First I'd just like to say good on you, both for raising one from the dead and for doing something nice like this for your wife.

Those pics made me cringe tho hehe.

The main thing I'd be careful of are your oil and water coolant systems. I'd say chances are high you're going to have a coolant hose and/or radiator end tanks (if its the oem one) pop on you at some point after sitting that long.

The LAST thing you want to do is have your engine overheat, and if that buzzer goes off it may already be too late.

On the other hand you know the engine is good, if it had any kind of internal water leak the entire inside of the engine would be one big fused piece of rust after 4 years.

Frankly you may want to replace ALL of your rubber hoses...fuel, coolant, brake lines etc. Who knows what the critters living in that car chewed on.

 

Good advice.. Coolant system is one of the most important systems to keep you engine trouble free.. And OP. please give that baby a wash and take a new picture!!! good luck on your build

 

The auto parts store told me that my car takes 3, not 2, belts???

Is there a difference between the manual and automatic transmission FDs? Mine unfortunately has an Automatic Transmission.

Is there a different FSM than the one I found which is for the Automatic Transmission version?

HELP?

 

Twinsinside: I already had the cooling system flushed and refilled, but didn't replace the hoses. I guess I need to put that on the top of my to do list after I get new belts.

Thanks for the advice.

BonesZ23: Actually, with the car the way it is, I feel like some sort of stealth street racer. :-) While driving around yesterday I got quite a few discouraging looks from other drivers only to be replaced with thumbs ups once I blew them off the line at the stop lights. This car makes me feel young again.

Got a gift certificate for a local detailer and am going to take it in to him this weekend before I start some of my small repair, sand and repaint jobs and other small cosmetic fixes. Also dragging out my new seats from the garage and giving them a cleaning and leather conditioning in preparation for a major interior install sometimes during the next week.

 

Automatic and manual air pumps are different sizes and therefore require different belts from each other. I found out the hard way.

 

I now had a second auto parts dealer telling me that my RX7 takes 3, not 2 belts.

The FSM which is linked and which I downloaded ONLY shows the install for two belts.

Anyone know where I can find the diagram and install instructions for my car, or are both of the parts stores where I went today nutso, and that both the auto and manual tranny FDs take two belts?

Can someone please clear this up for me and help or point me to somewhere where I can get some help as soon as possible. I cannot drive the car to the Mazda dealership without the belt so I am stuck trying to do this repair myself as quickly as possible.

Thanks again for the help.

 

Your car only needs two belts, there are only two pulleys on the crankshaft for those belts to be installed on. (Mazda calls the crankshaft the Eccentric Shaft but parts store guys may or may not recognize it by that name). The Mazda parts diagrams I've seen show a pulley for cars with power steering and a different pulley for cars without power steering, but there's no mention of different pulleys for auto trans vs. manual trans. I hope that doesn't add to the confusion.


Since you'll need to remove the front belt to install the rear belt, it may be wise to remove that now and bring it to the parts store to make sure they give you at least one pulley that is the right size.

 

Thanks Scotty.

I just got home from work and took a look under the hood in the light of day and absolutely you are right, there are only two ribbed areas on the shaft for two belts.

Now I have to wait till my wife gets home with my truck so that I can go and try to find the right two belts. Good idea with taking the one still on the car with me to compare.

Guess I won't have it up and running now till tonight at the earliest.

Thanks to everyone for all the help.

 

Before you try to drive it again, I really recommend you change the spark plugs. If you don't, you might flood the engine, thus effectively being stuck wherever you are. When I first started my car (after purchase) it had been sitting for 2 years and it started great after some new plugs (and coils, as they were bad). Good luck and enjoy!

 

i posted the different belt part numbersand that there were 2 different belts 1 for auto and one for a manual if you look back they can cross refference the belt number to there own belt

 

You said the "D" word!

The stealership will probably do more harm to your car than you could with a chainsaw. Then charge you 50 times more than the actual cost.

I'm willing to bet as soon as they pop the hood they'll say "needsnewturbosandnewengine$10,000please" before you can get the hood brace in. Were you planning on having them diagnose/do repairs?

