Everytime Rotary Lover almost proud owner.
10-09-08, 02:43 PM
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Everytime Rotary Lover almost proud owner.
Hi everyone.
My name is Esteban, I'm from Costa Rica and I have loved the rotary engine design since I knew of it like 7 years ago. I have always wanted an RX7 but things of life haven't allowed me to buy one. Here in Costa Rica RX7s are very rare and difficult to buy and maintain, they're really expensive and almost all of them have been abused in racing.
Right now I'm negotiating a 1991 NA White Convertible, that is in pretty good shape. Almost everything is in working order, except for the headrest speakers, that seems to be not connected to the (ugly) aftermarket radio it has installed and the rear glass window is missing and was replaced by soft clear plastic. We're right now on rainy season and car is getting some water inside it, but I don't know where the leak is.
The car started flawlessly at the first attempt cold and warm, but when I drove it I noticed a lack of power and acceleration. Suffice to say that my 16v Geo Tracker has slightly better acceleration. It maintains a good idle but stalls at stops when using the A/C. The engine is completely stock except for an aftermarket air filter and little filter for the air pump. I haven't the chance to do a compression test but I hope to do it this weekend.
The car has 144k miles and doesn't seems to be abused in any way, may be it was used as a leisure weekend car, so I'm almost confident that it can be brought back to life with little TLC, compression test will be almost the decisive point in this buy, but I'm planning to get ECU error codes to be ware of other potential problems.
Well, my brain (call it reason) says that changing my little, practical and economic Geo Tracker for this large, impractical and costly RX7 is not a good thing, but I have always wanted a rotary sports car (even when Costa Rica "streets" are not good for such a low car and the gas prices keep growing) and I feel that if I don't do it now I will regret the rest of my life. So, if everything checks fine and the seller gives me a good deal, I'll be around here frequently reading and making questions.
That's all for now, thank you every body in advance for the help!
Esteban.
My name is Esteban, I'm from Costa Rica and I have loved the rotary engine design since I knew of it like 7 years ago. I have always wanted an RX7 but things of life haven't allowed me to buy one. Here in Costa Rica RX7s are very rare and difficult to buy and maintain, they're really expensive and almost all of them have been abused in racing.
Right now I'm negotiating a 1991 NA White Convertible, that is in pretty good shape. Almost everything is in working order, except for the headrest speakers, that seems to be not connected to the (ugly) aftermarket radio it has installed and the rear glass window is missing and was replaced by soft clear plastic. We're right now on rainy season and car is getting some water inside it, but I don't know where the leak is.
The car started flawlessly at the first attempt cold and warm, but when I drove it I noticed a lack of power and acceleration. Suffice to say that my 16v Geo Tracker has slightly better acceleration. It maintains a good idle but stalls at stops when using the A/C. The engine is completely stock except for an aftermarket air filter and little filter for the air pump. I haven't the chance to do a compression test but I hope to do it this weekend.
The car has 144k miles and doesn't seems to be abused in any way, may be it was used as a leisure weekend car, so I'm almost confident that it can be brought back to life with little TLC, compression test will be almost the decisive point in this buy, but I'm planning to get ECU error codes to be ware of other potential problems.
Well, my brain (call it reason) says that changing my little, practical and economic Geo Tracker for this large, impractical and costly RX7 is not a good thing, but I have always wanted a rotary sports car (even when Costa Rica "streets" are not good for such a low car and the gas prices keep growing) and I feel that if I don't do it now I will regret the rest of my life. So, if everything checks fine and the seller gives me a good deal, I'll be around here frequently reading and making questions.
That's all for now, thank you every body in advance for the help!
Esteban.
10-13-08, 10:56 AM
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Finally!
Well I decided to buy the 'vert and I'll have it home next weekend. Last time I see it I remembered to test the windshield wiper switch and it seems to have the bad relay syndrome.
As it has been taking water inside for some time, I asked the seller to remove at least a seat and lift the carpets up. Carpets where wet and the trunk and area behind the seats was filled with water, but floor metal was clear and not corroded. Seat rails and under seat springs were surface rusted but nothing major. I also noted that a rear stop lamp has a little crack on it, internal condensation is visible so some water is going in.
Given all that, it seems there are some things to do:
1. ATF treatment to recover any lost compression due carbon buildup
2. Oil change and oil filter replacement
3. Fuel filter replacement
4. Spark plug replacement
5. Removal of all interior carpets to dry them throughly
6. Removing of all seat metal surface rust and proper lubrication
7. Inspection and correction of interior light bulb and circuit
8. Inspection and correction of head rest speakers and audio system in general
9. Replacement of wiper switch relay
10. Installation of real security system
11. Installation of real audio system
I think that that and a complete inspection of all engine components will bring the car back to respectable shape.
