenses other than normal upkeep, rebuilt engine included in this depending on mileage of the car.

-Rob
Old 04-06-06, 03:36 PM
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1993 Touring model. 46K orig miles. I've put around 3500 miles on the car since owning it. Bought it in 2001. I spend more time polishing it cleaning it then driving it most likely. Here's what I have done to this point not including a few minor mods:

1. Coolant leak from small metal pipe underneath turbo. Part was only $12 but labor $1000 since the turbos had to be removed.

2. Air conditioner completely shot because some numnuts along the way put the wrong incompatible fluid or oil into it. Completely clogged with hard concrete like material. Cost to repair and replace everything $3000.

3. Original Bose head unit was shot and I replaced it with an alpine unit and 12 disc CD changer put into driver side rear compartment.

4. 5th gear synchro issue. Just happened and haven't got the estimate for repair yet. I am hoping to spend only around $1000.

These are just the repairs and do not include about $2000 worth of mods to aid in cooling.

This seems to be one of those cars you can never get your money back on. Maybe if you keep it until the year 2020 when there won't be many of them left and will be a real novelty. Perhaps then we can get some money for them.

Mine's for sale. First $18,000 takes it.
Old 04-06-06, 03:43 PM
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bought the car in April 04. Since then:

Fuel pump died. Replaced with Walbro unit
Battery died. Replaced with N-Tech mini battery kit
IC Crossover pipe cracked @ VIR. Replaced with used crossover from forum member
Air Pump bearings started to go @ VIR. Replaced with used pump from forum member
Replaced belts.
New tires
My CD player decided to die after having the battery disconnected all winter while the car was in the garage. I may still be able to fix that.

Everything else has been reliability mods or maint stuff. No show stoppers.

Last edited by Section8; 04-06-06 at 03:46 PM.


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