Hi folks
Well, after one great year with the Rex it has come to the inevitable rebuild time. The car has done around 55,000 miles so I knew it was coming. I had hoped it was going to be later...much later but such is life :2Rolleyes .
It happened last week when I pulled out off a T-junction- 2,500revs max. (cold engine). I heard a bang followed by a metallic scraping sound which followed me rather closely. Initially I thought something had come loose from my car and was scraping on the road. About 200metres further down the road the sound strangely disappeared. I came off main road, stopped the car and had a look under the car to see if anything had come loose.
I didn\'t see anything unusual but noticed the car was hunting at idle. It did this sometimes anyway so thought nothing of it. I guessed that the noise may have been from another car as mine seemed to be ok. :spank
A week later, the idle hunting, once the engine is warm, has not gone away like normal and seems to be more pronounced. It was idling between 800-1100 before on the rare occassions but now it\'s consistently between 800-1450. I also noticed, from my unmapped Apexi monitor, that the injector duty at warm idle jumps between 5% to 0%, in time with the idle hunting.
I had my brain in gear last night and have come to the conclusion that an apex seal has gone. This explains the bang, metal scaping and rough idle I think. However, it seems to drive ok.
I would really love it if someone knowledgable :god can advise me that it\'s actually something else; preferably less expensive like a failed injector or I\'m having a nightmare and need to wake up. Failing that, has anyone used Rotary Repair Services as they are my nearest rebuilder? Their prices seem pretty good and suits me as I do not need the car repaired urgently as I do not need it to commute to work.
WGT isn\'t too far away either but from what I gather would be considerably more expensive.... but then again....Pip is highly recommended :god .
Apologies for the long post for those not used to such ramblings.
Thanks in advance.:WaveBye
Van
Have you checked to see if the MAP sensor has come unplugged?
If have you got a boost guage whats it doing at idle is it fluttering?
I\'m not convinced its a rebuild yet, I\'m not saying its not but I\'m not conviunced.
A
Being in Derby you realy want to see Pip, Lets put it this way there is more come back with pip and he stands by his Warantee.
If money is an Issue it may also be worth Contacting RX Motors, although there in Dorset there Rebuilds are very good value for money and it may be worth your While getting it taken down there (its only going to be a Cupple of Hundred Pounds and you\'ll save that on the motor build)
Hi
Thanks for your replies.
I have just checked the MAP sensor and it seems fine. I do not have a boost gauge but on the Apexi monitor it shows boost varying ±mmHg @ around -550 on cold start and slowly coming down (technically up) to around -450mmHg.
Once the water temperature reaches 75°C the idle starts to flunctuate from 1250 to 850rpm. Also at this stage, the injector duty starts to jump from 5% to 0% and the ingnition timing, both leading and trailing, starts to go beserk-anywhere from -15 to +15.
Not sure if this will give any clues but other readings are;
NTR on
FPD on
APR on
CNN on
ELD on (with aircon switched on)
PIM: 1.47v
VTA1: 0.43v
VTA2: 0.97v
VMOP: 1.30v
WTRT: 0.51v
AIRT: 1.94v
FUEL: 4.08v
O2S: 0.01v
Does this give any further indications to the problem or confirm my current guess?
Grizzly, I thought about RX Motors too but considered them too far but they are, like you say, good value for money and there\'s more come back with them. Pip certainly would be my preferred choice but I\'m not sure if I\'d be able to find comfort in his price. I also feel that new comers should be given an opportunity to build a reputation and increase competition. If we all went to Pip then he\'d be the next Bill Gates :D .
I really don\'t know who my preferred rebuilder is now. I\'ll probably get quotes from all three and then go from there.
Thanks
Van
There is a reason why Pip is not cheap :yes
You get what you pay for, the Guy is in the top three engine builders in the UK, he also has one of the best reputations and a shiny new workshop (with all the overheads to go with it not like a one man band in his Garage at home)
I understand the give new comers a chance thing but there is more than that to think about, having it rebuilt by a big name will help a sale if you ever decide to sell on. Do some research too on how good the Warantee is and if there are Problems with them Honoring it.