 

No, I was thinking that since the local auto parts stores can't figure out what belts to sell me, I'd buy them at the Mazda dealership thinking that their computers should know what their cars use for parts?

Regardless where I buy the belts, I am doing the install since I can't move the car outta my driveway without risking harm to the car.

Thanks again.

 

Well, I still can't find anyone locally who has the belts I need including the Mazda dealer closest to me who said he might be able to have the belts in on Weds for about a franklin total.

Maybe I need to sell this bitch and buy some low mileage mustang convertable for my wife? Gettin pissed over such a simple thing.

 

I am gonna frakin kill the next incompetent parts person who tells me that I already ahve the right frakin belts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Where, oh farkin Where, can I find someone who will sell me the right belts for this damn car?

 

hahaha very funy!! can't wait to see the pictures after the detail.

LOLOLOL i lol'd

There are only two belts for the car. One that goes to the power steering and a/c.. and the other one that goes to the alternator, water pump, and air pump.. i don't have the air pump installed on my car so i use a much shorter belt to just go to the alternator and water pump.

 

im tellin you bro go to napa auto parts online and order the belts

 

I'm sure someone already told you but Ray Crowe @ Malloy Mazda will do you right...

 

Yeah Ray Crowe is the man to talk to, I hear he is/was an FD owner himself and is practically a legend on this board when it comes to getting the parts you need.

I doubt you'll even need to say much more than "belts for a FD automatic" hehe.

 

the belts they tell you are wrong. Just get a string and measure what size you need and then go buy it.

 

If your local part store can't figure out anything about the parts you need (ANY PART) call Roy. Awesome guy to deal with. He was the only person I would talk to when I needed anything. Here is his contact info

http://mazda.malloyautomall.com/Department-Parts.aspx

 

RAY is on vacation and won't be back until Monday. Left him a message anyway.

Thanks.

 

Been out of the country lately and just got back last weekend.

Finally, got the belts on and am rolling again. In the end, the only way I got the airpump belt back on was to loosen every farkin bolt almost entirely, then almost get them on and then give the engine a 1/10th second crank. Used the engine to help pry on the belt and almost needed no tensioning prior to tightening all bolts. The other belt was a different thing. Had to tension alot to get that belt to spec.

So, to recap: New hoses, new belts, new spark plugs, new fluids and filters, new brake pads.

Car looks like hell but runs like heaven.

Next up, A/C. Started new thread specific to this repair.

Cosmetically, I am installing my new seats this coming week and redoing the dash with the parts I bought from Ray a long time ago. :-)

Thanks for your help!

 

Hey merc,

Nice to hear that your getting your FD back on the road. Ohh ... seeing your FD pics kind scared me. I'm in the same boat. Mine also an auto FD, it have been sitting for two yrs and counting. I have been doing a lot of overhauling this past couple of months. I hope to get mine running by the end of summer. Good luck on yours.

 

I'm in the same boat, piecing back together an auto FD that someone butchered about 2 years ago. I'm mounting the rats nest back in as we speak, crossing my fingers that it will run good once I'm done. Good luck!

 

You said you replaced filters. I don't know if you included it, but DEFINATELY replace the fuel filter. Not a fun job, but neither is a rebuild from fuel starvation. Also, you NEED a vacuum hose job. Every hose on that motor needs replacing. Its tedious work, you need to take your time doing it, so it doesn't end up costing you more from newly broken solenoids, but it needs to be done. Do a search on here, I am sure there are more than 1 write ups.

I think also you need to read some of the stickys about maintence. That will give you an almost 100% percent list of things to have a go at, before you consider the car ready. I would also think, just out of sheer precaution, you need to premix the first 2-3 tanks of gas with 2 stroke oil. I say that ONLY bc this car has sat for 4 years. Everything in there, even though it runs now, has been dry for that long. A little extra lube now, during the restart may help in the long run.

Again, search is your friend, as are the stickys and 3rd gen archives. BUT when it doubt, post here and keep us updated. Good Luck.