OverDriven

Hey guys...a fellow rx7club member is selling me his TII. It has a few problems, and I want the advice of people more knowledgable about cars than me. Heres a list of what comes with the car first:

1989 S5 Black Leather Interior
new rebuilt mazda 13BT installed...less than 3k on motor
used jspec tranny with 40k miles installed..works perfect
new apexi n1 exhaust
new brake pads, resurfaced rotors
new khumo tires in front and rear (ecsta supra Vrated)
new engine flush, oil change, coolant flush, tranny oil, differential oil
new spark plugs
new bushing kit (not all installed yet)
bypassed the ABS
centerforce dual friction clutch with plenty of life
ready to be painted (car is currently primered)
very nice condition
have all receipts plus extra tranny and tons of parts, gasket sets (new), s5 fcd, etc

OK now the problems that he emailed me about:

1. High Idle (due to a small air leak in the turbo inlet
duct-as I just found out yesterday)
2. Power Steering leak, slow but the ring or gasket will
need to be replaced
3. Exhaust Leak, very easy to fix, only because I didn't
bolt the catalytic converter to the catback exhaust tight
enough
4. See photos for interior wear and a few missing/broken
pieces

Then in one more email:

few more things i thought of as well. as of two days ago
the fuel gauge stopped working, and the oil pressure gauge
is also not working...i think it has something to do with
the connection behind the guage cluster, but i haven't had
time to check it out. the engine does not have trouble
starting...somtimes after idling for a long time (like 40
min) it has a weird idle but i think that is part of the
idle problem with the air leak.

Also the engine was rebuilt by Mazda and installed at a nissan dealership.

OK he's offering the car to me at $4000. Do these problems seem easy to fix? I guess the main thing I'm worried about is the high idle, the leak in the turbo inlet duct, and the wierd idle after 40 minutes. Also, do you think the guage problem is just a simple connector? Should I buy the car? Thanks for any and all advice!

-Joe

pip

$4000 is $500-$750 to much for a car thats going to need to be repainted imo

OverDriven

Ya think so even with a new engine and fairly new transmission?

-Joe

OverDriven

Anyone???

-Joe

RETed

I doubt this is the case.
Vacuum leaks cause a drop in idle or a pulsing idle.
Rarely on a Kouki turbo it'll cause a rise in idle.

Watch it - you might need to replace the entire power steering pump.

The guy removed the exhaust???
Be careful with statements like this, as it could be a broken, rusted, or
warped flange.

Unless they have been messing with the instrument cluster, I doubt this is the case.

Worse case, this could be a sign of a failing engine.

Possible.

ODd, but possible.

Some of the things the owner has told is suspect.  I'd be very careful about purchasing this vehicle unless you get everything cleared away - the starting problem is a bad one, and a replacement power steering pump is like $900 brand new from Mazda!

Start the price at $2,000 and haggle him down.  Unless you can verify the condition of the engine (i.e. compression test), be very wary of buying this thing.


-Ted

OverDriven

Hey Reted...thanks so much for the info bro. I think you mis-read about the engine. He said it does NOT have a problem starting. I had asked him in an earlier email if it had any starting problems. The engine only has 3K miles on it and is in perfect running condition according to him. So whatta ya think about that?

-Joe

RETed

Oops, sorry about that - I'm still not fully awake.

It is still a good idea to do a compression test on ANY potential rotary engine vehicle.  The compression test will give you a better indication of the engine condition - better than nothing.


-Ted

OverDriven

Cool thanks man. I think I read that a compression tester is only around $30? You know the best place to get one? Also what PSI should I be looking for?

-Joe

rx-7s rock

I would not touch that car for 4 grand.
It needs:
Paint $1000-however much you are willing to spend
possible power steering pump
New exhaust
Find a vacuum leak
new gauge cluster/wiring

I think the bad might outweigh the good in this case.

fcfdfan

ReTed's the Yoda here, but I thought I'd chime in anyway.

#1, #3, and #4 are not real concern issues if you are RX7 enthusiast. You can expect to deal with these kinds of problems sooner or later. This also applies to the weird 40 minute idle issue. These are all fixable. They are also not negotiation points to knock the price down in my opinion. You might as well be true to your intent and desire for such a vehicle.

#3 could be the expensive proposition noted above. I think I paid $1500 for a new ps pump + r&r at a dealer in 1998. That is a definite negotiation point, in my opinion!

Fuel and oil gauges not working is probably not the connectors as much as it is the cluster itself. If it's the connectors then I would be worrying about wiring issues throughout the car. However it could be the cluster and the replacement cost for a new one is a negotiation point in the sale.

I would ask the guy to explain how a Mazda rebuilt engine got installed at a Nissan dealership. Does he have a receipt that indicates the 30K mile factory reman engine warranty?

If yes, okay. If not, I see a red light flashing.

Good luck.

RETed

http://fc3spro.com/TECH/FAQ/compress.html


-Ted

OverDriven

I appreciate all the advice guys. Yeah the paint is a huge issue with me as it will cost me about $1300 to paint it (thats what I was quoted at a good paint shop). Oh I forgot to mention that the air conditioner is frozen up. Heres what he said:

"i took the AC piping off because the compressor
was locked up...you can definitely get the pipes and
compressor and reinstall it."

Heh thats pretty damn expensive right? Not to mention that the ABS have been bypassed because of a leak from what I understand. Ok so how much is this car worth. Keep in mind the new engine/transmission.

-Joe

RETed

I wouldn't pay over $2,000 for it.

Dead AC and rigged ABS is bad.


-Ted

beefhole

iTrader: (29)

Why would anyone want the engine idling for 40 minutes?

OverDriven

Lol...no idea. BTW how much would an A/C unit cost?

-Joe

theman4444

I think he means that it's been running and been driving it for 40 min. But i still wouldn't pay 4000 on a car with that many problems with a new engine. I'll go with fcfdfan on this one about the reciepts. You might want to turn in a carfax on the engine vin.

RETed

A new AC compressor is over a grand!
That doesn't even include the labor charges to install and recharge the refridgerant.


-Ted

pip

Ill sell you my compressor for $60 =D

rowtareh?

iTrader: (1)

I agree with everyone. I would offer him 2 grand. All the things mentioned would not be worth chaning out, and having someone do for you.

This is the only TII you have ran across on this forum. I have seen some for 1650, and it did not have as many problems as the one you are mentioning.

Check out www.nopistons.com for sale section. You may find something in there. And paint job for 1300 dollars? That is not a very bad deal. Mine will be free!! Minus the cost of paint. Bwaha!!

OverDriven

Bastard! Where might I score a similar deal? This paint shop is very good though...the cars that come out of there look like glass when they're done.

I really appreciate everyone's input here. Its been a huge help and I'm really glad I asked.

-Joe

JackoliciousLegs

ok, time to defend my friend who's selling the car. He's a really good guy and was there the day the car first started running. The engine is indeed a new engine and this he's put more than 6k into the car. 4k for a car with a new engine is plenty fine imo. In fact, I think after all he's put into it, I think it's a good deal. It's a new TII w/o paint with some minor issues. The end. New engine/tranny, ready to be sprayed, i think 4000 is up the right alley.

OverDriven

My main problem is the ABS. I called my insurance company (Geico) to ask them about it. They said that if I were involved in a wreck and it was found that the ABS was bypassed, they would not cover me. Its standard safety equipment and according to them is illegal to bypass. The rest isn't a huge concern of mine. But that ABS unit's price is a killer. I'm gonna email Matt today about it.

-Joe

RX7withNitrous

I'd offer him 3k or 3,500 at the very most because it needs paint.