Also think about this, i had some work on a Vectra done last week for work they charged me £86 an hour!!! this job was by no means an engine rebuild and came to over £700 its easy to think thats seriously OTT but its not uncomon for garages to charge near three figures an Hour in this day and age. Put that next to Pip\'s labour rate and it don\'t seem bad.
Not wishing to disrespect Rotary repair, but, I understand he does this part time [which is fine] and he is very hard to contact [not so good] I have not seen anyone on here that has actualy had one done by him, hopefully someone will come along and tell us he is wonderfull.:)
If Pip is beyond your purse strings [shame] have you considered getting a local garage to quote removal and re-fitting and sending the engine to one of the other builders?
To be honest I would be inclined to get someone with knowledge of rotaries to give it the once over, if your boost [as in vacume] is holding steady on tickover I am not convinced its a tip. You could always do the poor mans test - remove the EGI fuse, remove the 2 bottom plugs [one at a time] and crank it over you should hear 3 shushes of even volume per rotor, if you get one good one and 2 phuts:o thats a tip. This will not defanately prove you have lost a tip but it is a very good indicator. HTH
Thanks for your advice chaps.
I\'ll test the car with the stock ECU, check idle screws and try the "poor man\'s test" just to make sure first. I guess there\'s some hope left.
Van
Update.
Well, I removed the Apexi and put back the stock ECU. The engine idle is now steady when warm. However, the idle stays arounds 1250rpm which is too high. I have tried adjusting with the two idle screws (nearest oil filler and below TB) but cannot lower the idle. Any ideas?
It seems to drive ok other than stutter at low speed.
I\'ll look into the "poor man\'s test" and give it a shot if it\'s not difficult.
Van
Is the Apexi a new addition? Its interesting by putting back the stock ecu improves the situation. High tickover when warm sounds like a posible fault with the cold start settings [automatic choke] and might explain the hunting ie : running rich.
It is very hard to diagnose over tinternet, might be worth putting out a plea for a local experienced FD owner to pass his/her expert eye over said problem, from everything you have said I would be very supprised if its major
Hi John
I\'ve had the Apexi in for over 9 months and was working fine till recently. I have driven the RX7 several times today and it seems to be stuttering below 1800rpm once my foot is off the gas pedal when coasting/slowing down. It just feels weird and the feedback from the gear stick is also a little jerky.
You are right regarding pleading for more experienced FD owner to take a look at my car. Gurj is the most local FD owner I know so I\'ll ask him first.
Thanks for your support. I really wish I had your optimism.
Van
are ya plugs/leads okay?
Travis
Should be fine but I shall check coming weekend- weather permitting. Thinking about it, I suppose that if one plug/lead is faulty then the symptons be very much the same.
Thanks
Van
Van
the ecu auto adjusts idle unless you have a spike in it before turning the idle screw. That\'s why it isn\'t altering when you turn it.
Only know because Pip was showing me on my dead red rex...
Have you searched on here for "how to..."
Hi Khyber, ecu auto adjust....well that would explain it. I\'ll have to do a search, thanks.
UPDATE:
Gurj came over today and had a look at the RX7. He has reset the stock ecu just to be on the safe side. The car now feels better and seems to run smoother. I\'m glad to hear from him that it\'s NOT and an engine rebuild :Thumbs-up .
However. the car is overfueling. We could smell petrol fumes, beyond the norm, so this needs to be looked at.
Gurj has suggested I get the Apexi mapped, change the spark plugs and leads for peace of mind.
I\'ll probably drive down to Carl\'s soon to have the Apexi mapped and for a general check-up (especially the overfueling).
Thanks for all your advise and special thanks to Gurj- hope you recover from your cold and insomnia soon, mate.
Van
Hi Van,
I was looking to use Rotary Repair at the start of this year and after a seemingly strong start getting a date agreed and set up with the owner all communication then stopped. I spent 2+ months emailing and calling without response to try and find out what was going on. I received no response to 15+ email/phone messages.
In light of this I went back to speaking to one of the professionals who I have used before who I know I can get a top quality, no messing about service from.
