salex

Or maybe I did.

Been working on bringing my 91 vert back to life after sitting for almost 12 years.

When I say "my" I mean I am the original and only owner. All screwups are my own.

My major milestones have been:

1. Replace most of fuel distribution, tank, filters hoses after major varnish attack
2. Temporarily take Starter Cut Relay out of the picture because of intermittent no crank problem.
3. Replace clutch hydraulics because of gummed up cylinders
4. Replace rest of fluid - coolant is where I may be in trouble

I read several posts on flushing the coolant system and did it the other morning (before the clutch). Took the plastic pan off the bottom - only sheared two flange bolts! Drained the radiator fluid into a pan. It was a disgusting black mess. Sucked the overflow fluid out. Couldn't get the block drain to crack so I assumed I could just add water, run it for a few minutes and then drain the radiator again. Did that about 6 times and got it to a light clear grey color. Figured I do it again when I gained a little more experience and knowledge.

Did not find the part about "bleeding" the coolant until yesterday. After getting the clutch working, I was itching to see if it would drive okay. Engine seemed to be running fine and even with rusted rotors the back wheel at least went round and round!

Filled my half dry rotted tires up and took it off the jack blocks.

It Moved Then did a series a increasing runs. Up and down my street, probably a mile. Did that a couple times with a clutch bleed between them.

Then down to the gas station to put a little more fuel in it - about 4 miles round trip. Didn't try too high of a speed, maybe 50 to the gas station without any hard shifting. I was looking for problems but didn't see any.

After basking in my glory for a little while, I though I'd try a little more aggressive run, down the road about 4 miles. Nothing real rough maybe shifting at 5k and up to 60/70. When I approached my turn around point the temp gauge started climbing. Abandoned my stop at a friends house and headed back home, slowly. Gauge kept climbing and crossed boiling pulling in driveway. Add coolant light and buzzer came on when I parked it.

Fluid bubbling out of overflow - I accomplished a goal I didn't want to achieve, but was searching for - I found something wrong

Back to the forums looking for overheat and boil over problems. Found the "bleeding" post - knew it didn't take two gallons and seem to remember there was only about 1.5 quarts in the block. Have not tried the normal suggestions (thermostat, etc) or the bleed yet. Busy cleaning carport of fluid that dripped from foam under radiator to prevent the neighborhood dogs and cat from committing suicide!

In my panic with buzzers going off etc, I didn't note other things, like fan etc. My air pump belt is as loose as a goose and not sure what drives the fan clutch or how the clutch works. That could have been part the problem.

I guess I'm posting this for any suggestions or pointers to posts on what I should check first, second etc. The forums search feature does not seem very good - or I have not found out how it works. I seem to have better luck with just google and going to the rx7club (or other) posts.

Also did the overheat potentially cause any damage?

Steve

salex

To answer some of my own questions, I found Arron Cake's site and his post on cooling:

http://www.aaroncake.net/rx-7/cooling.htm

Looks like I had several things wrong that could of caused the overheating. Plastic underbelly was off, loose belt, not bleeding fluid.

I did the bleed technique using an old plastic whiskey bottle as a funnel and as far as I can tell the thermostat never opened. Replaced the thermostat and it dod open in a short trip.

No white smoke so I may have been lucky. Will try to tackle the belts today, but that will require a little more searching for how to's.

salex

Looking for a moderator on a new post!!!!

Sort of understand the rules, but they are lame and not enforced. Your search sucks, unless you switch to tag, so I can understand the same question asked over and over.

misterstyx69

iTrader: (142)

You'll find out quick.
It is a "Murphy Car"..anything that can go wrong,Will...and does when you least expect it!
SO,with that in mind,just take your time and do the Maintenance correctly.Don't go with Cheapo parts either,they bite you in the *** in the long run.
OEM oil Filters and Thermostat are 2 important parts!