I'll probably want to change the soft top too. It has no rips, holes or tears but it shows it's age, and it's obviously letting water in, but the time for a new replacement to arrive here is almost the same time left for rainy season so it makes no point to order it now.
I hope everything goes fine with the car, I've waited almost 10 years to have an RX7 and now that dream is almost true.
Thanks to all!
As it has been taking water inside for some time, I asked the seller to remove at least a seat and lift the carpets up. Carpets where wet and the trunk and area behind the seats was filled with water, but floor metal was clear and not corroded. Seat rails and under seat springs were surface rusted but nothing major. I also noted that a rear stop lamp has a little crack on it, internal condensation is visible so some water is going in.
Given all that, it seems there are some things to do:
1. ATF treatment to recover any lost compression due carbon buildup
2. Oil change and oil filter replacement
3. Fuel filter replacement
4. Spark plug replacement
5. Removal of all interior carpets to dry them throughly
6. Removing of all seat metal surface rust and proper lubrication
7. Inspection and correction of interior light bulb and circuit
8. Inspection and correction of head rest speakers and audio system in general
9. Replacement of wiper switch relay
10. Installation of real security system
11. Installation of real audio system
I think that that and a complete inspection of all engine components will bring the car back to respectable shape.
I'll probably want to change the soft top too. It has no rips, holes or tears but it shows it's age, and it's obviously letting water in, but the time for a new replacement to arrive here is almost the same time left for rainy season so it makes no point to order it now.
I hope everything goes fine with the car, I've waited almost 10 years to have an RX7 and now that dream is almost true.
Thanks to all!
10-20-08, 10:26 PM
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Finally I have it home!! Last weekend I changed my Geo Tracker for my '91 Convertible. It is running better every time I get it out.
Now that I have it I can test it better, but I don't have much time on week time. I have detected that the interior dome light is not working on any but the off setting. When I ground the light it comes on so it has to be the switch. Any known replacement switch?
Head lights, fog lights, stop lights, trunk light, door lights and signal lights are working perfectly. It's just the dome light and I've read that there is a door key cylinder light that I don't see to come on. Ignition light is working fine.
The wiper switch has the relay toasted. They only work on low (no mist, no fast, no intermittent), so I'll have to change the switch relay. Another expensive to import little item. May be I'll source an equivalent relay on electronic shops and adapt it to work on the switch.
The security system seems to be working fine, but it has activated a couple of times even using the key, when I last close the passenger door and later open the drivers door. I'll buy an alarm to integrate it to the existing security system. I'll add a central key-less entry and other stuff nice to have.
The electric windows and mirrors are working but a little slowly. I'll lubricate the window guides with silicon grease and disassemble the electric mirrors to lubricate moving parts as well.
My cruise control system is not working. The main switch makes the main light to come on, but nothing happens when I press the set button (at 30mph and up). The system doesn't even activate the self diagnostic mode (ignition on + main + hold resume up for 3 seconds), so I suspect that the resume-coast switch is not working. Here in Costa Rica there are very few roads long enough and there are too much mountains and hills so I guess it will be nice to have it working, but not of much practical use if any.
I have a lot more of thing to test and confirm if they're working.
These are a couple of pictures of my new little car.
Now that I have it I can test it better, but I don't have much time on week time. I have detected that the interior dome light is not working on any but the off setting. When I ground the light it comes on so it has to be the switch. Any known replacement switch?
Head lights, fog lights, stop lights, trunk light, door lights and signal lights are working perfectly. It's just the dome light and I've read that there is a door key cylinder light that I don't see to come on. Ignition light is working fine.
The wiper switch has the relay toasted. They only work on low (no mist, no fast, no intermittent), so I'll have to change the switch relay. Another expensive to import little item. May be I'll source an equivalent relay on electronic shops and adapt it to work on the switch.
The security system seems to be working fine, but it has activated a couple of times even using the key, when I last close the passenger door and later open the drivers door. I'll buy an alarm to integrate it to the existing security system. I'll add a central key-less entry and other stuff nice to have.
The electric windows and mirrors are working but a little slowly. I'll lubricate the window guides with silicon grease and disassemble the electric mirrors to lubricate moving parts as well.
My cruise control system is not working. The main switch makes the main light to come on, but nothing happens when I press the set button (at 30mph and up). The system doesn't even activate the self diagnostic mode (ignition on + main + hold resume up for 3 seconds), so I suspect that the resume-coast switch is not working. Here in Costa Rica there are very few roads long enough and there are too much mountains and hills so I guess it will be nice to have it working, but not of much practical use if any.
I have a lot more of thing to test and confirm if they're working.
These are a couple of pictures of my new little car.
09-07-09, 01:54 PM
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good for you I know this is a old post so I hope you see this ,nice car let us know how you make out. atf what is this ? just got a 1990 vert as well 40000k runs goob body need work.
Costa Rica roads OUCH!!!
Costa Rica roads OUCH!!!
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