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Finally picked up an Rx7 but with issues

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Old 07-07-11 | 12:30 AM
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Smile Finally picked up an Rx7 but with issues

So I finally got an opportunity to pick up an Rx7 with obvious issues, but here are the pictures first but here is the ad

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv...474956784.html

here are addition pictures of the interior





Now the issues, so when I went to pick up the car the girl who owned it told me
she has not started the car for like a month so it was just sitting there but before she
let it sit she was having this issue

She said that it would occasionally kill the battery so after a while she got tired of it. She so in order to make it run they would jump it. So they took it to a mechanic and he said it was the alternator.

So when I got there being the battery was dead we tried jumping it but I think we screwed up because we let it charge for a few minutes and then we would attempt to start it, well after about 20 minutes of trying I decided to switch it with my girls battery out of her altima which seem to have been really close to size and spec to the fc's

Well needless to say we couldn't get it to start, at which point it occurred to me that we probably flooded the motor and there would have been no way to bring it back.

So I ordered some new spark plugs and alternator from Autozone and will attempt again on friday when it gets here. So if you guys have recommendations i'm all ears.
Old 07-07-11 | 01:18 AM
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I am unsure of rotaries but on most piston engines you can just remove the spark plugs and the fuel pump fuse and crank it a few times to flush it out...
Old 07-07-11 | 01:46 AM
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I had the same issue. Bought an alternator, brought it back to PepBoys 2 times. Long story short, get a new battery. There's nothing you can really do about your automatic transmission though.

Last edited by Zandorr; 07-07-11 at 01:50 AM.
Old 07-07-11 | 04:03 AM
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good luck on the automatic trans issue! a new battery does wonders from time to time, it might be what the doctor ordered.

On a side note I've never been in a 7 with an auto.....
Old 07-07-11 | 11:11 AM
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You don't want to flood it either. If you do, pop the hood, pull the GREEN EGM fuse and crank it for a couple second. Replace the fuse, and it should turn right over.
Old 07-07-11 | 12:52 PM
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lol, thanks guys for the infor the alternator comes in tomorrow thought I would order it just in case but what do you guys think about a battery from autozone?

I totally forgot about pulling the fuse to flush it out, I'm going to try that. I was a little bit weary about it being an auto too. But I saw the condition of the outside and it looked really good except for about a baseball sized dent on the passenger side fender and a scratch on the door overall everything looked good no bubbling of the paint in any areas and didn't really see any rust on the wheel wells or hatch.

Being that it is super dirty once I get it running and give it a wash I will post pictures of the outside.

How hard did you guys find it to replace the alternator, it would seem to me somewhat easy since it's sitting on top
Old 07-07-11 | 06:32 PM
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Easy! Find the 3 bolts, and 2 electric connections. Take off the negative terminal, and undo the electrical connections to the alternator. Then you just undo the bolts, ant the belt will slack off, and you can remove the alternator. If you're inclined, you can put it on yourself by putting the hinge bolt on finger tight and pull up on the unit to tension the belt. Then while still pulling up on it, tighten the hinge bolt, and reinstall the other two bolts. It's easier with a second pair of hands though. Reconnect all the electrical connections, and the negative battery terminal, and yer done!

A new battery is probly necessary anyways, along with that oil change! I'm a bit partial to Pep Boys, just cause they treat us good at the shop, but whoever is closest will do.

But seeing as a woman had the car, she probly didn't realize how much oil the car uses, and how often it should be changed. Read some literature about you car online, and get a Haynes book.

Last edited by Zandorr; 07-07-11 at 06:59 PM.
Old 07-07-11 | 07:48 PM
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Luckily I'm pretty mechanically litterate. And fortunately I was able to find a haynes manual at autozone.

I've worked on my SRT4 and Tiburon GT so this alternator replacement would be the easiest ever.

So being since a girl had it I would have hope she would have put oil in there every so often.
Unfortunately, I got the 2 leading plugs but they didn't have any of the training for who knows how long. Should I attempt to install those now or should I wait?

I'm doing reading alright but it's mostly random stuff.lol. Reading the Haynes manual like it was the bible.
Old 07-08-11 | 03:43 PM
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So i'm trying to figure out what model fc I have, but I'm confused I mean it has A/C and it has a sunroof that looks to be power, but it doesn't have power mirrors or power door locks?
Has the 4 lug bolt pattern

Would you guys be able to help me differentiate
Old 07-08-11 | 09:45 PM
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So my girl and I finally got the car running.

