I recently bought an 87 rx7 and got my brother into the cars. he bought an 86 yesterday, got it checked out, and was told it needed a head gasket. After searching and calling around, no luck and was pretty much told there's no such thing. It's got all the symptoms (we had to replace the gasket on his supra last fall) white smoke, stalling, runs really rough when it does. Can someone give me an opinion or let me know where i can find out what's going on with this thing? Thanks!

 

LOL. Head gasket...

Why can't mechanics just admit when they don't have a clue...

If you are mechanically inclined, spend some time on here reading the FAQ threads to get informed on procedures for testing problems. Also ask questions and the people on here can help you to a point. Another option is to check out the regional sub-forum for you area.

Some reliable shops in your area are:
http://www.definedautoworks.com/contact_info.php
http://www.a-spectuning.com/contacts.htm
http://www.banzai-racing.com/

 

thanks for the info. i found a few similar problems on here, now to figure out what the exact problem is... worst comes to worst i'll give the shop in pataskala a call, but i doubt it'll come to that.

it's come to the point that i don't trust a mechanic's word. pretty sad i'd have to say. Every diagnosis i've gotten in the past 5 or so years has been WAY off.

 

Read this:

https://www.rx7club.com/1st-gen-archive-71/engine-coolant-seal-repair-maybe-750774/





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White smoke usually = coolant seal. If thats the case I see a rebuild in your future.

 

Appreciate the help! we'll try it that way for now, and even if it only fixes it for the time being, it'll give him time to sell his supras to get the money for a rebuild. Again thanks!

 

well, bought the stuff (same thing, different brand). Haven't used it yet. My brother says there is a pressure buildup in the hoses and it doesn't seem like the coolant is circulating??? my question is could that be the problem itself, or just a combination of multiple things. I myself haven't driven the car, nor do i know too much about them... Just trying to learn as I go.

 

+1, also ask around on here:http://www.ohiorotaries.com/smf/. I'm sure someone is willing to help you out. Good luck!

 

If it comes to that give me a PM, I will point you in the right direction.

 

okay, so we found what the one of the possible problems are... well if the haynes manual is showing the right name for it... it's calling it a "port air solenoid valve", and the wires are fried through. maybe not the end of the problem, but certainly a contributor... now, we can't find anyone or anywhere who knows what it is... Help?

 

the issue is that the engine has either lost a coolant seal from overheating or the housing around the coolant seal has corroded. this is allowing the combustion pressures to pressurize the coolant and allowing coolant into the engine and its being burned during the combustion cycle. you need to rebuild the engine.

 

Thanks everyone for your input. I think we're going to try Kentetsu's way for the moment. sorta lacking the funds for a rebuild right now. I'll update when we get to it and give progress (or lack of). I'm glad i know of this site. Mechanics are pretty useless around me. One told my brother it was a head gasket haha. Show me a head gasket on this thing!

 

I would strongly advise you to find the exact product that I recommended. That choice was based on quite a bit of research. At the very least, use one that is based on aluminum (not copper or anything else).

The Alumaseal has worked for a number of members in your situation, but I can't make any promises if you go with another product.

 

We returned the other product and i'm in search of the Alumaseal. My local Autozone doesn't carry it, so i'm gonna try a few more auto stores before i hit the web. Anything to get his car running really. i feel bad, he was sorta suckered into it. Not a bad deal, just not what he thought he was getting. I'll post an update once we put that in and take it from there. As long as it'll buy us some time until we can get a full rebuild.

Again, thanks for the help, it's much appreciated.

 

Hmm, Autozone is where I bought it. Good luck with your search...

 

The air from the air pump is routed into the exhaust in one of two places...there is a port just downstream of the exhaust ports (hence the name), and 'split air' that is routed through a tube and joins the exhaust flow in the catalytic converter. Under various driving conditions the ECU switches between air being injected at the ports, or at the converter (split air). The port air solenoid electrically controls the vacuum to the valve for the port air.

There is a descrition of the system in the online FSM, as well as a table that tells you when which is open. There are actually four destinations for the pump air: port air, split air, relief air, and (under deceleration) the anti-afterburn valve dumps the pump air into the intake to reduce afterburning during decleration.

It likely has nothing to do with the white smoke problem you have described here. The 'you need a head gasket' is the usual response given by a mechanic who finds exhaust gases in the coolant but does not understand rotaries. We have no heads, therefore no head gaskets. The likely cause of that diagnosis is blown coolant seals, which usually mean you need a rebuild.

 

Just an update, Alumaseal worked! His 7's running like a champ! now to raise the funds for a rebuild... Thanks everyone for the help!!!!!

 

Glad to hear that it has helped another rotary avoid the junkyard!

 

oh, regardless, it wasn't going to the junkyard!