My new 86 RX-7 (Non-turbo) Troubleshooting...
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: Burlington, ON
My new 86 RX-7 (Non-turbo) Troubleshooting...
Hey guys,
I just bought my first FC but it has some problems...
The Good:
-Approximately 30,000km on engine (but installed in 95, so it's probably been sitting for a while...)
-Virtually NO rust ANYWHERE on car. Lots of grime in engine bay, but no rust.
-paid $2300 for her.
New Memphis speakers, new short shifter, new rims, new tires, new brakes (all around)
The Bad:
-Keeps stalling at Idle until it warms up... (Even warm, it idles rough.) (Vacuum leak, maybe???)
-No power steering. (the PS unit looks like it may have been lowered, but it doesn't have a belt yet. I tried buying one that was supposed to fit, but it was too big. I'm gonna get a 38inch belt soon, and see if that helps. if not, the unit itself may be fried...)
-Hoses in engine bay going to nowhere???
-no A/C
-Air only blows into cabin when turned up to maximum.
-interior light does not come on when door is opened
-no center console (grrrr!)
-Rough paint
-no deck (I have one but I need to get it installed and get that rats nest of wires, organized by a professional.)
-gas tank seal at the top of the tank needs attention.
-Needs new clutchplate/possibly new clutch.
-Far left driver's side air vent only blows cold.
I'm new to rotaries altogether, and was hoping for some help with these issues. Any advice you could offer to help turn my car into what I know it can be would be greatly appreciated. Thanks a lot you guys. I'm gonna try to put up some pics and see if they can help you. BTW, I think I may be missing some stuff in the engine bay. If you could let me know from the picks what I'm missing or where those hoses go/what they do, that would also be awesome. Thanks again.
I just bought my first FC but it has some problems...
The Good:
-Approximately 30,000km on engine (but installed in 95, so it's probably been sitting for a while...)
-Virtually NO rust ANYWHERE on car. Lots of grime in engine bay, but no rust.
-paid $2300 for her.
New Memphis speakers, new short shifter, new rims, new tires, new brakes (all around)
The Bad:
-Keeps stalling at Idle until it warms up... (Even warm, it idles rough.) (Vacuum leak, maybe???)
-No power steering. (the PS unit looks like it may have been lowered, but it doesn't have a belt yet. I tried buying one that was supposed to fit, but it was too big. I'm gonna get a 38inch belt soon, and see if that helps. if not, the unit itself may be fried...)
-Hoses in engine bay going to nowhere???
-no A/C
-Air only blows into cabin when turned up to maximum.
-interior light does not come on when door is opened
-no center console (grrrr!)
-Rough paint
-no deck (I have one but I need to get it installed and get that rats nest of wires, organized by a professional.)
-gas tank seal at the top of the tank needs attention.
-Needs new clutchplate/possibly new clutch.
-Far left driver's side air vent only blows cold.
I'm new to rotaries altogether, and was hoping for some help with these issues. Any advice you could offer to help turn my car into what I know it can be would be greatly appreciated. Thanks a lot you guys. I'm gonna try to put up some pics and see if they can help you. BTW, I think I may be missing some stuff in the engine bay. If you could let me know from the picks what I'm missing or where those hoses go/what they do, that would also be awesome. Thanks again.
welcome to the board and congrats on your new Rx-7. 
1. you just bought a new car and i advise just going through and giving it a fresh tune-up. stalling and rough idle could be a few things by themselves or in tandem. check for vacuum leaks first because it's easier, but whether or not you find any, tune the car up.
2. get the belt first. if it still doesn't work, then look elsewhere in the system.
3. get ahold of the FSM (factory service manual - there should be links in the Gen II FAQs) and wiring diagrams, get your beverage of choice one day and just spend some time going through everything you find suspicious.
4. my first guess would be your missing belt. after you get one, if it still doesn't work, then see if the system is charged and free of leaks.
5. you may have to pull your console apart, but i think you NEED to check your HVAC controls. the previous owner may have messed with them.
6. start simple. check fuses and the switches.
7. are you speaking of the HVAC controls or the area behind the shifter?
8. get the car running and see how you like living with it first, then worry about paint.
9. sounds like the previous owner was an idiot OR let idiots direct him/her with matters involving the car.
10. if there is a fuel leak, TAKE CARE OF IT NOW!!!
11. either find a decent mechanic and take the car there or study that FSM and change it. you have many choices for clutches. you have to know what's right for you and your driving tastes.
12. is it just the driver's side? anyway, my first thoughts are check the thermostat, the heater hoses, the heater core and those bloody HVAC controls.
The Bad:
1. Keeps stalling at Idle until it warms up... (Even warm, it idles rough.) (Vacuum leak, maybe???)
2. No power steering. (the PS unit looks like it may have been lowered, but it doesn't have a belt yet. I tried buying one that was supposed to fit, but it was too big. I'm gonna get a 38inch belt soon, and see if that helps. if not, the unit itself may be fried...)
3. Hoses in engine bay going to nowhere???
4. no A/C
5. Air only blows into cabin when turned up to maximum.
6. interior light does not come on when door is opened
7. no center console (grrrr!)
8. Rough paint
9. no deck (I have one but I need to get it installed and get that rats nest of wires, organized by a professional.)
10. gas tank seal at the top of the tank needs attention.
