1993 MAZDA RX-7 Electrical System Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 MAZDA RX7. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACTWAS UNSURE AS TO WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE, BUT STATED THAT HE SMELLED GAS FUMES BEFORE THE FIRE OCCURRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 50,000.*AK

Mileage: 50,000

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND LEFT IDLING, UPON RETURNING THERE WAS FIRE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THERE WERE NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION THE INSURANCE COMPANY DETERMINED THE FIRE STARTED IN THE AREA AROUND THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR WIRING. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FILED A REPORT. THE FIRE DESTROYED THE VEHICLE AND THE CONTACT'S HOME.

Mileage: 106,000

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND LEFT IDLING, UPON RETURNING THERE WAS FIRE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THERE WERE NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION THE INSURANCE COMPANY DETERMINED THE FIRE STARTED IN THE AREA AROUND THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR WIRING. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FILED A REPORT. THE FIRE DESTROYED THE VEHICLE AND THE CONTACT'S HOME.

Mileage: 106,000

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND LEFT IDLING, UPON RETURNING THERE WAS FIRE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THERE WERE NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION THE INSURANCE COMPANY DETERMINED THE FIRE STARTED IN THE AREA AROUND THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR WIRING. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FILED A REPORT. THE FIRE DESTROYED THE VEHICLE AND THE CONTACT'S HOME.

Mileage: 106,000

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE LOST POWER WHILE GOING UP HILL. LATER, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD. AFTER LIFTING THE HOOD FLAMES CAME OUT. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AFTERWARDS TO ENSURE IT WAS CONTAINED. UPON INSPECTION THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE FIRE STARTED IN THE AREA AROUND THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR WIRING. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP AWAITING REPAIRS.

Mileage: 36,500

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE LOST POWER WHILE GOING UP HILL. LATER, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD. AFTER LIFTING THE HOOD FLAMES CAME OUT. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AFTERWARDS TO ENSURE IT WAS CONTAINED. UPON INSPECTION THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE FIRE STARTED IN THE AREA AROUND THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR WIRING. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP AWAITING REPAIRS.

Mileage: 36,500

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE LOST POWER WHILE GOING UP HILL. LATER, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD. AFTER LIFTING THE HOOD FLAMES CAME OUT. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AFTERWARDS TO ENSURE IT WAS CONTAINED. UPON INSPECTION THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE FIRE STARTED IN THE AREA AROUND THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR WIRING. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP AWAITING REPAIRS.

Mileage: 36,500

AT STOP LIGHT NOTICED BROWNISH/GRAY SMOKE COMING THROUGH VENTS & FROM UNDER THE HOOD. PULLED TO SIDE & LIFTED HOOD. NOTICED FLAMES IN AREA OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD (ENGINE). FIRE DEPARTMENT CALLED & PUT FLAMES OUT. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK REPORTED TO MECHANIC AT THE DEALERSHIP THAT THERE WAS A STRONG ODOR OF GAS SINCE JAN. 19, 1995, HOWEVER THEY WERE UNABLE TO INDICATE SOURCE OR FIND ANY PROBLEM PRIOR TO FIRE. *MJS

I HOPE I HAVE CONTACTED THE CORRECT WEBSITE ADDRESS. IF NOT PLEASE FORGIVE ME. I HAVE THE OCCASION TO DRIVE MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF VEHICLES MADE BY MANY MANUFACTURERS, AND FEEL I HAVE FOUND A MAJOR SAFETY SHORTCOMING. ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION, I HAVE HAD THE NEED TO SOUND THE HORN. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE HORN BUTTON IS IN A DIFFERENT LOCATION ON EACH CAR. IT IS OFTEN HARD TO FIND AS WELL WHICH CAN BE A PROBLEM WHEN YOU HAVE TO REACT SWIFTLY. I BELIEVE THE NTSA SHOULD STANDARDIZE THE HORN LOCATION AND DESIGN, AND REQUIRE MANUFACTURER'S OF AUTOMOBILES TO COMPLY. THE HORN BUTTON SHOULD BE LARGE ( LIKE A FORD TAURUS NOT LIKE A JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE), EASY TO FIND AND IN THE SAME LOCATION ON ALL VEHICLES. I BELIEVE THIS SAFETY FEATURE WOULD REDUCE ACCIDENTS AND POSSIBLY SAVE LIVES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. .......BRIAN SLOCUM, RT2 BOX163, MILLBROOK, NY 12545. *AK

WHEN AIR CONDITONING IS USED VEHICLE STALLS. ALSO THERE IS A LOSS STEERING POWER. COMPUTER MODULE HAS BEEN REPLACED, BUT PROBLEM REMAINS. *AK

DROVE VEHICLE ABOUT 3 MILES, ENGINE BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH. WENT BACK HOME AND CUT VEHICLE OFF, SAW SMOKE AND RAISED THE HOOD AND FIRE WAS COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD OF VEHICLE. *AK

LEAKING BATTERY ACID CAUSES A SHORT IN A COOLING FAN MOTOR LOCATED DIRECTLY BELOW THE BATTERY CAUSES FIRES IN 1993 AND OLDER MODEL MAZDA RX-7S. THIS WILL NOT SHOW IN A FIRE INVESTIGATION, AS THE INSULATION WILL BE BURNED AWAY. THIS CAN EXPLAIN THE MULTIPLE FIRES IN PARKED, COOL VEHICLES.

ALTERNATOR SHORTED OUT AND CAUSED THE CAR TO CATCH ON FIRE.

ALTERNATOR SHORTED OUT AND CAUSED THE CAR TO CATCH ON FIRE.

ALTERNATOR SHORTED, CAUSING FIRE.

ALTERNATOR SHORTENED OUT, CAUSING FIRE.

INTERMITTENT STALLING. *AK

THE VEHICLE STARTS BUCKING WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEEED/ANY RPM AND IN ANY GEAR, MOST NOTICEABLE AT 35-40 MPH, ABOUT 2500 RPMS. IN THE SHOP (9) TIMES FOR THIS CONDITION IN THE PAST (3) MONTHS.*AK

FAILED ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT CAUSED SUDDEN ACCELERATION/ACCIDENT. *DH

BATTERY REPLACED DUE TO BATTERY ACID LEAKING ONTO ENGINE. *SD

BATTERY EXPLODED, CAUSING ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE, INCLUDING POWER DOOR LOCKS WHICH CAUSED DRIVER TO BE LOCKED INSIDE OF VEHICLE. *SKD