Ok, all I get to hear about are how much of a love/hate relationship that DSM owners and purists have with their cars...

and the same question comes up... "why didn't you just buy a different car?"

Because it's evident that the person is devoted to sinking money into a car that's wicked quick, but breaks down all the time.


Hence... we go into the RX7 saga.


After driving around for 5 weeks now, on a clutch/pp with 100K miles on them... the PP has gone AGAIN.


The first time that all this stuff went pop, the clutch was in 347 pieces, and the engine damn near blew up. 11K revs aren't good for it, apparently.


So, now after driving this car, and I admit I've been driving it hard, but not any harder than anyone else would.... and most of the time I wouldn't even get on it, because there's so many cops around Downtown... the car WILL NOT go into gear. I am sooooo at my wit's end with this car. I didn't realize that owning a car like this would be so much of a drain on not only my wallet, but my patience, my now-ended relationship, and a list of other things.


I had someone SERIOUSLY offer me 10grand for it, AS IS. It crossed my mind way more than once.


But.... as much as this car pisses me off, it's SOO much fun to drive when it runs right.

Now I think I know how the DSM guys feel.




And to all of you who are gonna say "buy a nissan/honda/domestic/different car," save it. I'm just venting.

 

Also... when I go to AutoZone/Advanced/Napa, and ask for certain parts... they always say "go to the dealer."


So I go to Sam Leman Mazda, and to the parts counter, with a list, and part numbers for everything I needed... cash in hand.


Here's what the jackass behind the counter says to me, "Umm... our computer says that all of these parts are from a 1976 Cosmo, 1979 RX7, 1982 RX7, and other miscellaneous 1979-1985 RX7 parts."
I said, "yeah, it's a 79 RX7 with a 76 Cosmo engine, and an 82 RX7 Tranny and rearend"
he said, "We can't get any parts for cars older than 1987." Then he proceeded to crumble up my list and throw it in the trash.

I took his business card, and lit it on fire, and put it on the counter.


I hate this ****ing town and the absolute lack of parts for a SIMPLE car.

 

For $10K I would have been walking home.

 

I'd be walking home for less than a tenth of that!

 

I know what your talking about.Believe me its much worse over here in South Africa than you could ever imagine.

Let me give an example.A engine rebuilt (all seals) will cost more than $3500.Just a normal rebuilt,no new housings.

Over the counter parts are just a joke.Maybe a fuel,oil,and airfilter...thats it.

Who builds your clutches ?
Maybe you should consider someone else ?

I recentley installed stronger 8.8 high tensile steel clutch bolts,they make a big difference,to keep the pp from comming of the flywheel.

100k ?Thats actually alot..i have never gotten more than 30k

Think about it carefully,money isnt everything.

Karis

 

WTF does DSM stand for ? ... its been bugging me for ages ... its not a term we use in the UK

 

dsm=daimond star motors aka mitsubishi

 

I believe it has something to do with the name of or the location of where those Mitsubishis are built in the US. Not exactly sure thought. It is used for Mitsubishis Eclipse, Eagle Talon, and Plymouth Laser, Possible even the Mitsubishis Gallant. Not exactly sure though.

 

Man it seems strange and sad that you are having soooo much trouble with a wonderful car. I am on my second RX7, and I also have a 1996 Pontiac Grand AM GT. I have spent three times the amount of money on my Grand AM then my both my FBs combined.

As far as getting parts are concerned the Dealership is completly out to lunch. I have purchased many parts (power side miror, washer fluid tank, complete set of door, hatch, and sun roof seals) right from the dealership in my town. The problem you are probably running into is that parts guy is LAZY because the parts catalogs for cars as old as ours are on micro fiche and it takes a few minutes to actually look $hit up. Don't let some bad luck and jack *** people get you down on a wonderful car.

Best regards

Anthrax

 

I know exactly what that feels like.......

 

Yor dealer needs to be slapped. The dealer here in Saskatoon is all too happy to take my money and order old-*** parts for my '79.