To sum up, (and I feel very strongly about this as I hate poor service and it is far too common in the UK) my experience of Rotary Repair is that the are complete amateurs at best and should not be allowed to offer a business service they seemingly cant meet. I really cannt recommend strongly enough that you speak to one of the pros to get sorted out. You will get professional service, quick turnaround and a worthwhile guarantee at the end of it.
me and marcus tried getting hold of him once and we tried n tried no response i think its safe to say that hes knocked repairing rotories on the head.
Quote from: Vanspecial thanks to Gurj- hope you recover from your cold and insomnia soon, mate.
Van
What!! Gurj had to call me to sort out your mota :Nono! !!!
Hehe glad everything is ok :Thumbs-up
Hi cjle17, I was worried that no one from MRC had used them before and you have pretty much confirmed my initial concerns. However, I\'m glad my engine doesn\'t need a rebuild and hopefully Carl will confirm this when I visit him next week. Thanks for posting. It\'s a real shame the way they avoided further communication with you after agreeing the date.
Hi TURBOIINUTTAH, I think you are probably right and I think it\'s for the best considering their lack of courtesy.
Hi Rixio, so you\'re the mystery man . Thanks for your help, mate. :cheers
Van
No problems. its one of the amazing things about this site, there is a really good community of people on it.
Good to hear you dont need a rebuild as well.
Quote from: RixioWhat!! Gurj had to call me to sort out your mota :Nono! !!!
Hehe glad everything is ok :Thumbs-up
Oi stop taking all the credit biatch :evillaugh :evillaugh :evillaugh :spank
Yeh Yeh!!!:Tongue1
Hi Folks
Well, what a day it has been. Before heading off to Carl\'s, I tried to replace a split vac pipe and ended up breaking the valve spigot and had to super glue it. It turned out to be an exceptional repair job. It didn\'t come off during the 3 hour journey to Carl\'s :cool . It was admired by all at Hayward :chat .
Carl and crew has confirmed, via compression test, that the engine has not blown an Apex seal :cool . Compression were all even around 6.7 so is in pretty good shape. However, there are two areas where the lower inlet gasket has blown causing boost leaks and likely high idle. I\'ll be going back to Carl\'s, probably next week, to have this done along with the Apexi fuel mapping and replacement of rear bushes. Other minor issues were sorted thanks to Carl, Ian and Geoff.
Carl and his team have given me a quality and cost effective service and I would recommend them highly to other rotary owners. It\'s nice to see enthusiast at work :cheers . Big thanks to Tim and Tom for teas and Maccie D.
Van
nice one dude :3gears-rh
sorry to but in but can john yorke email me please ,barry798@aol.com
many thanks
On the engine rebuild subject
I have an fd 93,
I was pulling away from a junction, warm engine at 3000rpm and the power just dissappeared. No accerator response whatsoever.
Went down a side road to let it idle and check, but pulled over and it cut out. I knew that the engine was shagged, I feared the obvious. Got it home and it just cut out.
There I was, brickking it, thinking where I was getting the cash from. Turned the car back on, off the key and it started, I was amazed that it was running, it was running at about 300-500 rpm. Very concerned. opened the bonnet and the engine was shaking from side to side about 6 inches either side of the engine resting position.
The exhaust was just going bang bang bang constantly, and firing 2 foot flames out the exhaust.
I KNEW IT WAS BAD
I rung reworx in portsmouth and from my description I rebuild is needed.
CAN ANYONE HELP???????????????
cheers
Tobias
sounds like its dead to me and re-build time, sorry chap. where in the uk are you?
If people would please stop taking cars down to Carl for the rest of the week I might be able to get mine back ;)
Carl has a good rep for very good reason same as Pip and Tim. Really glad it turned out not to be blown!
Yeah apparently so, anyone know where I can get a good loan rate??????
I\'m in kingston surrey by the way
Quote from: iaintIf people would please stop taking cars down to Carl for the rest of the week I might be able to get mine back ;)
Carl has a good rep for very good reason same as Pip and Tim. Really glad it turned out not to be blown!
I take it yours is the blue one in your picture? Think I saw her down there when I picked mine up, she\'s a looker!