Hello, I am looking at buying a 1990 rx7 convertible after I recently sold my last one. I went to test drive one today, and the car ran beautifully but the transmission seemed a little hard to get into gear. The shifter also sticks when you move it to the left to get into 1st and 2nd gear. It doesn't stick when you move the shifter to the right. The car only has 68,000 miles and gets driven less than twice per week. Could this mean the the clutch is going, or is this a common/easily fixable problem? I really need some insight before I decide on buying it. Thanks in advance!

 

Could be just the shifter bushings. I'd just replace those and start with that because its the cheapest.

 

I was thinking of that as I was typing this post actually. I thought the clutch pedal felt a little soft, but then again I drive an 08 civic si so of course most cars will seem soft compared to it. I will have to do a clutch test on it before I buy it.

I am so excited to get another rx7. Selling my 1st one was one of the worst days of my life. Now I have a perfect opportunity to buy another one with 30k less miles on the odo!

 

The sad reality is that cars that old with that low mileage almost NEVER get maintenance. So the shifter rod is probably dry. If it's not grinding when you put it in reverse, then the clutch is probably ok, and is probably adjusted correctly. Just check those bushings and fill the extension housing with gear oil and try moving the shifter around alot after doing that.

 

I Notice on mine that when i go over to the right where 5th gear and reverse is I feel a spring... From Neutral over to the 1st and 2nd gear are No spring. Is that normal?

 

There is supposed to be a spring, but most peoples are broken, so is mine. It doesn't have any effect on driveability at all really.

On thing I noticed when I got my rx-7 is that you had to hit the notches right to put the lever into gear, and wasn't as smooth shifter wise as other standard I have driven. You get used to it real fast with a couple of days of driving.

I would be concerned too much, you just need to get a feel for the car per se in my opinion.

 

same thing with me.^^^^ its like there play,it wobbles in neutral like there somthing missing.

cause with my mazda mx6 there a spring like feeling when i push it to the left and right and sits solid in the middle with no play.

the rx7 though has the lower and top shifter ball bushings. is there another bushing that go's on the little ball that goes into the tranny???

 

I am not worried that it is the clutch anymore. It went into every gear and reverse perfectly normal with no grinds, it just felt a little harder to shift than my previous rx7. I will replace the shifter bushings when I get the car and hopefully that solves the problem. Thanks for the help guys!

 

is this the clean red vert an older lady always drives around

 

Hard to get into gear sounds like the pilot bearing going bad. Put it in 1st gear and start the car with the clutch depressed, does it try to roll forward? The side to side shifter slop is a broken return spring. If you have play vertically than the shifter bushings need to be replaced.

 

Nope, its a black vert that the owner only uses it on mondays and fridays for golf.

 

could also be the clutch hydraulics. Those rubber grommets in there can deteriorate

 

Ok, little update. I am buying the car tomorrow after work. I am going to replace the gear oil with some royal purple and order a shifter bushing kit if the shifter bushings look worn. the hard shifting might even be from the fact that the car doesn't get driven that much. Wish me luck!

 

cool and post some pics too.

good luck

 

Oh yes many pictures to come!