Autozone lost the alternator I ordered so I got refunded used the money to buy a brand new battery. O e went back and after about 30 minutes trying to start the car did the whole egi removal then crank and replace and reeat then my girl was like put oil in it so sure enough, after the starter got unstuck finally started blowing smoke fo a few minutes which I assumed was normal.

So after it warmed up, it wouldn't idle normal at all tried adjust the tps screw and noticed it was all the way so adjusting it only increased the idle. So took it aroun the block.

Lo and behold suspension felt loose, stumbled while accelerating. So when I parked it, idle fluctuated so I'm assuming it needs a really good tune up, and new tps sensor
Old 07-10-11 | 11:39 AM
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lots of lots of work..... haha, good luck
Old 07-10-11 | 12:43 PM
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Good luck! I wish I could help you but I'm no expert on rotaries.
Old 07-10-11 | 12:51 PM
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that car looks really good!
Old 07-10-11 | 06:35 PM
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Well as of right now, I'm leaving the battery unpluged but it seems to fire right up now. Funny, took it on thehightway and yeah the suspension feels soft, no surprise but it does feel better on the corners.

So pretty excited if all it really needs is an alternator, cuz then that would make on hell of a deal
Old 07-11-11 | 02:37 AM
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is this who i think it is from palmdale.... MOTHA FUKKA haha

<---ian bro
Old 07-11-11 | 03:08 AM
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too bad im selling mine
Old 07-11-11 | 05:54 AM
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No way, why you selling it. But umm... I might be the wrong person dude?
Old 07-11-11 | 03:16 PM
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your engine bay is very clean everthing is there and your interior is good too! welcome!
Old 07-11-11 | 03:25 PM
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Thanks, I will be bringing it home tomorrow at which time I will wash it and post bigger pictures of the outside as well as how much I actually paid for it. I think some of you will be surprised
Old 07-13-11 | 06:50 PM
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Better pictures, So I just drove it home which was about an hour distance, and she did okay seem to bog down a little above 3k like it needs a good tuneup.

SO issues I think it has or needs to be resolved
-Sunroof doesn't open (motor seems to run)
-Cluster half lit
-Really good tuneup (diff flush,Tranny flush, A/c recharge)
-figure why it idles high once i drive for a while and put it back in park.
-Passenger side rear view
-Better alternator
So overall not bad I think. I ended up paying 550 bux for it so heres better pictures from the outside






Dang it. Should of cleaned the lense before taking pictures
Old 07-14-11 | 12:24 PM
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Seems pretty straight! What are your plans for it?
Old 07-14-11 | 04:02 PM
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Thanks dude

Well took sunroof apart and attempted to clean, was moderately successful, needs a little bit of help going up but once it gets it opens fine and closes okay. I think the motor might be going out.

Also replaced the non working stereo with a basic stereo and works now.

As far as my plans well I want to get it running right, then I want to possibly convert it into a 5 speed. and then a better suspension so I can go canyon carving and learning how to drift.
Old 07-15-11 | 12:01 PM
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That Manny tyranny conversion is gonna be a pain in the *** man, but necessary if you wanna drift it. I got an. 88 N/A FC that has been stripped, caged, and modded to be a street drifter. I'm bout to drop a new clutch in her for some more bite, not that she needs it, bitch grabs as it is! My moon roof had the same problem, I forked out a few hundies for a carbon fiber replacement, and she doesn't struggle anymore! This car is amazing to drift man, just invest in some bump steer eliminator bushings, and some tower braces, and you're ready to go! I got an 89 targa up here at the yard I could pull the all manny tranny **** off of for a good price! Hit me up and we can get it out to you whenever you're ready for it.
Old 07-15-11 | 02:03 PM
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I've read stuff on the difficulty of converting, and your proposition sounds awesome but being that your in texas sounds like shipping would be a pain
Old 07-15-11 | 04:36 PM
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Dude, I so hate you right now... $550 got a straight title FC with back seats... Atleast I still have my 5speed. Lol. J/k You got a great buy from someone who didnt know what they were selling. Good luck with it.



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