11. Needs new clutchplate/possibly new clutch.
12. Far left driver's side air vent only blows cold.
1. Keeps stalling at Idle until it warms up... (Even warm, it idles rough.) (Vacuum leak, maybe???)
2. No power steering. (the PS unit looks like it may have been lowered, but it doesn't have a belt yet. I tried buying one that was supposed to fit, but it was too big. I'm gonna get a 38inch belt soon, and see if that helps. if not, the unit itself may be fried...)
3. Hoses in engine bay going to nowhere???
4. no A/C
5. Air only blows into cabin when turned up to maximum.
6. interior light does not come on when door is opened
7. no center console (grrrr!)
8. Rough paint
9. no deck (I have one but I need to get it installed and get that rats nest of wires, organized by a professional.)
10. gas tank seal at the top of the tank needs attention.
11. Needs new clutchplate/possibly new clutch.
12. Far left driver's side air vent only blows cold.
2. get the belt first. if it still doesn't work, then look elsewhere in the system.
3. get ahold of the FSM (factory service manual - there should be links in the Gen II FAQs) and wiring diagrams, get your beverage of choice one day and just spend some time going through everything you find suspicious.
4. my first guess would be your missing belt. after you get one, if it still doesn't work, then see if the system is charged and free of leaks.
5. you may have to pull your console apart, but i think you NEED to check your HVAC controls. the previous owner may have messed with them.
6. start simple. check fuses and the switches.
7. are you speaking of the HVAC controls or the area behind the shifter?
8. get the car running and see how you like living with it first, then worry about paint.
9. sounds like the previous owner was an idiot OR let idiots direct him/her with matters involving the car.
10. if there is a fuel leak, TAKE CARE OF IT NOW!!!
11. either find a decent mechanic and take the car there or study that FSM and change it. you have many choices for clutches. you have to know what's right for you and your driving tastes.
12. is it just the driver's side? anyway, my first thoughts are check the thermostat, the heater hoses, the heater core and those bloody HVAC controls.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: Burlington, ON
welcome to the board and congrats on your new Rx-7.
1. you just bought a new car and i advise just going through and giving it a fresh tune-up. stalling and rough idle could be a few things by themselves or in tandem. check for vacuum leaks first because it's easier, but whether or not you find any, tune the car up.
2. get the belt first. if it still doesn't work, then look elsewhere in the system.
3. get ahold of the FSM (factory service manual - there should be links in the Gen II FAQs) and wiring diagrams, get your beverage of choice one day and just spend some time going through everything you find suspicious.
4. my first guess would be your missing belt. after you get one, if it still doesn't work, then see if the system is charged and free of leaks.
5. you may have to pull your console apart, but i think you NEED to check your HVAC controls. the previous owner may have messed with them.
6. start simple. check fuses and the switches.
7. are you speaking of the HVAC controls or the area behind the shifter?
8. get the car running and see how you like living with it first, then worry about paint.
9. sounds like the previous owner was an idiot OR let idiots direct him/her with matters involving the car.
10. if there is a fuel leak, TAKE CARE OF IT NOW!!!
11. either find a decent mechanic and take the car there or study that FSM and change it. you have many choices for clutches. you have to know what's right for you and your driving tastes.
12. is it just the driver's side? anyway, my first thoughts are check the thermostat, the heater hoses, the heater core and those bloody HVAC controls.
1. you just bought a new car and i advise just going through and giving it a fresh tune-up. stalling and rough idle could be a few things by themselves or in tandem. check for vacuum leaks first because it's easier, but whether or not you find any, tune the car up.
2. get the belt first. if it still doesn't work, then look elsewhere in the system.
3. get ahold of the FSM (factory service manual - there should be links in the Gen II FAQs) and wiring diagrams, get your beverage of choice one day and just spend some time going through everything you find suspicious.
4. my first guess would be your missing belt. after you get one, if it still doesn't work, then see if the system is charged and free of leaks.
5. you may have to pull your console apart, but i think you NEED to check your HVAC controls. the previous owner may have messed with them.
6. start simple. check fuses and the switches.
7. are you speaking of the HVAC controls or the area behind the shifter?
8. get the car running and see how you like living with it first, then worry about paint.
9. sounds like the previous owner was an idiot OR let idiots direct him/her with matters involving the car.
10. if there is a fuel leak, TAKE CARE OF IT NOW!!!
11. either find a decent mechanic and take the car there or study that FSM and change it. you have many choices for clutches. you have to know what's right for you and your driving tastes.
12. is it just the driver's side? anyway, my first thoughts are check the thermostat, the heater hoses, the heater core and those bloody HVAC controls.
Thanks for all the info! I really appreciate the help! I have already ordered the repair manual for my FC, and I'm just waiting for it in the mail. I'm hoping it'll be here by tomorrow. I'll try giving it a tune-up as well. I've changed the oil, and I tried adding fuel system cleaner to my fill-ups. It also has new spark plugs and wires. But what else would a tune-up entail? Like I said, I'm pretty new to this.
Also, the HVAC controls seem to be a source of possible trouble (like you said.) Is there a thread on how to do that already? And the fuel leak issue is one that I've just tried contcting the previous owner about, so hopefully he'll get back to me with the details on exactly what needed to be done for that. Anyways, thanks again. I'll keep you posted.
Jordan
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