So I own a 87 Rx7 Gxl 5spd and today my rad cap broke. Now what I don't understand is why did Mazda decide to put two rad caps on my FC? I went to a bunch of auto stores and they all carry the radiator cap that goes on the rad it self but I need the other one that attached to thermostat housing. Can anyone help me? I even called my local Mazda dealer but they didn't know what I was talking about.

 

Go to mazdatrix.com you will find everything you need there. Probably more pricey than your local auto parts store, but worth it knowing you are getting the correct part. Btw I bought the radiator cap and plastic adapter piece that it connects to for about $42 (from mazdatrix about 7 months ago).

 

The thermostat housing cap is just a "dead cap". Available at any auto parts store.

The rad cap is the actual pressure cap.

There are two caps so that you can open the highest cap in the system (thermostat neck) and bleed any air out.

You are also missing the fan shroud between the rad and the engine. This greatly reduces the capacity of the cooling system.

 

Thanks Matt87FC. The site does have exactly what I'm looking for. Rather order it from there than my local dealer cause I don't want to order a part from them and it's the wrong one.

Aaron Cake I went to a bunch of auto stores from Pep Boys to Auto-zone and none had the correct part. They keep giving me the actual pressure cap. As for the fan shroud, I took it out due to a fender bender I had. Shroud kept hitting the fan.

Thanks guys for your input. I really appreciate it.

 

FYI The reason you couldn't find the right cap was because using a 89-91 filler neck and rad with 2 caps. The 86-88 only used 1 sprung cap, so that's probalby why they kept giving you the wrong part if you asked for an '87.

 

You need that fan shroud or else the air in front of the rad is not getting sucked through it to cool your engine down.
Put it back On!

 

I'm not sure why this is an issue for you. Every auto parts store around has an isle full of rad caps. All you need is a "dead cap", "straight cap", or whatever they call it. This is not an uncommon item. Don't even tell them what car it's from. Just ask for a non-pressure rad cap.

Fix it.

 

my autozone has them. Or there is my favorite which is amazon.

 

Ended up buy it from Mazdatrix. I actually found a cap at Pepboys but the POS didn't work. Put it on, fit just fine, turned the car on and no leakage. Once the car warmed up though and I revved it a little, it started to spew fluid. Never would've thought a cap would give me so much trouble.