overheated 1982 RX7 in SoCal -- need helpers asap!
06-20-09, 01:20 PM
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overheated 1982 RX7 in SoCal -- need helpers asap!
Hi all!
Been awhile since I posted pics of the one that almost got away. My son decided to keep it & daily drive it. The lad has been experiencing some overheating recently & today the engine stopped. At least it was on a freeway off-ramp. It's safe at a gas station, but will have to be towed home later. He wants/needs to keep it running & I'm looking for wisdom in Escondido, Vista, Oceanside, San Diego area. Prolly has all-original parts under the hood, and about 80-90K original miles. Garaged & not driven for years.
Thanks in advance!
Been awhile since I posted pics of the one that almost got away. My son decided to keep it & daily drive it. The lad has been experiencing some overheating recently & today the engine stopped. At least it was on a freeway off-ramp. It's safe at a gas station, but will have to be towed home later. He wants/needs to keep it running & I'm looking for wisdom in Escondido, Vista, Oceanside, San Diego area. Prolly has all-original parts under the hood, and about 80-90K original miles. Garaged & not driven for years.
Thanks in advance!
06-21-09, 08:25 AM
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Hoping for some names - who do you recommend?
I'm not looking for a diagnosis; that's a lot to ask when you can't see the car. Who do you guys know & recommend in my area that works on these guys a lot? Could be a shop, or could be somebody who is just on his 8th rebuild for his own use. I don't trust the dealerships for something this old.
(After sitting several hours, the lad started it up & drove it home. Go figure. But it's a calamity in progress.)
Thanks in advance!
(After sitting several hours, the lad started it up & drove it home. Go figure. But it's a calamity in progress.)
Thanks in advance!
06-21-09, 04:58 PM
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If you overheat a rotary engine there's a good chance of complete failure. the rotor housings are made of aluminum and warp easy. there not too easy to come by these days either. That's a good sign that he got it started again. I'd say stop driving it till he gets the overheating problem fixed. The two worse things you can do is overheat it or run out of oil. What are the conditions where its overheating?
Does it over heat at idle. or during high speed driving. is it leaking coolant? chances are it needs a radiator if its been sitting for years.
Thats a clean FB BTW
Does it over heat at idle. or during high speed driving. is it leaking coolant? chances are it needs a radiator if its been sitting for years.
Thats a clean FB BTW
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06-21-09, 05:48 PM
#9
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If you need a radiator i have a 3 row aluminum radiator that is made for the FB Rx7.It sounds
like it might be an engine problem but this us just a suggestion for better cooling.I had this radiator custom made for the 79-85 mazda Rx7 to fit on the stock location.
Give me a PM if you need it.
like it might be an engine problem but this us just a suggestion for better cooling.I had this radiator custom made for the 79-85 mazda Rx7 to fit on the stock location.
Give me a PM if you need it.
06-22-09, 01:56 AM
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Last edited by Handful; 06-22-09 at 01:58 AM.
06-22-09, 02:29 AM
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If you're looking for a place to rebuild the engine, we'll need to know where you're located.
Who knows, it could be something simple though. Check your coolant... is it black and rusty?
Who knows, it could be something simple though. Check your coolant... is it black and rusty?
06-23-09, 12:44 AM
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Get the car on the driveway and just have it sit and idle for a while. See if it starts to over heat then. If it does then chances are you thermostat is broken. if it doesn't then drive it around for a bit. If it over heats then, check the water pump. Simple diagnois man. Once the car gets up to operating temp just pull the radiator cap off of it and check for coolant flowing. got no flow then the water pump isn't moving the water. That'll cause your overheating problem. Lastly check your raditor for cold spots when the car is up to temp. If the radiator doesn't have a solid temp across the face then you have some plugged veins it and will need to be rodded out or replaced. In that case give Rene at RMS a call and get one of those Aluminum jobs he's selling and call it a day!!!!
Good luck with the car. They're not that difficult to figure out.
Good luck with the car. They're not that difficult to figure out.
