Picking your brains

V

Velvethead

Newbie
Joined
Jan 31, 2025
Messages
2
Location
East Rockaway, New York
Vehicle Details
1994 Cougar RX-7 4.6l
Country flag
I just joined your group. I'm enthused to get your thoughts and recommendations.
I have a 1994 XR-7 w/ the 4.6l in the garage that i intend to cherry up and put back on the road soon. 80K miles. Runs great. No drips.
Some questions for all of you.
Where is the fuel filter located?
Are there/where particular grease points?
Where to get window motors on line (both sides gone. nylon gears shot). Just Ebay it?
Thoughts on replacing transmission filter and fluid (the endless debate).
 
Hey! Its great to have you around and it sounds like a beautiful car, post some photos when you get the chance, we would love to see it.
In regards to your questions i can answer some and others will also provide great input
Velvethead said:
Where is the fuel filter located?
Click to expand...
On the 3.8l v-6 like mine, its along the passenger side frame rail just on the inside, on the 4.6 v8 I dont know if its the same or not, someone else will be able to tell you for sure.
Velvethead said:
Are there/where particular grease points?
Click to expand...
I'm not sure as I have not found any on mine, again someone else can provide more input
Velvethead said:
Where to get window motors on line (both sides gone. nylon gears shot). Just Ebay it?
Click to expand...
Here you've got a couple of options you can buy new motors or you can just buy a rebuild kit for the gears themselves, I have done both with success. Ebay is an option but Rock Auto I believe has both the rebuild kits and the motors which may or may not be cheaper. An expensive option is also Super Coupe Performance which sells the rebuild kit but its a little expensive. If you want a motor, I've had good results with the doorman made unit.
Velvethead said:
Thoughts on replacing transmission filter and fluid (the endless debate).]
Click to expand...
If the fluid is still somewhat red then I say replace it and a new filter as it can't cause damage, don't flush it as that can push debris into the tiny passage ways in the transmission and cause it to fail. Use a high quality filter and the correct fluid and you shouldn't have any problems, there are some great articles and discussion about the correct fluid to use to avoid any issues (basically we don't use the new low viscosity fluids that are all over the market)

I hope this is some help, also I don't know know everything so for anyone else, please correct anything I might have got wrong or missed. This is a great community where we all help each other welcome aboard.
 
As Jae said, the fuel filter should be underneath the car almost under where the passenger seat would be.

The OEM ball joints, tie rod ends, and sway bar end links were sealed so they do not have grease fittings on them. If some or all of those have been replaced with aftermarket then they may have zerk fittings on them.

If you can hear the window motors working, but nothing is happening, then I would just replace the gear dowels and they should be operational again. Cheapest and easiest. That and I have a distrust of aftermarket motors like that.

You can drop the transmission filter pan and there is also a drain plug on the torque converter. You should be able to drain around 12 quarts if you drain both. Use Mercon V to refill. If you want, you can also replace the pan with an aftermarket unit with a drain plug in it. Word to the wise, 94 & 95 were not great years for the 4R70W transmission.
 
The 94 trans is an early iteration of the 4R70W and has many "low hanging fruit" improvements that can be made by an at-home mechanic with basic tools. See Jerry's Thesis and the J-Mod articles in the transmission section for full details... The deep sump pan and filter along with updated accumulator pistons and increasing the hole size of several fill orifices in the valve body separator plate really improves longevity and performance of the unit.
 
You guys are great!
I'll watch endless episodes of Vice Grip Garage, but my crawling under the car days have passed.
I'll most likely have the filter and fluid changed since I have no idea if it has ever been. Thanks for the upgrade info.
I pulled the door panels. Saw a YT vid on what it takes to get those motors out and in. Yeeesh. I'll get new motors and have the auto body guy do it with the whiskey dent work.
I'll roll out the car once the weather breaks and take photos.
Stay warm.
 
Welcome! You found the best site to get your MN12 up and running. Looking forward to seeing your progress and getting it back on the road. Sounds like you have a low miles car. :)
 
When you have the filter and fluid changed on the trans, order a pan and a filter for a 97 instead of a 94. The only difference is it has a dip in the center which helps prevent it from sucking air on hard turns, and the filter pickup goes down into that dip. Also if you get the Dorman pan, it is a nice piece and has a drain plug in it, which makes future fluid changes quick and easy!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Back
Top