Tips for a new buyer
08-11-10, 07:43 PM
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Tips for a new buyer
ok, so a friend of mine (who owns a shop) is selling a 3rd gen rx-7 with 50k miles on it... bone stock except for custom exhaust... but here's the problem, its was left sitting in a barn for the better part of 8-10 years... i've been on 2 long drives with it and it has vacuum leaks, it bogs down with more than half throttle down and dies while idling... also it has a major clutch problem i've never encountered before... the clutch will stick in the down position without engaging....
I'm hoping all these problems have solutions that are affordable and not terribly complicated. this is the first car i'll "really" be working on. i know basic maintenance and such but i want to learn and know what i'm doing with this car.
any pro tips would be great.. and when suggesting parts please try and provide a link to the part, explain what it does, and install tips
ps: if you live on the gulf coast near mobile, al.; pensacola, fl.; or biloxi, mississippi, or just want to give me some pro tips outside the forums, contact me at skoobasteve1015@aim.com
I'm hoping all these problems have solutions that are affordable and not terribly complicated. this is the first car i'll "really" be working on. i know basic maintenance and such but i want to learn and know what i'm doing with this car.
any pro tips would be great.. and when suggesting parts please try and provide a link to the part, explain what it does, and install tips
ps: if you live on the gulf coast near mobile, al.; pensacola, fl.; or biloxi, mississippi, or just want to give me some pro tips outside the forums, contact me at skoobasteve1015@aim.com
08-11-10, 07:53 PM
#2
Best tip I can give you is to read the 3rd gen FAQ as there are lots of good archived threads on all sorts of topics from maintenance to mods and upgrades.
The clutch issue is probably the hydraulic clutch line and/or associated master/slave cylinders.
The vac leak, bogging and bad idle can probably all be traced to leaks and repairs needed to the vacuum system. There are lots of vac hoses and while it will be tricky for a new guy to diagnose, there are a lot of good threads in the FAQ that you can learn from.
Update your profile with a location. People are used to seeing it there and will miss it while skimming your post.
If you get the car for a decent price, it can be a fun project. Be forewarned though that working on a 3rd gen RX7's cramped engine bay usually requires removing a lot of stuff to get to the part you need to get to. Patience and a slow steady approach are assets.
The clutch issue is probably the hydraulic clutch line and/or associated master/slave cylinders.
The vac leak, bogging and bad idle can probably all be traced to leaks and repairs needed to the vacuum system. There are lots of vac hoses and while it will be tricky for a new guy to diagnose, there are a lot of good threads in the FAQ that you can learn from.
Update your profile with a location. People are used to seeing it there and will miss it while skimming your post.
If you get the car for a decent price, it can be a fun project. Be forewarned though that working on a 3rd gen RX7's cramped engine bay usually requires removing a lot of stuff to get to the part you need to get to. Patience and a slow steady approach are assets.
08-11-10, 08:17 PM
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ok.. one question, i've read some horror stories now of the engines breaking down at less than 60k miles. Is this bad when left (mostly) stock
my arrangement with the place i'm buying it is $9.3k with all problems i find fixed and the car repainted and a tune up.
it will be used as an everyday driver for the better part of a year, and it won't be raced "yet". my old car was totaled and i just dont' want to buy a car that will break down alot while its not under strain.
my arrangement with the place i'm buying it is $9.3k with all problems i find fixed and the car repainted and a tune up.
it will be used as an everyday driver for the better part of a year, and it won't be raced "yet". my old car was totaled and i just dont' want to buy a car that will break down alot while its not under strain.
08-12-10, 12:55 AM
#4
It depends...
A stock engine can last a long time in the right hands - ie someone who knows what they are doing and maintains the car properly. In the hands of someone who isn't knowledgeable about the dos and don't then its a crapshoot.
If the car starts and drives, do a compression test and check out the other items in the Buyer's Guides in the 3rd gen FAQ. That will tell you the health of the motor.
all that being said, the FD is a very complicated car. parts are scarce and when something breaks you will be waiting a while to order the part and fix the car. A 17 year old car will break things. An unknown condition car that has been sitting in a barn for 10 years is a project car - not something to be relied on for daily driving. Mine is very reliable but I've owned it for years. The first year or two, the car was down a few times to fix oddball things that popped up.
$9.3k seems a bit pricey for a car with those issues when you can buy working cars for a bit more than that. This weak economy means there are a decent amount of cars for sale at prices lower than what you would expect.
Spend some time looking at the Classifieds to get an idea of pricing. Don't be afraid to travel a bit for a car. I bought mine from Indiana when I lived in NY.
https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generation-rx-7-1993-2002-vehicles-107/
A stock engine can last a long time in the right hands - ie someone who knows what they are doing and maintains the car properly. In the hands of someone who isn't knowledgeable about the dos and don't then its a crapshoot.
If the car starts and drives, do a compression test and check out the other items in the Buyer's Guides in the 3rd gen FAQ. That will tell you the health of the motor.
all that being said, the FD is a very complicated car. parts are scarce and when something breaks you will be waiting a while to order the part and fix the car. A 17 year old car will break things. An unknown condition car that has been sitting in a barn for 10 years is a project car - not something to be relied on for daily driving. Mine is very reliable but I've owned it for years. The first year or two, the car was down a few times to fix oddball things that popped up.
$9.3k seems a bit pricey for a car with those issues when you can buy working cars for a bit more than that. This weak economy means there are a decent amount of cars for sale at prices lower than what you would expect.
Spend some time looking at the Classifieds to get an idea of pricing. Don't be afraid to travel a bit for a car. I bought mine from Indiana when I lived in NY.
https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generation-rx-7-1993-2002-vehicles-107/
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