 

How about giving the parts counter geek's boss a ring?

 

Because most parts counter geeks are just that, parts counter geeks. They can't find a better job, and they hate the job they have, because they dont REALLY get to work ON cars, they get to order the parts for them. And when little bastards like me come in and ask for a single rubber bushing for a clutch cable on a 96 plymouth neon, they get mad, because they don't sell JUST the bushing. Then I get mad. Then I go and break my clutch cause it's under warranty, and make the parts bastards order the WHOLE clutch cable assembly....about 5 times.

Now, Dealership mechanics are a whole 'nother story. I hate those bastards too( but sometimes they're OK guys who are really into cars, and don't mind helping a fellow car-person out).

 

hey, easy, if theres number pointing at your bushing they dont sell it ok. get mad at the people who made the parts diagram. i dunno if you've ever worked at a dealership but the 2 that i've worked at we got treated like crap, have shitty facilities, bad hours, low pay.
most parts people dont care if they order a bushing or a cable they dont get paid either way.

thanks for ruining my morning *******.

chief: i think its the town you live in, kurgan has the same problems


mike

 

DSM is Diamond Star Motors which was a joint venture between Mitsu and Chrysler, as already mentioned.

But they aren't just Mitsubishis. The Eagle Talon, and Plymouth Laser would be considered DSMs as well. They were all built in the Diamond Star plant in Normal, IL. The Galant VR-4 is a very close cousin to these cars in sharing the drivetrain, but was imported thus not technically being a DSM.

By the way, howdy Chef.

 

You shouldn't be thinking that the world is singling you out. I thinks it's safe to say that most owners of 20 year old cars go through the same sh*t. Cars breaks down a lot, parts hard to come by.... I'll stop there because you're just venting

 

Hiya Hopelessly, Forcus... good to see y'all came over to the dark side.



So I call all my friends that I know have cherry pickers and engine hoists... none of them are home, or none of them are going to be home.


So I call the dealer,ewwwww...., and tell them that I HAVE a pressure plate, and I just need it put on. I also need it done BEFORE 3pm. "Oh, no problem. Our Mazda Specialist is at lunch right now, he doesn't have anything else to do today, so your car will get worked on as soon as he gets back"

This was at 11:30am. It is now 1pm, and I have heard nothing.


If he can get it done and done right, in that time, fine, I'll suck it up and pay for it.... but I WILL NOT wait till tommorow for my car to be done.

 

 

Chef,

I have a hoist you can use. But Pontiac is about 40 miles away on 116.

I could possibly transport/help too but don't you work... 2 up.

 

Well not to go OT but... lol..

This info is correct and now Diamond Star Motors is now called Mitsubishi Motors of America.

And the Dodge Stratus and other related Dodge cars are built on the Galant platform and are built there as well.

 

I would say that the rx7 per se is not the problem, nor is your driving. Maybe some bad parts. I'm on my third rx7 and have had no problems withthe first two, just picked up number three. I have been initiated in the ways of parts counter clerks. I have been rebuilding International Scouts for 8 years now. I have heard all kinds of questions like, "International, who makes that?" I say, "International Harvester". They say, "So that's a Ford, right?" "No, it's an International Harvester." Or, "We don't sell parts for big rigs." "Is that a motorcycle?" It is usually the guys over 50 or 60 years old who take over and know what I am talking about. I have also run into parts counter guys who don't now what a rotary is. I have learned to takew it in stride and educate these folks on rotaries, or International Scouts, etc.

 

Nothing like resurrecting a 5 year old thread Dave

 

The funny part is... Chef's last post is from July... shopping parts...

Five years later, still at it. Excellent.

 

I was going to say..... Long time since we've heard from Chef. lol.

What's up Dave, trolling the dusty section for kicks?

 

seriously, this thread is from when I graduated highschool, I am just finishing college, lol. How did you fins this thread anyway?