RX-7 Glossary

RX-7 Glossary

ABS - Anti-lock Brake System - prevents skidding and enhances car control during braking; the 3rd gen RX-7 has a 3 channel (two front, one rear) system

AIR PUMP - Pumps air into the exhaust and main catalytic converter to reduce pollution

ANTIROLL BAR (Sway Bar, Stabilizer Bar) - Suspension piece that limits the amount of body roll while cornering

ASP - A Street Prepared, SCCA racing class for highly modified cars

AST - Air Separation Tank - removes bubbles from coolant, often cracks and leaks, see the Coolant Tank Elimination how-to to get rid of it

ATDC - BTDC - After (Before) Top Dead Center, term used for adjusting ignition timing

BLOW-OFF VALVE - valve that bleeds off excessive boost pressure when the throttle is closed (like between shifts) by dumping air from the intake

BOOST - Intake pressure created by the turbocharger - given in pounds per square inch (PSI) or bar (metric), see the Manual Boost Controller how-to to adjust boost

BOOST CREEP - Slow rise of max boost at high rpm - caused by inadequate size of the wastegate

BOOST SPIKE - Sudden rise in turbo boost pressure, caused by second turbo coming online around 4500 rpm in modified 3rd gen RX-7's, see the Manual Boost Controller how-to for a way to reduce spiking

CFDF - Center Force Dual Friction clutch, recommended by the mail list but seems inadequate for drag racing

CRANE HI-6 - Ignition amplifier, increases strength of ignition spark, only needed when running higher than stock boost

CYM - Rare RX-7 exterior color, Competition Yellow Mica

ECU - Electronic Control Unit - the computer brain that controls the engine

EFINI - Japanese name for the 3rd gen RX-7

EGR - Exhaust Gas Recirculation valve - pollution control device that injects a small amount of exhaust gas into the intake stream to decrease combustion temperature and nitrous oxides

EVC - Electronic Valve Controller - Computer controlled boost controller (controls the wastegate)

FCD - Fuel Cut Defenser - prevents the ECU from cutting fuel to the rear rotor when boost pressure exceeds approximately 11-13 psi, should only be used with GReddy FCON because it tells the ECU boost is lower than actual

FC3S - Another term for second generation RX-7 (1986 - 1991)

FD3S - Another term for third generation RX-7 (1993 - now)

FCON - Fuel CONtroller - Piggyback fuel controller that prevents a modified engine from running lean by fooling the ECU into supplying more fuel to the engine when at full throttle

GReddy - After-market performance parts manufacturer

HKS - After-market performance parts manufacturer

INTERCOOLER - (IC) A radiator-like device that hot, compressed air from the turbo flows through for cooling - increases horsepower and lowers risk of detonation

KOKO - Key On, Key Off - can temporarily cure some boost problems, it does a soft reset of the ECU

LSD - Limited Slip Differential - sends torque to the wheel that is spinning the least - all 3rd generation RX-7's have them

MAP - Manifold Absolute Pressure sensor (manifold pressure)

MM - Mostly Mazda, after-market parts maker and repair shop

N/A - Normally Aspirated (non-turbo), all 3rd gen RX-7's are turbocharged

NOS - Nitrous Oxide System - Nitrogen Oxide gas (and usually additional fuel) is injected into the intake to increase power

O2 SENSOR - OXYGEN SENSOR - tells the ECU how much oxygen is present in the exhaust, more O2 = lean mixture, less = rich (not used during wide open throttle)

OEM - (OE) Original Equipment Manufacturer

PEG - (PEP in 95) Popular Equipment Group (Package) - Sunroof, Rear Cargo Cover, Leather. In 1995, fog lights were added to PEG. Reading from the 1994 window sticker: 1PE POPULAR EQUIPMENT GROUP $1800

PFS - Peter Farrell Supercars - After-market performance parts manufacturer

PIGGYBACK ENGINE CONTROLLER - A non-stand-alone engine/fuel computer that works with the stock ECU such as the EFI PMS. The Motec and Wolf 3D computers are stand-alone--they eliminate the stock ECU

PMC - Powertrain Management Computer (PFS Purple Computer) - Piggyback engine control computer that controls boost, timing, and fuel, very programmable; sold by PFS, made by EFI

PMS - Programable Management System by EFI Systems - piggyback engine control computer that controls boost, timing, and fuel, very programmable, same unit as the PFS PMC

PROFEC - GReddy boost controller - electronically controls the wastegate to control boost, uses "fuzzy logic" to learn your car's boost pattern

PROFEC B - Similar to PROFEC but less programming and no "fuzzy logic"

R1 (93), R2 (94,95) - Sport tuned suspension version of the 3rd generation RX-7

RB - Racing Beat - High quality Japanese parts supplier

REBIC III - Used to control additional fuel injectors - GReddy

REBIC SIM - Allows more control of REBIC III - GReddy

SCCA - Sports Car Club of America

SS - Stainless Steel

SST - Special Service Tool, term used in the RX-7 Workshop Manual

SWAY BAR - See Antiroll Bar

TOURING - Equipment option (leather interior, sunroof, Bose sound, etc.)

TPS - Throttle Position Sensor

VR - RX-7 exterior color, Vintage Red

WASTEGATE - Valve that controls turbo boost pressure by allowing exhaust to bypass the turbo

WFO - WOT - Wide F'ing Open, Wide Open Throttle

Didn't find what you were looking for? Let me know and I'll add it: mailto:rob@robrobinette.com