Just got my Efini today!
08-28-03, 10:36 AM
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Just got my Efini today!
Hey guys, I'm a newb to the rotary scene so please bear with me! I just got a 1992 (1993 model year?) Rx7 Efini (it says efini right under Rx7). It came from Japan since where I live right now (Mauritius) is a right-hand drive country. It was about $4,000USD+ shipping and it has a little over 71k Km's. It has an Auto tranny in it as well.
Well I have some issues with it that I hope someone here can help sort out.
When driving, I hear what sounds like a horse galloping from the rear end. I did some searching in the forums here and I am not sure if the famous "clunk" is the same thing since all of the descriptions i've read are pretty vague as to what a "clunk" is. The sound I hear is a repeating clap that gets faster as I go faster.
The second problem I have is smoke. I was surprised to find that this biyatch has an exhaust smoke issue since the mileage is so low. Under uphill acceleration going about 50mph, it will blow out a gray cloud of smoke. It doesn't really smoke while idling (not that I've noticed so far).
Also, when the car is parked if i step on the gas, I hear a popping sound from under the hood when it decelerates. Is this the blow-off valve?
Thanks for your help guys!
Well I have some issues with it that I hope someone here can help sort out.
When driving, I hear what sounds like a horse galloping from the rear end. I did some searching in the forums here and I am not sure if the famous "clunk" is the same thing since all of the descriptions i've read are pretty vague as to what a "clunk" is. The sound I hear is a repeating clap that gets faster as I go faster.
The second problem I have is smoke. I was surprised to find that this biyatch has an exhaust smoke issue since the mileage is so low. Under uphill acceleration going about 50mph, it will blow out a gray cloud of smoke. It doesn't really smoke while idling (not that I've noticed so far).
Also, when the car is parked if i step on the gas, I hear a popping sound from under the hood when it decelerates. Is this the blow-off valve?
Thanks for your help guys!
08-28-03, 11:19 AM
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When driving, I hear what sounds like a horse galloping from the rear end. I did some searching in the forums here and I am not sure if the famous "clunk" is the same thing since all of the descriptions i've read are pretty vague as to what a "clunk" is. The sound I hear is a repeating clap that gets faster as I go faster.
Does the car jump w/ it? there are a couple of possibilities....
1. your power plant frame is cracked... this is a peice of steel that bolts inbetween the tranny and the differential... you will be able to distinguish this piece by jacking up a car with a flashlight and looking for a black thing that is inbetween the nuts and the actual differential and tranny on the bottom of them. The crack if its there will be by the differential on the pass side, at the top of it... look around there where it starts turn from parallel to the floor to vertical...
2. your differential bushings are shot. For these I would suggest picking up a bushing set from jimlab on this forum.... he makes some GREAT STUFF!
The second problem I have is smoke. I was surprised to find that this biyatch has an exhaust smoke issue since the mileage is so low. Under uphill acceleration going about 50mph, it will blow out a gray cloud of smoke. It doesn't really smoke while idling (not that I've noticed so far).
I guess if its grey I'll look at it that your turbos have a leak... kinda a big job for someone who just got the car. drive it around and keep an eye out for your dipstick showing less oil... (Rx7's normally burn a little bit of oil) but something you may consider to be unacceptable should be looked at.... if you know a good deal about cars... it requires pulling most of the crap off the top end of the turbos and eventually getting to them and pulling them off, either rebuilding them or taking them somewhere that can do it... since you live somewhere I've never heard of I can't tell you where to go... depends on where you are in comparison to the U.S., U.K. and Japan. What RPM are you seening this smoke... this is b/c they switch after a certain RPM...
Also, when the car is parked if i step on the gas, I hear a popping sound from under the hood when it decelerates. Is this the blow-off valve?
Poping... hmmm could be. I thought it sounds more like a wooshing sound... open the hood... look at the airbox, on the left side of it there is two smaller hoses that should be attached or detached from it... which is it... the little brown things that are attached inbetween the motor and the airbox on those hoses are 1 the blow off valve... the one you will hear if you hit the gas while in park... makes wooshing noise... and 2 the charge relief valve that will only make noise when you let off the gas partially when driving down the road. (this is if the hose is detached from the airbox) depending on how old you are some of us like to detach and remove the small 4-5cm hose that connects the lower blow off valve to the airbox and plug the hole that is left in it... once you do this use some sort of strapping to hold down the blow off valve. while the car is on and in park... pull up the e-brake too for safety... reach over and pull on the throttle cable to get an idea of where this noise you are hearing is coming from... if its something else let us know...