06-23-09, 01:33 AM
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Don't pull the cap off the radiator if its already warmed up. you will burn yourself, and loose tons of coolent. it could also be a fan clutch if it overheats at idle. to check fan warm car up to op temp. turn it off and spin the fan if it turns freely more than one turn it needs to be replaced. thermostat is just a good idea to replace anyway should be done yearly. its at the top real easy to replace takes about 5 min. the radiator test is right just feel for equal warmth. to check the water pump look for leaking out the weap hole (just behind the pully) and try and jiggle the pully itself to see if the bearings are bad. all of these repairs can be easaly done by yourself. water pump would be a bit of a pain for a non mech inclined person. Everything else you could probably do. My mom could.
06-23-09, 02:14 AM
#18
you should open up your own shop! you are so smart. like a fountain of knowledge.
who would have thought that taking off your radiator cap while the car is HOT and running would be a great way to look into your radiator.
damn....
daaaammmnn..
cant believe none of you other dumb **** rotards mentioned that to this lady who is in need of help for her son....
06-23-09, 02:17 AM
#19
i live in this area "sashas mom" the one shop that was big down here burnt down...
you are better driving up to LA and finding an actual shop with a license and their work behind it.
http://www.lucky7racing.net/
great shop, although there are a lot of punk *** mexican kids everywhere, dont be frightened, they are all sissy's and or gay.
you are better driving up to LA and finding an actual shop with a license and their work behind it.
http://www.lucky7racing.net/
great shop, although there are a lot of punk *** mexican kids everywhere, dont be frightened, they are all sissy's and or gay.
06-23-09, 07:51 AM
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You guys are great! I will hunt down Teddyrx2 for the names of a few shops. Let me know if anything else occurs to you.
Jones, you are hilarious. Made me smile!
The lad will crawl under the hood this weekend.
Muah!
Jones, you are hilarious. Made me smile!
The lad will crawl under the hood this weekend.
Muah!
06-23-09, 12:11 PM
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Pertano had some great ideas. But like him, I forgot about the whole hot radiator thing 
So do everything he said, except take the radiator cap off while the car is cool and off. THEN start the car, and if after the car starts warming up, check to see if the coolant is moving. If not, thats your water pump or thermostat.
So do everything he said, except take the radiator cap off while the car is cool and off. THEN start the car, and if after the car starts warming up, check to see if the coolant is moving. If not, thats your water pump or thermostat.
06-23-09, 03:46 PM
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Wow you guys have never removed a radiator cap when the car is running?? It only takes a towel and that's about it. But I guess it's the most difficult thing ever. I guess a retard would burn themself if the didn't think about it, but... Maybe that would explain it. Right Jonesy......
Anyway like I said before. Good luck with the car. I was only trying to help you save some money on diagnoisis, and no. I wasn't trying to send you or your son to the hospital.
Oh and another easy thermostat check is to just remove the damn thing and stick it in a pot and boil the water. You'll see the spring retract and the thermostat open. Again not a difficult operation. But sure. you can probably burn yourself with this one too..... So maybe not safe for the boy either.
Anyway like I said before. Good luck with the car. I was only trying to help you save some money on diagnoisis, and no. I wasn't trying to send you or your son to the hospital.
Oh and another easy thermostat check is to just remove the damn thing and stick it in a pot and boil the water. You'll see the spring retract and the thermostat open. Again not a difficult operation. But sure. you can probably burn yourself with this one too..... So maybe not safe for the boy either.
06-26-09, 02:21 PM
#25
Wow you guys have never removed a radiator cap when the car is running?? It only takes a towel and that's about it. But I guess it's the most difficult thing ever. I guess a retard would burn themself if the didn't think about it, but... Maybe that would explain it. Right Jonesy......
Anyway like I said before. Good luck with the car. I was only trying to help you save some money on diagnoisis, and no. I wasn't trying to send you or your son to the hospital.
Oh and another easy thermostat check is to just remove the damn thing and stick it in a pot and boil the water. You'll see the spring retract and the thermostat open. Again not a difficult operation. But sure. you can probably burn yourself with this one too..... So maybe not safe for the boy either.
Anyway like I said before. Good luck with the car. I was only trying to help you save some money on diagnoisis, and no. I wasn't trying to send you or your son to the hospital.
Oh and another easy thermostat check is to just remove the damn thing and stick it in a pot and boil the water. You'll see the spring retract and the thermostat open. Again not a difficult operation. But sure. you can probably burn yourself with this one too..... So maybe not safe for the boy either.