Ever since I got the first engine in my car to run I've always had the sticky starter problem and today I tracked it down to the clutch interlock switch. I held it in by hand and the car started first try, let the clutch press it in and got a bunch of clicks, tried pushing it in by hand and it started. All I did was bypass the switch with a thick wire and took the switch itself out. I don't know why it took me this long to try the interlock switch. I've been thinking it had to do with the starter cut relay or factory alarm module but it only took me 15 minutes total to fix it and remove the switch. I feel stupid for not trying it earlier and dealing with the annoying problem.

 

If you look back I posted about having transmission problems. Over the past 2 days I swapped transmissions with one I traded a blown shortblock for. I am finally done, the clutch holds pressure now and catches right off the floor like it should with a new clutch, also every gear is there and solid. No more extremely sloppy gears. I inspected the transmission I took out and found it was cracked in a few places and somehow there was a washer inside the area where my pilot bearing goes. Got it out with a magnet. Still have not been able to drive the car since I got done due to a big snowstorm we just got lastnight. Next on the list is a new top, then coilovers and wheels.

 

The transmission I put in was screwed up. I bought another one with 68k and a new clutch kit, spending tonight putting the clutch and transmission in. Can't wait until I get done!

 

I got done lastnight around 6 and took it for a drive. Overall the car runs better then it ever has in my opinion. Every gear works great, I can actually rev up with no problems, and somehow my oil pressure gauge is reading the right psi, with the 2 previous transmissions the oil pressure gauge would read very, very low at idle now its slightly under 30 psi which is good. I don't see how the transmissions affected the oil pressure or maybe just the gauge but it did. Next is coilovers and a new top after I find a power window motor for my driver side.

 

Very cool! The weather was great this weekend. I wish I could have accomplished more.

 

Yeah the weather was nice but today it is back down in the mid 20's. I can't wait for the warm weather to stay. The car is still running nicely but when I shift from 1st to 2nd or from 2nd to 3rd quickly I can hear a clunking noise and it feels as if the trans is moving a little. I tightened up the crossmember to body bolts but didn't try tightening the trans mount bolts or engine mount bolts, thought I don't see how the engine mount bolts would become loose. If I shift slowly it doesn't really make a clunking noise as much or at all sometime but I can still feel the trans move. If I am driving at a steady rpm and then tap the throttle quick and let off you can hear the clunk and trans movement so it leads me to believe I have a loose mount somewhere but can't pinpoint which one.

 

Are you sure its the trans and not the diff mount? that is known to make a clunking noise.

Not sure if youre car is road-ready but we are having a rotary meet at the riverfront in wilmington DE next saturday the 22nd. Send me a PM if you are interested! we have about 20 or so rx7/8s I think.

 

Pretty sure its from the transmission mounts or something transmission related. I got under the car and everything seemed pretty damned tight though. I'm going to try to swap my shifter back to the OEM one, right now I have a Mazdatrix short throw in. I can literally feel the transmission move under acceleration and then move again when I let off the gas pedal if I keep my hand on the shifter. I checked the bolts to my driveshaft yesterday too and the diff mount looked completely fine but I guess I can check again.

By the way, my Rx-7 is road ready. All I had to do was re-insure it since I had it off the road for most of winter. It'd be awesome to go to a meet since I haven't been to one yet but I'm not sure if I will have enough money for gas to make it down there unfortunately. Maybe next time!

 

Have you checked your motor mounts?

 

Yes. I checked the engine mounts, front differential mount, and transmission crossmember mounts. They all seems to be fine but I am going to be double checking them. Just found out that I have a very small drip from my radiator at idle but under throttle it stops. I think it is due to back in January when we had temperatures in the negative degrees. I was running mostly water from summer and forgot to drain it and add coolant so my hoses froze and I assume the water in the radiator froze too and expanded and caused the crack. If it is not from that it is from the negligence of my step-dad. I went through the plastic stock radiator, now I'm onto a brass or copper radiator from Rotary Resurrection that is already JB welded in one area. I've been looking at getting a Koyo dual pass for some time now so looks like that is definitely my next part.

 

I think one of my differential mounts are bad or my exhaust hits my rear subframe. I only hear a clunk in the rear under hard driving. Also still have am having the movement and rattling/clunk sound on shifting, sometimes shifting into second gear is notchy, but not always. I don't know what the problem is.

 

I notice the trans. grinds when I shift fast but if I shift slowly it doesn't and there is less movement/noise.

 

I really think the slight movement on accel and decel is because of my trans. mounts. My stepdads 5 speed Ford Explorer does the same thing and it's due to his trans. mounts.

 

Found out my stepdad did not hook up my starter ground when putting my starter in, explained the click-click vroom starter b.s. Fixed that, then replaced my positive battery terminal with a new one because it cracked somehow, probably due to age and being overtightened. The weather is starting to look good so tomorrow I'm hoping to bleed my brakes, pedal is a little hard plus I have semi-new pads on the rear and still yet to put the ones on the front, also a new brake hard line. I plan on figuring out what the problem is with my trans. and adding a little more trans. fluid. too.

 

I removed my power steering pump, a/c compressor and most of the lines associated with both a/c and p/s. They were never hooked up so all the stuff was just taking up space and adding un-needed weight. Surprisingly my engine is running better without the stuff on there. It revs faster, and honestly, I can feel a difference in acceleration and overall driving quality. I still need to remove the condenser for the a/c but I didn't feel like taking my radiator out so I might do that this weekend.

 

What's your steering effort and feel like with out the P/S?

I didn't read all the way through, what kinda problems are you having with your transmission?

 

Not bad. Only becomes somewhat harder when in a parking lot going slowly but I'm used to it. Been driving for almost a year with no P/S. Problem with the transmission is my mounts. They're worn and allow the transmission to move under acceleration and when slowing down but not too badly. I was thinking of making or buying solid transmission mounts to fix the problem.

 

Oddly enough I haven't had too much of an issue with the transmission mounts lately. I still am annoyed by how OBX designed their catback exhaust to hug the subframe and lack of exhaust supports. My catback still smacks the subframe under heavy acceleration. I don't know if you can hear it outside of the car but inside you hear a thumping and it annoys the crap out of me. I added a metal brace to the one support that is there and it has helped slightly with the thumping. I think I need some supports welded on!