Good luck with the new car!
-Ryker
Does the car jump w/ it? there are a couple of possibilities....
1. your power plant frame is cracked... this is a peice of steel that bolts inbetween the tranny and the differential... you will be able to distinguish this piece by jacking up a car with a flashlight and looking for a black thing that is inbetween the nuts and the actual differential and tranny on the bottom of them. The crack if its there will be by the differential on the pass side, at the top of it... look around there where it starts turn from parallel to the floor to vertical...
2. your differential bushings are shot. For these I would suggest picking up a bushing set from jimlab on this forum.... he makes some GREAT STUFF!
The second problem I have is smoke. I was surprised to find that this biyatch has an exhaust smoke issue since the mileage is so low. Under uphill acceleration going about 50mph, it will blow out a gray cloud of smoke. It doesn't really smoke while idling (not that I've noticed so far).
I guess if its grey I'll look at it that your turbos have a leak... kinda a big job for someone who just got the car. drive it around and keep an eye out for your dipstick showing less oil... (Rx7's normally burn a little bit of oil) but something you may consider to be unacceptable should be looked at.... if you know a good deal about cars... it requires pulling most of the crap off the top end of the turbos and eventually getting to them and pulling them off, either rebuilding them or taking them somewhere that can do it... since you live somewhere I've never heard of I can't tell you where to go... depends on where you are in comparison to the U.S., U.K. and Japan. What RPM are you seening this smoke... this is b/c they switch after a certain RPM...
Also, when the car is parked if i step on the gas, I hear a popping sound from under the hood when it decelerates. Is this the blow-off valve?
Poping... hmmm could be. I thought it sounds more like a wooshing sound... open the hood... look at the airbox, on the left side of it there is two smaller hoses that should be attached or detached from it... which is it... the little brown things that are attached inbetween the motor and the airbox on those hoses are 1 the blow off valve... the one you will hear if you hit the gas while in park... makes wooshing noise... and 2 the charge relief valve that will only make noise when you let off the gas partially when driving down the road. (this is if the hose is detached from the airbox) depending on how old you are some of us like to detach and remove the small 4-5cm hose that connects the lower blow off valve to the airbox and plug the hole that is left in it... once you do this use some sort of strapping to hold down the blow off valve. while the car is on and in park... pull up the e-brake too for safety... reach over and pull on the throttle cable to get an idea of where this noise you are hearing is coming from... if its something else let us know...
Good luck with the new car!
-Ryker
08-28-03, 11:27 AM
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I Sold My Car 2 the Devil
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I figured out where your from... 
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/...os/mp.html#Geo
Try the UK section if you have turbo issues... they can help!
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/...os/mp.html#Geo
Try the UK section if you have turbo issues... they can help!
08-28-03, 11:33 AM
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congrats dude... what color is your rx7?
about the poping sound?? try checking your vacumm hose on the MAP sensor... is it still attached? and what is your boost pattern?
what color is your rx7?about the poping sound?? try checking your vacumm hose on the MAP sensor... is it still attached? and what is your boost pattern?
Last edited by Cihuuy; 08-28-03 at 11:36 AM.
08-28-03, 01:06 PM
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The car is black w/ original efini badging & steering wheel. Its got the rear spoiler like an R1, and the seats are made of some weird nylon type mesh. I believe its all stock except for the buttmunch who put nissan rims on it. I didn't notice this in the photos (i ordered the car online). Not sure what kind of nissan they are from but they are 16's. I'll put some pics up soon. It wouldn't be a big deal but the lug caps say nissan on them and one of them is really curbed like someone drove alongside a wall.
She certainly has power. I had a '99 V6 Stang before I left the states and I'd say by the feel of it, this thing has at least 20-30 more HP than the stang which is also a little heavier. That would put it at NEAR where it should be for a stock auto Rx7 (235hp?) It's getting dynoed as part of the "fitness test" they do for inspections here so we'll see.
The last turbo that I drove was a Merkur XR4Ti, and I don't remember it punching in like this thing does.
