1990 Mazda RX-7

I just bought a 1990 Mazda RX-7 GTU. I thought it may be the rare GTUs, since I am not a rotor head, I didn't know for sure. After some comments on here, I found out it is just the base model RX7 for 1990. Oh well, still looks like it may be a fun car. I gave $450 for it, and an extra $50 to have it delivered. Hopefully I can get it running, if not I think I can get my money back parting it out. Runs on starting fluid, but I think it needs a fuel pump. If I decide it is more than that, any site you can recommend for tech and or parts? Thanks BBC

Back when I had them, RX7Club.com was full of good info. RX7.com and Mazdatrix.com were good for parts along with Racing Beat (of course).

GTUs (emphasis on the "s") is the rare one, GTU was just the base spec in the later years.

My experience with rx7club was mixed. There are some REALLY knowledgeable guys there. There are also some REALLY uptight jerks there. Some of them even knowledgeable. I shouldn't receive the third degree about forgetting a "." At the end of a sentence. I kid you not... unbelievable.

The car pictured appears to be a standard gtu. This is sorta a base model.

I don't believe the gtu(s) had sunroofs. Also, those wheels are the base wheels.

Does it have the 4 piston front calipers?

This site, grm, would be a good rx7 site. Lots of dudes doing lots of rx stuff.

Fun car, hope you can get it running without too much trouble. If it has been sitting for a while get some fresh gas in it. I let mine sit for a year or so and it would not stay running until it had some new gas. As mentioned above the RX7club does have some very knowledgeable others are asshats. There are a bunch of rotorheads on this site to help as well. A GTUs should have manual windows, 16" wheels, LSD and no sunroof. Most mechanical parts are still readily available, some of the interior stuff is getting harder. I think if you can find a decent parts car you should get it now. I used to be able to find them by the dozen and now they are getting harder to find.

I'll second the "drain the fuel and get some fresh gas" thing before you spend too much time diagnosing anything else.

If it will start & run on its own for 2 seconds or so, it's probably the MAF (Mass AirFlow sensor), the flappy-door thing on the intake tube. It could be one of two problems:

1) Condensation/mouse urine caused the flappy door bit to seize to the walls & floors. I'd recommend a 50/50 mix of ATF & Acetone spritzed around it with tapping it back and forth to break it free. Brake cleaner to clean the walls and floors after that.

2) The flappy door is fine, but it's not kicking the fuel pump on after the initial priming. To test this, look for the black 2 prong jumper near the drivers' side shock tower. Jumper that together and as soon as you turn the key on, you should be able to hear the fuel pump. If the car stays running with this jumpered, then get a new MAF or tear open the cover and clean the contacts of yours.

Good luck!

Yeah that is a standard GTU not GTUs but sweet deal! rx7club.com is good site with the most activity. Takes a lot of digging to get results buried through nonsense sometimes but it generally points you in the right direction.

Here is a good site, Knurled or myself are good ones to ask rotary questions.

As far as your fuel pump, check the relay a common fail point. you may be able to jump the relay and drive around no problem right now. I almost bought a parts car that way but I had no one to take me back home :(

I came here for RX7 advise but mine is no longer powered by the magical triangles..

Most of the time when I googled I ended up here or rx7club.com.

Thanks guys for all the help. I ordered a new fuel pump and fuel filter off eBay last night before waiting for a response here.I was excited. I only have $25 for both shipped, and at least I will have them on hand. It starts and runs for 2 seconds, but only when spraying a little starting fluid at it. I will drain the gas out of tank, blow out the lines the best I can and then add some fresh gas and HEET. I will also check out the MAF as the rest of the car smells like mouse pee, so that may well be the problem, or at least part of it. I will check out the other sites later, but I prefer to stay here, and with all the responses so far, I may not have to wander at all, that would be great! Hoping to get to it Sunday afternoon, will update when I have check more out. I have not checked out the front brakes yet, but it does have manual windows.

WonkoTheSane wrote: I'll second the "drain the fuel and get some fresh gas" thing before you spend too much time diagnosing anything else. If it will start & run on its own for 2 seconds or so, it's probably the MAF (Mass AirFlow sensor), the flappy-door thing on the intake tube. It could be one of two problems: 1) Condensation/mouse urine caused the flappy door bit to seize to the walls & floors. I'd recommend a 50/50 mix of ATF & Acetone spritzed around it with tapping it back and forth to break it free. Brake cleaner to clean the walls and floors after that. 2) The flappy door is fine, but it's not kicking the fuel pump on after the initial priming. To test this, look for the black 2 prong jumper near the drivers' side shock tower. Jumper that together and as soon as you turn the key on, you should be able to hear the fuel pump. If the car stays running with this jumpered, then get a new MAF or tear open the cover and clean the contacts of yours. Good luck!

