Bambam7

Just browsing through, looking for Mercedes reviews, and fouind this in the consumer guide report for the 1990 rx-7.
These are the listed "trouble spots" and they are, um, really technical. LOL

Trouble Spots

Manual transmission: Turbo-equipped models have a flat spot in acceleration between 3500-4000 rpm because the hole for the wastegate vacuum is too small and must be enlarged. (1990-91)

Oil leak: An oil leak near the transmission-shift lever causes an oil smell inside the car. (1990-91)

Rough idle: The idle won't stabilize (varies up and down) unless an orifice is installed in the idle-air bypass valve. (1990)


Hole for wastegate vacuum? I've never heard of this before. If anything it would cause overboost, maybe hitting fuel cut..
Strange about the boucing idle too- that mean's vacuum leak!!

Icemark

Sounds like a clueless owner review, rather than a consumer report.

I am sure the oil leak mentioned is a ripped shifter inner boot.

The other things are pretty common issues as well, but generally not related to what they are saying they think the problem is.

Wankel7

On my 91 TII I found a orfice restrictor in the wastegate line.

James

Bambam7

That's standard, it's supposed to be there to buffer the signal to the sensor.

Ya know, that sounds typical of some of the sh*t that you hear from mechanics at Mazda dealerships, that just don't know **** about the cars. It really bugs me actually.

Wankel7

I was talking about the wastegate line. Not the boost sensor line.

JAmes

Bambam7

whup, ya- sorry.
Even funnier!

stroker

NOT ALL mazda dealers have technicians who do not know about rx-7s. I work for a mazda dealer myself, we have a rotory guru, whim im learning from. He helped me with my rebuild and is very knowledgeable. Whereas when i went for rx-8 training, i met some guys who were pretty oblivious to the simple operation of a rotory. What im getting at is that if you dont own one, you will not know obscure **** like vacuum lines on a wastegate for some car built in the 80's, 10 years before i worked here. Be reasoneable. To say that it bothers you some mazda technicians dont know the in and outs of rotories, give your head a shake, you clearly are unaware of how the industry works. Tell me the quirks of a 2003 mazda tribute......oh you dont know, obviously cause why would you care, you dont own one. Not trying to be a dick, just opening your eyes to a different perspective.

Wankel7

Be neat to see a crash report .

James

Scott 89t2

which one in BC?

casio

i know two master techs at mazda, both build rotary racecars. i took what he said as a generalization. normally people take their car to a dealership to expect the best work and warranty of that work, but with rx-7s out of the picture, that's usually not the case. i doubt bambam was literal. he did say "typical."

MaxJenius211

Good point. I do agree that some people go and hate-erize Mazda techs worse than Honda drivers without just cause. But here's the thing, If you were a Rotary guru and have an wealth of knowledge about cars and have a passion for performance...Why would you want to work for a Mazda Dealership. I won't take my RX to one simply because I know that these people are working at specialty shops and fortunately I have a few near me. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying Mazda doesn't have good techs. I'm not saying Mazda tech don't know rotaries. I'm just picky about who works on my car.

-Max

Icemark

I'd say your situation where there is someone at the dealer in the techs/mechanics, that actually knows something about the rotary and RX-7 is much more the exception than the rule.

I would hazard a guess that of all the Mazda dealers in north america less than 25% have a mechanic that is competent to work on a RX-7.

Hell, Under warrenty I have had Mazda dealer mechanics say I needed a new battery when the back up switch on the tranny was bad.

My car only goes to the dealer when I drive there to buy parts.

Bambam7

Ya, just re-read my post about Mazda techs- it did sound like I was generalizing 100% of mechanics- sorry, not the case.
The funny thing is, the only guys I know and would trust my car too are mechanics that USED to work at Mazda dealerships, but don't anymore.

There are definatly some nuances and quirks about these cars, but hell, if you are a "certified Mazda mechanic" you are expected to know a few things about the car... Rotaries aren't a big mystery, and the same old mechanical princples apply here too... I've heard the stupidest diagnoses of problems that just make me shake my head. They usually end in an engine replacement, regardless of whether it's needed or not.

Dougster

Yes, we shouldn't sterotype "ALL" Mazda techs...But I agree, I would never take my car to a dealer...ever...Too many bad experences, not just with them not knowing things, but charging for things that aren't needed and MUCH more!

And of course, NEVER buy a used car at a dealer!

JKM

Well... they can't ALL be bad. I mean, the poor sap who originally owned my 7 had a new engine put in it and paid the dealership 5000 smackers. It was probably something that could have been fixed without such extreme measures, but hey I now have an engine with only about 30,000 miles

Gotenks

I have that oil smell in my car, and my shifter boot is loose.

So, If I get a new shifter boot, that smell will go away? Or is there really a oil leak?

Kai

I don't work at a Mazda dealer, either. Why would I care, I'm not paid to fix '03 Tributes.

I just expect someone who is paid to work on an RX-7 to how to fix it. Sounds reasonable enough to me.

MaxJenius211

Acham’s Razor as applied to the RX-7.

- Max

neptuneRX

Man I till you, I drove a Tribute back in August, and that's replacing my honda this coming may. I'm gonna be pure mazda.

Kai

huh?

Bambam7

Probably meant Occam's Razor- Use the simplist, shortest theory possible to explains any given concept.
Still don't understand what he meant though! lol

Icemark

Well... not quite pure... the Tribute is more Ford than Mazda...

And any mechanic can work on a Ford... its the rotary and the quirks of the RX series of cars that baffles them