79 sa harness on an 85 12a no spark :/
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,082
Likes: 16
From: Pasadena, MD
79 sa harness on an 85 12a no spark :/
like the title says, i have an 85 12a (and distributor) in my 79 limted rx7. was running great, then went to start it and nothing... no spark.
after fooling with the wires a little and replacing the dizzy rotor and the main coil, she fired up! Well after a few minutes warming up, i took her out for a drive and she drove great.
first stop at autozone for some parts, came back out and nothing.. took the plug out and confirmed no spark again
i guess something came loose on the drive or whatever it was, it only affects starting? maybe ignition piece by the keys?
oh the main fuse was also blown. after replacing it has not blown since nor have i gottan spark
While at autozone i put a new dizzy cap on it as well. plug wires are all good and i know my wiring system still has the resistors in it for the points dizzy that came on the oem engine (brings volts down from 12v to 9v, but w/e still drove fine with the 9v, just an fyi to everyone). I just rewired the 4 wires going from the dizzy to the two coils and still no luck. the wires each had 1 or 2 butt connectors on them and appeared to be 10+ years old so i figured it wouldnt hurt and i might get lucky and that be it. no luck still
sooooo i guess what im asking is... what could go bad while driving that would allow me to continue driving fine until i get to my destination and then after i shut off the car it would not let the car start again - no spark. ??
after fooling with the wires a little and replacing the dizzy rotor and the main coil, she fired up! Well after a few minutes warming up, i took her out for a drive and she drove great.
first stop at autozone for some parts, came back out and nothing.. took the plug out and confirmed no spark again
i guess something came loose on the drive or whatever it was, it only affects starting? maybe ignition piece by the keys?
oh the main fuse was also blown. after replacing it has not blown since nor have i gottan spark
While at autozone i put a new dizzy cap on it as well. plug wires are all good and i know my wiring system still has the resistors in it for the points dizzy that came on the oem engine (brings volts down from 12v to 9v, but w/e still drove fine with the 9v, just an fyi to everyone). I just rewired the 4 wires going from the dizzy to the two coils and still no luck. the wires each had 1 or 2 butt connectors on them and appeared to be 10+ years old so i figured it wouldnt hurt and i might get lucky and that be it. no luck still
sooooo i guess what im asking is... what could go bad while driving that would allow me to continue driving fine until i get to my destination and then after i shut off the car it would not let the car start again - no spark. ??
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,082
Likes: 16
From: Pasadena, MD
really!? no one??
sigh,, a few people on the first gen rx7 facebook page have said ignition switch,,
which, im assuming is this guy?
https://www.rockauto.com/catalog/mor...nid=405&jpid=0
before i go spending over $150,, do i have other options? like bypassing that piece ^ and running everything through toggle switches or just putting the money out for an msd6al set up since that's practically a stand alone ignition set up.
last question, if this is ignition only with starting and not while driving, would i be able to bump start the vehicle? might give that a shot today
sigh,, a few people on the first gen rx7 facebook page have said ignition switch,,
which, im assuming is this guy?
https://www.rockauto.com/catalog/mor...nid=405&jpid=0
before i go spending over $150,, do i have other options? like bypassing that piece ^ and running everything through toggle switches or just putting the money out for an msd6al set up since that's practically a stand alone ignition set up.
last question, if this is ignition only with starting and not while driving, would i be able to bump start the vehicle? might give that a shot today
It could be your ignition switch. Mine is getting finicky if I hold the key the wrong way. I just get
a click instead of full starter initiation. I had serviced it about 20 years ago for symptoms like
you are having and ended up replacing it.
BTW, the ignition switch is the gizmo attached to the tumbler that the ignition key goes into.
See ignition switch on this page 79-85 Chassis Electrical
a click instead of full starter initiation. I had serviced it about 20 years ago for symptoms like
you are having and ended up replacing it.
BTW, the ignition switch is the gizmo attached to the tumbler that the ignition key goes into.
See ignition switch on this page 79-85 Chassis Electrical
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,082
Likes: 16
From: Pasadena, MD
I'll check out both of the above! Thank you
Last edited by Sh00bs; Oct 8, 2015 at 10:48 AM.
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Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,082
Likes: 16
From: Pasadena, MD
fixed! still no spark, and now my GEN and ADD OIL lights are light up on the dash where as before it was only my COOLANT light
lol...
i guess i'll take the switch apart and see how the inside looks.
On the plus side im picking up a '78 parts car on monday that i could swap the igntion from and see if i have any luck with another one
lol...
i guess i'll take the switch apart and see how the inside looks.
On the plus side im picking up a '78 parts car on monday that i could swap the igntion from and see if i have any luck with another one
Full Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 136
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From: Kenmore, NY
When you take the ignition switch apart, do it someplace where when the springs and other metal tabs pop out, you'll find them.
My 79 started intermittently cutting out a few years back, and I traced it to the ignition switch by jiggling the keys to get the connection back. So I took it apart, found the crimped edges were no longer holding the part with the wires soldered on it.
After figuring out where all the parts went when they went everywhere when I opened it up I put a zip tie around it the long way to hold it all together tight. Been working fine ever since.
My 79 started intermittently cutting out a few years back, and I traced it to the ignition switch by jiggling the keys to get the connection back. So I took it apart, found the crimped edges were no longer holding the part with the wires soldered on it.
After figuring out where all the parts went when they went everywhere when I opened it up I put a zip tie around it the long way to hold it all together tight. Been working fine ever since.
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,082
Likes: 16
From: Pasadena, MD
When you take the ignition switch apart, do it someplace where when the springs and other metal tabs pop out, you'll find them.
My 79 started intermittently cutting out a few years back, and I traced it to the ignition switch by jiggling the keys to get the connection back. So I took it apart, found the crimped edges were no longer holding the part with the wires soldered on it.
After figuring out where all the parts went when they went everywhere when I opened it up I put a zip tie around it the long way to hold it all together tight. Been working fine ever since.
My 79 started intermittently cutting out a few years back, and I traced it to the ignition switch by jiggling the keys to get the connection back. So I took it apart, found the crimped edges were no longer holding the part with the wires soldered on it.
After figuring out where all the parts went when they went everywhere when I opened it up I put a zip tie around it the long way to hold it all together tight. Been working fine ever since.
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,082
Likes: 16
From: Pasadena, MD
correct however i am unsure how to, can i just remove them and not need to wire anything back together? just electrical tape the two or three ends that were bolted to the resistors or do i need to connect them together..?
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,082
Likes: 16
From: Pasadena, MD