I just got my RX-7 convertable from Florida yesterday. I'm very excited but I know I have a fair amount of work ahead of me. I am in the process of cleaning it. I got some great advice on products in another post but the only cnvertable top cleaner I've found was Blue Magic and I haven't tried it yet.

So far I've found that the side speakers, power windows and aftermarket fog lamps do not work. I have looked at the fuses and haven't found any that look bad. But then again I don't know what a bad car fuse looks like. I'm the super beast god of newbies. I know that I will need to replace the power windows switchs because the buttons and plate are cracked, what is the cheapest way to do that?

Thanks
Max

'88 RX-7 convertable
White w/ Blue leather
owned for 2 days
bought on ebay
basically a wedding present to myself

 

hey we got the same car now, same white/ blue

just to say congrat
and good luck with the car

for most cracked parts i think u can find it on the parts for sale forum. should be the same with the coupes

 

Congrats to another Va. Vert owner.

Mine's a 1990 and red.

I had to replace my driver's side window switch recently. Mine came from an '89 GXL Coupe. When the driver's side switch goes bad it causes the passenger side not to work also.

ck

 

"fuses dont look bad", eh they could be corroded and you may not even be able to tell it....go to your local Radio Shack, get a multimeter that will test Continuity....this will basically tell you if there's any connection....while there, get a can of "tv tuner cleaner" aka contact cleaner, and spray inside of the fuse slots.

 

The OEM side speakers have a life of about 8 years, before they start breaking up. They probably are blown/worn out/dissolving.

Power windows are probably a bad fuse, or switch or switch unplugged. When you pull the door panel (for replacing the speakers) check the plug then

 

Congrats on the new car/wife. Sounds like the old wheels/**** anecdote.

Mine's an 88 and black.

Had the same problem with the driving lights. Tried everything except a complete rewire. Never could fix it.

Side speakers are usually POS if factory. Just replace them and run new wiring. The door panels are easy to remove with a phillips screw gun or reversible drill with a phillips bit. Make sure your plastic is completely sealed or water will run in there.

My, passenger window just conked out a couple of weeks ago. Switches tested out so I'm thinking its the motor. Too cold now to mess with it, tho.

Be careful about running the top up/down in the cold. They get cracked that way.

Have fun!

 

Pretty rare to have a motor fail. More likely the driver switch lock out switch has failed.

 

"croffeyc" , congrads to you aswell. I'm soo excited for my RX7. I'm not very knowledgeable about cars so I've been trying to read as much on RX7's as I can from this group. What parts of virginia are you in? I'm in Fairfax.

"Sub9lulu", I think out cars might be twins. I bought my car from a guy in florida.

Anybody know where I should look for the cheapest prices for those power window switches?

Thanks
Max

 

I'm in Arlington.

You may be able to take apart the window switch and clean the contacts. There is a thread on this message board that I saw when I was diagnosing my problem.

I would try to find a used switch before trying the dealer. I can't imagine what a new switch would cost from the dealer.

 

i also have to say congrats i have a 88 blue with blackhavnt had this one too long only bout 3 weeks my first lasted me about a year and a half before some *** hole rearended me on the highway hope you enjow your rx7

 

DUDE, I have been rear-ended so many times I should probably use a dounut for my @$$. My other car is a 2000 Nissan Sentra GXE. After 2 rear-endings and an engine problem that Nissan ended up replacing the crankshaft, flywheel and short block...That car is practically new.

 

Driverside window switch from Malloy's Mazda in woodbridge runs about $140 and the passanger side is about $43. I am desperate for a MUCH cheaper replacement...maybe I can fing the wiring diagram and build it myself.

Max

 

Congrats on the new 7. I too just purchased an 88 vert and i have some problems also. My windshield wipers somtimes work and sometimes they dont, and at the same time the heater blower is not working also. Mine is Black/Black and Grey. Her name is Kimberly. Sorry that my Lisa ( RED 90 GXL) just blew her rear rotor seals. She will rest for a while till I have time to rebiuld her.

 

on your wind sheild you proably have just dirty contacts in the switch and your heater blower you should check your relays there located on the passenger side by the blower housing i had to replace those relays before try that.
hope this was some help

 

just seems funny, they both do not work at the same exact time

 

congrads on your vert. I too have an 88 vert blk/blk.
i luv my vert.and glad to hear the same of you other vert owners....happy rotoring ....blap blap

 

Since everyone seems to be a vert owner, does anyone know a good way to patch/repair some rips in the top? Or if anyone has had it done by a pro, about what does that run?

Thanks
Max

 

yeah I am located in Laurel, MD and I have had my top replaced by this guy over next to Andrews AFB. He did the install in about 1 hour. And their is not many top cleaners that will do much for you. Also remember that the top is not really black more of a charcoal. And no you can't patch the top. 500 installed for a new one with a 3 year warranty

 

as covered before... :

The voltage and ground for both windows goes through the drivers power window switch.

So if the fuse is good, chances are the problem is in the drivers switch.

Should be simple to test and see if there is power (when the key is on) and ground (all the time) at the switch, once the door panel is off and you can access the wires.

If there is power and ground, but no window operation, then you need to check and see if there is voltage coming out of the drivers switch when the switch is activated.

If there is not voltage and ground going into the switch (but again the fuse is still good), then I would be in the drivers kick panel making sure that both the drivers door harnesses are plugged in.

 

Sorry to revive a dead threat but I figured that this was better than posting a new thread asking questions along the same lines.

Okay, so I got the lights working all over the car except the dome light inside the car. But here is my newest weird thing. When I'm driving with the head lights on sometimes my gauge cluster flickers. It really only goes dimmer and then back to normal. It does not seem to get brighter or anything.

Does anyone know what this problem might be related to?

here is what also doesn't work (just in case it matters)
Speedometer (goes up and down sometimes but is not accurate)
Power Windows (need to do more tests but I think its just the switch thats busted)
Interior dome light ???
Didn't pass emissions.

Thanks in advance
Max

 

Probably the light switch failing. You want to see if the back of the switch is burnt.

Quote:

here is what also doesn't work (just in case it matters)
Speedometer (goes up and down sometimes but is not accurate)

Speedo cable is failing or loose

Quote:

Power Windows (need to do more tests but I think its just the switch thats busted)

Probably the drivers switch lock out switch.

Quote:

Interior dome light ???

did you check the fuse and bulb?

 

Thanks Mark. I have to jack up the RX next weekend so I'll do the speeometer cable replacement then too. As far as the interior bulb, I did replace all the fuses when I got the car. I did replace the bulb. I think mybe the 3 way switch might be bad...it is really loose.

-Max

 

As for the dome light- one of the "u" shaped contacts that clamp the bulb in place may have come unsoldered from the back plate. At least that's what happened to me. Of course, if the switch is loose...