Thanks so much for the detailed response! This is where I will start.

Billy_Bottle_Caps wrote: I have not checked out the front brakes yet, but it does have manual windows.

It has a sunroof though, so it's not the rare GTUs. That's the immediate giveaway.

Still looks like a deal though if you can get it running!

I have never messed around with s5 cars, but I am pretty sure they do not have a flapper door type afm.

Check for a fuel pump kill switch under the dash. Alot of people Install one to help with flooding.

In reply to pointofdeparture:

I think so thanks for the info, not as special as I thought it may be, but still pretty cool

wvumtnbkr wrote: I have never messed around with s5 cars, but I am pretty sure they do not have a flapper door type afm. Check for a fuel pump kill switch under the dash. Alot of people Install one to help with flooding.

Doh! I missed the fact that it was an S5.. My knowledge is outdated even on 25 year old japanese cars ;)

Those use a cone-spring setup if I recall, which can suffer from the same ailment, but it's less common. I'd still inspect that to ensure that the "fuel pump on" output is clicking on if you press the cone.

Didn't get a chance to mess with the car much today, had some other stuff do do. Did get the other factory wheel on, finished cleaning out the interior, and put some vinegar in a bowl to get rid of the mouse pee smell. here are a couple more pics. Will get back to it next weekend, when my parts get in, and can hopefully get it running then. </a

Could a moderator please move this to the Build and Project Cars area?

You've been moved.

03.03.17- spent 2 hours cleaning out car. Vacuumed out and wiped down. Repaired broken center cap fake lug nut with Gorilla glue. Replaced missing oil fill cap hole that was covered with Duct tape with stock factory one in spare tire wheel well under a pile of garbage. Put vinegar in 3 separate bowls and closed doors to get rid of mouse smell.

03.04.17- spent 30 minutes cleaning glass, installed regular aluminum wheel with repaired center cap. Tire holds air-not sure why it wasn’t on car. Top off all the vinegar in the car—can’t tell if it smells better in there yet or not.

03.10.17- used some spray I read about on-line that is made for removing cat urine from carpet. It converts the enzyme to CO2. Wee will see. Sprayed PB Blaster on seat mounting tracks so I could remove seats to clean carpet. Took off rear tire and rim with slow leak and took in for repair. 15 minutes.

03.11.17- spent 2 hours. Sprayed odor remover 2x. Smells better, still some smell. Drained gas tank. Added 4 gallons fresh gas and a bottle of HEET. Changed fuel filter. Changed oil and filter. Topped off coolant. Sprayed bolts on seat tracks for the second time. Re-installed repaired tire. </a</a</a</a</a</a</a

The GTU was the one to have when you couldn't splurge on the turbo. It's essentially all the bits from the turbo car but with the N/A engine.

In reply to simon_C:

The GTUs is the one to have. I just have the GTU, which is basically the base car for 1990. Still waiting on the fuel pump I ordered off eBay, hopefully it will come in this week, so I can try and get it started next weekend.

I own a 1990 RX7 GXL. Good cars and reliable when taken care of. The things that kill rotary engines are dirty fuel, and over heating. forums: RX7 Club, NoPistons, Rotary Car Club. parts suppliers: Mazdatrix, Racing Beat, Banzai Racing, Atkins Rotary, RotorSports Racing, RX7 Store, Rotary Performance, Rotary Works. Manuals can be down loaded from the forums or Foxed.ca.

In reply to Fred_B:

Thanks for the info Fred b, I am now on RX7 club, will check out the others and bookmark the vendors you listed

RX7 club has a lousy signal to noise ratio. You'll pick up on the couple smart guys on there though.

Anybody here have a known good fuel pump relay they want to part with? I would like to have one for trouble shooting and as a backup. I see new ones are available on eBay, but would rather deal with forum members, and save a few bucks until I know exactly what I have. Shoot me a PM or email me at: wamaulding@ gmail.com

Thanks BBC

shoot me a pic, I might have one. I tore all that stuff out a long time ago haha