Looking For Help Inspecting A Used 3rd Gen RX7
06-08-11, 07:39 PM
#1
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Looking For Help Inspecting A Used 3rd Gen RX7
Hi all,
I will be traveling to Akron, OH soon, from California, to test-drive and inspect a used 1993 RX7 - pictures here. The owner claims the car is all stock accept for wheels, shocks and exhaust. He has been the sole owner of the car since '93, and the vehicle only has ~31k miles on it. CarFax corroborates this. I've talked with him on the phone and he sounds like a decent and honest fellow - no red flags as far as I could tell.
I am new to rotary world and don't know much about the ins and outs of these cars, though I do know they can be quirky. Cam, at Pettit Racing, was gracious enough to glance at a few of the pictures I linked to and noticed some fresh coolant near the AST. He said this indicated a broken AST neck, which is a common point of failure in this model, and said this means the engine had probably overheated before. When I asked the owner about this, he said he was simply replacing the cap and refilling the coolant in anticipation of the sale and had spilled some. And that the engine had never been overheated. He insists that the car is cherry and that the only problem right now is the right channel of the stereo isn't working. Cam gave me some advice as to what to look/listen for when I got out there to test drive, and recommended I bring a mobile boost gauge and infrared thermostat to do some testing of my own. I would love to get this car if everything checks out but I am also worried that I might miss something big/obvious and end up paying way more afterwards in repairs.
My question is: Is there anyone on this forum living near Akron, OH who I could meet up with while I am out there test driving the car, and who would be able to help my by looking things over? I couldn't find any rotary engine specialty shops in the area.
Thank you very much for your time and your consideration and I hope this is an acceptable first post. I am definitely going to get an RX7, even if it doesn't end up being this one, and very much look forward to becoming part of the community.
I will be traveling to Akron, OH soon, from California, to test-drive and inspect a used 1993 RX7 - pictures here. The owner claims the car is all stock accept for wheels, shocks and exhaust. He has been the sole owner of the car since '93, and the vehicle only has ~31k miles on it. CarFax corroborates this. I've talked with him on the phone and he sounds like a decent and honest fellow - no red flags as far as I could tell.
I am new to rotary world and don't know much about the ins and outs of these cars, though I do know they can be quirky. Cam, at Pettit Racing, was gracious enough to glance at a few of the pictures I linked to and noticed some fresh coolant near the AST. He said this indicated a broken AST neck, which is a common point of failure in this model, and said this means the engine had probably overheated before. When I asked the owner about this, he said he was simply replacing the cap and refilling the coolant in anticipation of the sale and had spilled some. And that the engine had never been overheated. He insists that the car is cherry and that the only problem right now is the right channel of the stereo isn't working. Cam gave me some advice as to what to look/listen for when I got out there to test drive, and recommended I bring a mobile boost gauge and infrared thermostat to do some testing of my own. I would love to get this car if everything checks out but I am also worried that I might miss something big/obvious and end up paying way more afterwards in repairs.
My question is: Is there anyone on this forum living near Akron, OH who I could meet up with while I am out there test driving the car, and who would be able to help my by looking things over? I couldn't find any rotary engine specialty shops in the area.
Thank you very much for your time and your consideration and I hope this is an acceptable first post. I am definitely going to get an RX7, even if it doesn't end up being this one, and very much look forward to becoming part of the community.
06-09-11, 10:31 PM
#2
2 suggestions:
1. Go to the 3rd gen FAQ thread stickied in this forum and read the 2 Buyer's Guides
2. Go to the regional section for OH and post to see if you can find a *reliable* local resource. https://www.rx7club.com/ne-rx-7-forum-30/
The boost gauge is a good idea since if you can't check compression then you can at least see how many inches of vacuum the engine holds are warm idle (~800). I think you'll want to see 16" or higher if I remember correctly.
1. Go to the 3rd gen FAQ thread stickied in this forum and read the 2 Buyer's Guides
2. Go to the regional section for OH and post to see if you can find a *reliable* local resource. https://www.rx7club.com/ne-rx-7-forum-30/
The boost gauge is a good idea since if you can't check compression then you can at least see how many inches of vacuum the engine holds are warm idle (~800). I think you'll want to see 16" or higher if I remember correctly.
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