My "New" 85 RX7 GSL-SE...Some advice would be appreciated.

Steves · 08-27-2012, 03:49 PM

Hello Rotarys!
I found my RX7 in California a few months ago and got it here now near Tucson, Arizona. Got it cheap. Not so cheap anymore as I've spent some $ on it but still a good deal. It's red with the grey interior.

I had sold my 1966 Sunbeam Tiger last year and wanted a sports car but with good A/C, etc. Now that I've fixed up the RX7, the AC blows cold, the power windows work, the factory stereo even still works fine (except the power antenna won't go down). I replaced the rear wiper motor and fixed the defroster so almost everything works. I even was able to fix the cruise control. I can't figure out why the cargo compartment light won't work. The wires aren't getting power there but the wires go into the main harness in back so I have to figure out where the wires come out in the engine compartment.

Oil pressure is great, the alternator charges well and it drives pretty well.

I've got the fuel injection setup running pretty well after having read a lot about how it works, but have a couple of questions that maybe someone can help me with. I'm getting horrible gas mileage (maybe 12 miles a gallon) and the RPMs drop when I let my foot off the gas quickly, and drop even more with the AC on. With the AC on it can stall when I take the foot off the pedal fast coming to a stop. If I slow down gradually and work the pedal a bit coming to a stop it idles fine, about 900 RPM with the air off and 1000 to 1100 with the AC on. The BAC valve and Air Supply valve seem to be working OK (I cleaned them both out following David Lane's excellent online "Solving GSL-SE Idle Problems" instructions.) I went through all David's steps and even adjusted the throttle plates a fraction more open than stock. This didn't solve the issue. Finally, the dashpot seems to be working and adjusted properly so that isn't it (I don't think)

So now I'm thinking it could be the fuel injectors (at least causing the bad gas mileage, plus I think the car should be a bit more fast than it is). I've run two bottles of Redline fuel system cleaner through and that didn't seem to help. So, I think I've got to the the injectors out and get them professionally cleaned. Has anyone reading this done that and, if so, did that make a difference/improvement?

I found a shop "Fuel Injector Man" in Florida that does the cleaning for a very reasonable price. Has anyone used them for this? You send him the injectors and he ships them back cleaned, with new filters and o-rings, within 48 hours.

I just read the factory manual on taking off the "dynamic" chamber to get to the injectors. Is it as easy/straight forward as the manual suggests, or are there any tricks or traps to watch out for to get the injectors out?

Finally, there were some great Sunbeam car clubs around for annual conventions, drives, and meetings. Is there anything like that for RX7s, or more specifically for 1st generation RX7s? Does the Rotary club here do anything like that?

Thanks!
Steve

Kentetsu · 08-28-2012, 10:41 AM

Hi Steve. My knowledge of the SEs is a bit limited, but I'll throw in what I can and hope it helps. From years of reading the forums, it seems that the usual cause for terrible mpg on an SE is due to a faulty temp sensor fooling the computer into thinking that the engine is always cold. That's what I would check first.

As far as meets go, in the spring we have the Deals Gap Rotary Rally (NC) and the Mitty Event at Road Atlanta. Both are probably a bit of a drive for you, but worth it if you can make it. For events a little closer to home, check out the regional forum section.

Good luck with your issues. I hope this helps a bit.

.

speedjunkie · 08-28-2012, 04:26 PM

Welcome! I'd like to help but I don't know much about anything other than 3rd Gens.

08-27-2012, 03:49 PM	#1
Steves Steves Join Date: Jun 2012 iTrader: (0) Posts: 2 Rep Power: 0	My "New" 85 RX7 GSL-SE...Some advice would be appreciated. Hello Rotarys! I found my RX7 in California a few months ago and got it here now near Tucson, Arizona. Got it cheap. Not so cheap anymore as I've spent some $ on it but still a good deal. It's red with the grey interior. I had sold my 1966 Sunbeam Tiger last year and wanted a sports car but with good A/C, etc. Now that I've fixed up the RX7, the AC blows cold, the power windows work, the factory stereo even still works fine (except the power antenna won't go down). I replaced the rear wiper motor and fixed the defroster so almost everything works. I even was able to fix the cruise control. I can't figure out why the cargo compartment light won't work. The wires aren't getting power there but the wires go into the main harness in back so I have to figure out where the wires come out in the engine compartment. Oil pressure is great, the alternator charges well and it drives pretty well. I've got the fuel injection setup running pretty well after having read a lot about how it works, but have a couple of questions that maybe someone can help me with. I'm getting horrible gas mileage (maybe 12 miles a gallon) and the RPMs drop when I let my foot off the gas quickly, and drop even more with the AC on. With the AC on it can stall when I take the foot off the pedal fast coming to a stop. If I slow down gradually and work the pedal a bit coming to a stop it idles fine, about 900 RPM with the air off and 1000 to 1100 with the AC on. The BAC valve and Air Supply valve seem to be working OK (I cleaned them both out following David Lane's excellent online "Solving GSL-SE Idle Problems" instructions.) I went through all David's steps and even adjusted the throttle plates a fraction more open than stock. This didn't solve the issue. Finally, the dashpot seems to be working and adjusted properly so that isn't it (I don't think) So now I'm thinking it could be the fuel injectors (at least causing the bad gas mileage, plus I think the car should be a bit more fast than it is). I've run two bottles of Redline fuel system cleaner through and that didn't seem to help. So, I think I've got to the the injectors out and get them professionally cleaned. Has anyone reading this done that and, if so, did that make a difference/improvement? I found a shop "Fuel Injector Man" in Florida that does the cleaning for a very reasonable price. Has anyone used them for this? You send him the injectors and he ships them back cleaned, with new filters and o-rings, within 48 hours. I just read the factory manual on taking off the "dynamic" chamber to get to the injectors. Is it as easy/straight forward as the manual suggests, or are there any tricks or traps to watch out for to get the injectors out? Finally, there were some great Sunbeam car clubs around for annual conventions, drives, and meetings. Is there anything like that for RX7s, or more specifically for 1st generation RX7s? Does the Rotary club here do anything like that? Thanks! Steve

08-28-2012, 10:41 AM	#2
Kentetsu RCC Contributor Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan iTrader: (1) Posts: 530 Rep Power: 17	Hi Steve. My knowledge of the SEs is a bit limited, but I'll throw in what I can and hope it helps. From years of reading the forums, it seems that the usual cause for terrible mpg on an SE is due to a faulty temp sensor fooling the computer into thinking that the engine is always cold. That's what I would check first. As far as meets go, in the spring we have the Deals Gap Rotary Rally (NC) and the Mitty Event at Road Atlanta. Both are probably a bit of a drive for you, but worth it if you can make it. For events a little closer to home, check out the regional forum section. Good luck with your issues. I hope this helps a bit. . __________________ "Learn from the past, or it will become your future...." '85 GS 12a + LSD/Sterling carb/Respeed coilovers/Respeed front swaybar/Respeed adj. rear spring perches/Illuminas/Bilsteins on rear AutoX vids @ http://www.youtube.com/user/Kentetsu1

08-28-2012, 04:26 PM	#3
speedjunkie RCC Loves Me Not You Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Colorado Springs, CO iTrader: (1) Posts: 2,089 Rep Power: 19	Welcome! I'd like to help but I don't know much about anything other than 3rd Gens.