New to rotary
 

Ok I got a 88 fc convertible for a steal I think. I'm not sure if this is just the rotary an they all do this or if there is something wrong with mine lol but anyways here goes I drive the car every day I can't tell if the clutch is just slipping or what not sure as I drive the car if I hit the gas real fast the rpms go up but the car don't seem to be moving any faster either almost as if there is a delay or something a few seconds later it starts to pick up speed then sometimes if I'm going ill have it in 3rd an about 3-4k rpm ill hold it there and the rpms will start to go down ever though my foot has not adjusted or moved at all idk if all rotaries do this or what not sure lol so any information will be greatly appreciated thank you

The motor is the 13b N/A 5spd

Verts are geared so that they don't have the same quick acceleration as other FC'S. Put it in fourth gear (going 45 or so) and floor the gas; if the engine rev's but the car doesn't accelerate then the clutch could be bad.

Does your vehicle have a standard transmission or an automatic? A stationary test for standard transmissions will also help indicate a slipping clutch. With the car staionary pull the emergency brake if it works and block the front tires. With the car running shift into first gear and slowly let out the clutch. If you can let the clutch out all the way before the car dies then that can be a good indication that the clutch needs replaced. A very distinct smell will come from a slipping clutch comparable to hot brakes or some would also say a tire after a burnout.

As stated before this is most likely a clutch issue. Most likely the friction material is mostly gone from the clutch causing the slipping. Hopefully you caught it early enough and the flywheel doesn't need to be replaced.

Yes, Std ot Automatic, good question, LOL!

If you like your car don't test the clutch using this method - ever. The goal is to test it for wear, not burn the friction linings!:lol:
One you burn the linings the clutch will grab and judder, not a good thing.
Try this: Drive about 20mph on dry pavement in an area where no other traffic is too close by. Put the shifter in 4th gear, rev to about 4K and quickly let out the cluch pedal as you floor the accelerator to full power. This process should take about 10 seconds or less.
If the clutch is in good shape the revs should drop down to 2K rpm of whatever it would be in 4th at 20mph.
If it drops a bit and then revs up as you floor the accelerator then engine power is overcoming the load of the car at 20mph and the clutch linings are near or at the end of service life.
Using 4th gear you are in direct drive thru the transmission and therefore stressing it the least amount possible.
You are not going to 'burn' the clutch lining material during such a short test.

A bit of trivia- the shortest clutch life I can ever remember seeing in a new Mazda vehicle was in San Francisco many years ago. Brand new car, the woman had her new Mazda towed in, clutch totally fried at about 700 miles, flywheel badly burned, and smelling like big rig brakes after a run down the back side of Tioga Pass down to Mono Lake.
The Mazda factory approved a special one-time good will clutch/flywheel replacement under Warranty.
At about the same mileage interval she was towed in again- smoked clutch!
Turns out she had never driven a std transmission car before and didn't understand how to properly use the clutch on the steep hills in San Francisco.
We replaced the clutch, I gave here a driving lesson and her next clutch lasted!

In proper use a clutch can last the life of the car, in the 1980's I put 225K on a daily driver on the original clutch.

The OP says 5 speed, not familiar with the older rx7s but I didn't think they had 5 speed autos in that timeframe.

how much did you pay if you don't mind me asking?

woah man same thing started happening to my 90 gtu!!!

500$ guy wanted it out of his garage lol

I would have to agree sounds like a possible clutch issue.

Yeah they didn't come out with 5sp autos. 3spd I know up to S2. Might have done a 4spd for the fb.

Yeah they didn't have 5spd autos. Definite 3spd up to s2. They may have done a 4spd for the fb.

sounds like a clutch...

eh, remember, I'm OLD and the eyes are not what they once were. :lol: