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what kind of symptoms for a failing airpump?

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Old 06-19-03, 09:43 AM
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what kind of symptoms for a failing airpump?

My original airpump failed at 64,000 miles in 1998. I was driving and all of a sudden a loud squeal came from the front. I thought I blew something so pulled over. Checked around and it sounds like the airpump so I disconnected the connector.

Got the dealer to install a new one ($1000!!!).

Last night, I replaced the TC solenoid under the UIM by lifting the UIM slightly, unplugging the two vaccum hoses and elec connector.

This morning, I went to start the car up and a loud *** screeching noise came from the engine bay. It's loud and generally constant in pitch even as I rev the engine b/w 1K and 3K.

It sounded like a bad airpump as the noise went away when I revved the engine past 3500 rpm. Is it the air pump? How could it fail in 35K especially when I ran a cold air tube with filter to ensure that the pump would last? ******* mazda probably sold me a rebuilt unit.

Any similar experience with the airpump? I plugged the intake with paper towel when I lifted the UIM slightly so I know I didn't drop anything in there. I also torqued the 5 nuts too.
Old 06-19-03, 09:49 AM
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Pull the connector on the airpump and see if it still makes the noise.
Old 06-19-03, 10:24 AM
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It probably is your air pump. Mine went bad around 100k. The air pump is engaged in the lower RPM's and that's probably why it went away when you reved your engine. Just get another used air pump. In fact I just took mine off(the one that DOES work) my car for good. If you want it, name a price and it's yours.
Old 06-19-03, 10:29 AM
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I get that same sound, but my AP will be coming off soon as well. I'm at 100K miles, and counting...
Old 06-19-03, 10:47 AM
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Just a note. I got that horrible noise from the AP when I switched some vacuum lines around. It went away when I fixed them.
Old 06-19-03, 11:07 AM
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Try to get a replacement air pump before yours goes. They go out in a blaze of glory. I started hearing this low rumble(like a train was coming), and it just got louder and louder. My car then started making screeching noises, and every light in my car was going on and off coinciding with the screech. I though the car was going to blow up. It really freaked me out.
The rumble was the bearing going. Once it goes, the car isn't driveable, so it will strand you.
Try getting one from a junkyard. I got one, and it had a warrantee as well.
Old 06-19-03, 11:12 AM
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Originally posted by Jim Calandrella
Try to get a replacement air pump before yours goes. They go out in a blaze of glory. I started hearing this low rumble(like a train was coming), and it just got louder and louder. My car then started making screeching noises, and every light in my car was going on and off coinciding with the screech. I though the car was going to blow up. It really freaked me out.
The rumble was the bearing going. Once it goes, the car isn't driveable, so it will strand you.
Try getting one from a junkyard. I got one, and it had a warrantee as well.
When my bearings went out the air pump clutch part glowed like a pumpkin.
Old 06-19-03, 11:59 AM
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Originally posted by DaedelGT
Just a note. I got that horrible noise from the AP when I switched some vacuum lines around. It went away when I fixed them.

Coincidentally, I was moving some vaccum lines around so that I can relocate the TC solenoid from under the UIM to somewhere cooler (like next to the pressure chamber).

So may be I pinched a vaccum line or two, but that is strange though, why would the horrible screeching noise comes from pinched vaccum lines especially when the vaccum lines are not plumbed into the air pump?
Old 06-19-03, 12:24 PM
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That's the only explenation I have for the sound. It scared the living **** out of me. It definately did not sound like a vacuum line, but they were somehow involved.
Old 06-19-03, 01:20 PM
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Go to the sell section, i remembered somebody selling the airpump
Old 06-19-03, 01:57 PM
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electrical failure - no screeching

one airpump i had showed no signs of squeaking or anything. what was happening though was it would work for 1 or 2 minutes and then stop working because it had shorted out inside. this caused the a/c 15 amp fuse to blow. that means the clutch will never engage and you are basically running w/o an airpump. so it is possible for the airpump to fail electrically even though the factory manual test for continuity through it is ok. hopefully this will help another poor soul in the future.
Old 06-19-03, 02:53 PM
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just saw this on e-bay....you can buy it now for $60.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...tem=2419734142
Old 06-19-03, 03:18 PM
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Originally posted by DaedelGT
That's the only explenation I have for the sound. It scared the living **** out of me.
Your description is so funny bc that was exactly how I felt: "Crap, must've dropped a 1/4 inch socket into the intake somewhere .."

I'll bet I pinched the Air Control Valve lines under the UIM when I mounted the UIM back. Gonna check when I'm home.

I've a spare airpump. No way I would pay $1000 for a ******* airpump. I'd rather hire a ***** to sit next to me so she can blow air into the cat than buy one.

In the future, I'll just get an electric airpump from a late model Camawhore Z28 and tee-it into the inoperative airpump.
Old 06-19-03, 03:41 PM
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If you have DP and MP, take it off!
Seriously the room it opens up is awesome. And I cant imagine buying on of these POS.
You will need to get a 300belt (4 or 5 rib)from O'Reillys or Pep Boys. I just took mine out and play with no power steering right now, pimptastic.
Old 06-19-03, 04:19 PM
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AGAIN, I WILL SELL YOU MY PERFECTLY WORKING AIR PUMP FOR 40 BUCKS SHIPPED.

Old 06-19-03, 09:01 PM
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Originally posted by Street King
AGAIN, I WILL SELL YOU MY PERFECTLY WORKING AIR PUMP FOR 40 BUCKS SHIPPED.

[B][SIZE=4]DUDE, do you have to shout? How many miles on the airpump?

I figured out the noise. When I tightened the acorn nut nearest the fire wall for the UIM, a ground wire connector for the EFI got stuck in between the LIM and the UIM.

So the screaming noise was the noise of a rotary including turbos whine and lord knows what else.

No more noise, airpump is fine and I still have a spare one to boot.
Old 06-19-03, 10:17 PM
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Originally posted by pomanferrari
[B][SIZE=4]DUDE, do you have to shout? How many miles on the airpump?

I figured out the noise. When I tightened the acorn nut nearest the fire wall for the UIM, a ground wire connector for the EFI got stuck in between the LIM and the UIM.

So the screaming noise was the noise of a rotary including turbos whine and lord knows what else.

No more noise, airpump is fine and I still have a spare one to boot.
Yes I had to shout, cause I already said it was for sale and people kept missing it.

https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showth...hreadid=197883
Old 06-19-03, 10:23 PM
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Airpumps
Old 06-19-03, 10:35 PM
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Originally posted by pomanferrari
[B][SIZE=4]DUDE, do you have to shout? How many miles on the airpump?

I figured out the noise. When I tightened the acorn nut nearest the fire wall for the UIM, a ground wire connector for the EFI got stuck in between the LIM and the UIM.

So the screaming noise was the noise of a rotary including turbos whine and lord knows what else.

No more noise, airpump is fine and I still have a spare one to boot.
Now that you say that, that has to be what it was. I think I remember noticing an ungrounded wire. Was it the one with the circular head (as aposed to the one thats L shaped)?

What do you know
Old 06-20-03, 01:15 AM
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