hello all --light question

[ender164]

greetings every one

I just purchased my first first gen mazda rx-7.

However, the dash was off when i purchased it and im a toatl newb when it comes to these.

My question is...
I can get the head lights to come up and they will flash when i pull the flash lever on the left side of the steering wheel, (so i do know the lights work) on the right side there is a lever that says lights, but when i move it to the up position, the headlights do not come on.

Is there somthing else i should be doing or is there a connection problem im just not aware of as of yet?

ty all in advance.

well, i guess that solves my problem, seems i just not lift the lever far enough up. see, i told you i was a total newb.(omg)

 

[ender164]

another couple of questions.

I was reading over the wankle engine pros and cons and it mentioned some things about being sensative to temp ranges.
With that in mind, i want to keep the motor in great condition.
Would it be advisable to use high test gas and synthetic motor oils?

 

[CorkSport]

I would make sure the light bulbs are ok before spending too much time chasing down the wiring. The high beams may work fine but the lows could be shot.

You could also test the plug at the light bulbs with the switch on to make sure power is getting there.

-Derrick

 

[chiefmg]

What year is the car? On '79-83 models, you raise the lights and turn them on by turning the end of the left hand stalk (turn signals). There is a switch at the bottom of the center console that allows you to just raise the headlights but it doesn't turn them on (this is so you can leave them up when there is a chance they might freeze shut etc). From your description it sounds like you might have an '84-85. The lights should turn on the same way but I am not sure of the location of the raising switch.

If you have an owner's manual it will give you the information you need to figure out if you have a problem or not.

 

[chiefmg]

I fail at reading, I see you solved your problem with the lights.

As for gas, early RX-7s were set up for low octane (87) so you would be wasting your money putting in premium. I would advise against synthetics, rotaries are designed to burn some oil to keep the apex seals lubricated and synthetics aren't known for their ability to burn cleanly. I have heard there are some available now which can be used, but I personally stick with Castrol GTX 5W-30. Make sure you check your oil level religiously and keep it up.

As for temperatures, if you overheat a rotary you will kill it quickly. Make sure your cooling system is in good condition. If you do have an '84-85, an upgrade is to retrofit the oil cooler from an earlier model. The beehive used on the later models is a known problem (coolant seals will start leaking). Also, the engine is made of two dissimilar metals so make sure you warm it properly before running it hard.

 

[ender164]

thanks all for your replies. The feul and oil suggestions were most helpfull.

The rx-7 i have is a 1980. I did not get an owners manual but i did get a repair manual and ive been thumbing though when time allows. I also read that its a must to let these old birds warm up before driving, so i make sure that i can turn the choke all the way off before i pull out of the parking spot.
another couple of questions...
beside the two exhaust ports at the rear of the car is another small pipe with some carbon build up, nothing major, i just noticed it as a third exhaust pipe. I was curious what thats used for as it connects up further up.

Ive noticed these before on the older rx7's but since ive never owned one, i never followed it up.

my second question is this.
A guy at work mentioned the fact about ethanol in gas these days adding to build up on engine companats, is this a problem and if so, what are your suggestions?

thanks you all again, you are most helpfull.

 

[Viperx7]

I haven't heard that about ethanol. The third pipe is part of the emissions. My suggestion is if you don't live in an area requires emission checks, get rid of the entire exhaust system and go with a Racing Beat complete system with header. The improvement is 100%. You actually get better fuel mileage.
As Chief suggested, don't use synthetics, especially if you have a high mileage engine.
The big things with rotaries are oil and water. Don't let it get HOT.
You are correct about letting the car warm up. The choke is electronic, so once it gets to operating temp, it will shut itself off.
Good luck

 

[Kentetsu]

You don't need to wait until the car is fully warmed up before driving. Just make sure she's warm before you run the rpms up over 3500 or so.

Use the cheapest, lowest octane gas you can find (but from a reputable source, like Shell or BP). They love low octane.

Use the Castrol GTX, stay away from synthetic. They might be okay to use, but it might also be just a waste of money for no added benefit.

These motors do build up carbon, which will reduce their power output. A really good way to fight this is to run a can of Seafoam through the gas tank every couple of months.

The fuel filters on these cars are just barely adequate when brand new, and get dirty pretty fast. Plan on changing it out every six months or so, otherwise you may run out of gas at high rpms.

Did you get your headlights figured out? Kinda hard to tell the way you wrote it.

Good luck, and have fun with your new love.


.

 

[ender164]

yes, thanks i did figure it out.

Thanks for the advice on the feul filter and seafoam, even though i have no idea what Seafoam is, ill ask the local parts store for it.

Is there a good place (web sight) to find parts for 1980's RX-7's or is it all kinda hit and miss.

 

[Kentetsu]

For suspension parts: www.re-speed.com

For stock replacement parts: www.rockauto.com

 

[Viperx7]

Black Dragon Auto
http://www.blackdragonauto.com/features/rx/RXYearsCovered.htm