So it sounds like one of the turbos is pushing oil? probably the second one since I was going about 50-60mph (not sure of the RPM's) when the smoke billowed out.
I'll try to get under this thing this weekend and look at the bushings and such to see if I can locate the problem. Judging by what I've read on here it sounds like the wheel bearings might be the problem. The reason I say this is because its a repetitive knocking sound from the rear of the car that kicks in around 5-10mph and seems to be in rhythm with the rotation of the rear wheels. when i go faster, the sound goes faster but isn't as loud. There is no discernable "feel" to the noise i.e. the differential doesn't feel like its loose.
Thanks for all your suggestions guys
She certainly has power. I had a '99 V6 Stang before I left the states and I'd say by the feel of it, this thing has at least 20-30 more HP than the stang which is also a little heavier. That would put it at NEAR where it should be for a stock auto Rx7 (235hp?) It's getting dynoed as part of the "fitness test" they do for inspections here so we'll see.
The last turbo that I drove was a Merkur XR4Ti, and I don't remember it punching in like this thing does.
So it sounds like one of the turbos is pushing oil? probably the second one since I was going about 50-60mph (not sure of the RPM's) when the smoke billowed out.
I'll try to get under this thing this weekend and look at the bushings and such to see if I can locate the problem. Judging by what I've read on here it sounds like the wheel bearings might be the problem. The reason I say this is because its a repetitive knocking sound from the rear of the car that kicks in around 5-10mph and seems to be in rhythm with the rotation of the rear wheels. when i go faster, the sound goes faster but isn't as loud. There is no discernable "feel" to the noise i.e. the differential doesn't feel like its loose.
Thanks for all your suggestions guys
Last edited by Killr0y; 08-28-03 at 01:28 PM.
08-28-03, 01:28 PM
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The repeated popping sound on decel could be backfiring, but it's much more quiet with turbos. It's usually indicative of running rich, or of a partially clogged exhaust. Rotary's like to run rich, and the exhaust can be fixed.
08-28-03, 02:07 PM
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Originally posted by 911GT2
The repeated popping sound on decel could be backfiring, but it's much more quiet with turbos. It's usually indicative of running rich, or of a partially clogged exhaust. Rotary's like to run rich, and the exhaust can be fixed.
The repeated popping sound on decel could be backfiring, but it's much more quiet with turbos. It's usually indicative of running rich, or of a partially clogged exhaust. Rotary's like to run rich, and the exhaust can be fixed.
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08-28-03, 02:17 PM
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Originally posted by Killr0y
I don't think this sound is coming from the exhaust, its way too consistent and in rhythm with the rotation of the wheels. It sounds more like a mechanical "clunk" than backpressure popping which is what I think you are describing. It reminds me of the old baseball card in the spoke trick, only it sounds like a dull "ping" every time the wheel rotates 360o (except when I am going really slow i.e. 5mph)
I don't think this sound is coming from the exhaust, its way too consistent and in rhythm with the rotation of the wheels. It sounds more like a mechanical "clunk" than backpressure popping which is what I think you are describing. It reminds me of the old baseball card in the spoke trick, only it sounds like a dull "ping" every time the wheel rotates 360o (except when I am going really slow i.e. 5mph)
Originally posted by Killr0y
Also, when the car is parked if i step on the gas, I hear a popping sound from under the hood when it decelerates. Is this the blow-off valve?
Also, when the car is parked if i step on the gas, I hear a popping sound from under the hood when it decelerates. Is this the blow-off valve?
But the popping while the engine is decelerating is I think still backfiring, due to the reasons I described above.
08-29-03, 01:04 PM
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The sound from under the hood is more of a mechanical click like a solenoid or something. I am begining to think the galloping sound from the rear end is from the brakes because now the brakes are developing a rubbing sound (like the pads are worn down) when i apply them. This brake sound coincides exactly in the same rythem as the galloping sound, only its more of a brake squeal sound.
One thing I'd like to know from someone who knows something about Efini's: Were the discs vented in 92/93 cause mine don't have any cross drill holes in them. This would lead me to believe that the discs were already replaced, but wouldn't that be unusual for a car w/ 71k km's?
One thing I'd like to know from someone who knows something about Efini's: Were the discs vented in 92/93 cause mine don't have any cross drill holes in them. This would lead me to believe that the discs were already replaced, but wouldn't that be unusual for a car w/ 71k km's?
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