KA166J

I just bought a fairly good condition 1990 RX-7 GTU. Had the seller drive it around a bit and into a shop to get the inspection done on it so I could drive it home. All's well. I've driven it previously and it worked great. After buying it, I drive it out of the shop and down the road a good 20-25 miles before stopping at a gas station just to fill up before the rest of the trip home. I park to go in and pay, come back out, start the engine and try to move it, and all it could do is roll down the slight incline I was parked on.

The engine starts and revs fine, but getting the car to actually move just doesn't happen. I love cars so I've read plenty about them but I haven't ever had an opportunity to actually work on them myself so I had a cousin who went to UTI come out and he thinks it's something with the shift linkage (I believe those were the words he used) or the clutch, though he thinks it's more likely the linkage. He said the shifter felt loose or just generally wrong somehow. Also, trying to select 5th or reverse didn't work at all. Everything works or seems to work up until you try to actually let off the clutch and move, then it just continues to rev like it's in neutral and it seems as if the clutch isn't catching at that point. But the car wouldn't roll at all unless the clutch was pressed in.

I think my cousin knows what he's saying but he's going on just what he can feel without actually working on the car so I thought I should check here to see if anyone might know what exactly is wrong and maybe point me in the right direction towards fixing this.

Aaron Cake

iTrader: (1)

The shifter bushings are a common wear point which makes the shifter floppy, but that generally doesn't prevent you from selecting a gear.

Does the car even try to move if you let the clutch out in 1st? Can you hear the transmission whirr?

Go48

iTrader: (7)

Deleted.

KA166J

The car doesn't try to move at all. Only time it can move is with the clutch in even if the shifter is in position for neutral.

Go48

iTrader: (7)

Download a copy of the factory service manual (link #1 below). Purchase a Haynes manual for this car (good pics, etc.). Then purchase a set of shifter bushings and boots from Mazdatrix.com (link #2 below) and install. View the video at link #3 to get an idea of what bushing replacement involves. Then continue troubleshooting the problem after you get the shifter working.

http://wright-here.net/cars/rx7/manuals.html
http://www.mazdatrix.com/g4.htm
http://www.mazdatrix.com/pictures/fa...sh/ssmovie.jpg

KA166J

Thanks so much for the help. I already bought a Haynes manual, I'm just waiting for it to come in. I'll try those things as soon as I can.