bad starter?
 

well, i went to start the7 and and all i got was "click" i thought it was the battery but i put it on a charger overnight and i just get click. the engine is not locked up becouse i can rock the car back and forth in gear and watch the pullys turn. where do you think i should start? also when i turn the key the positive terminal sparks for some reason, i can't see any bare wires. :wallbash:

Check for grounds and tap on the starter with a pole or something.

yeah i would say its a bad starter, does ur dash light up, if it does and u got goo voltage on ur battery gauge its mot likely a starter.

yes, the dash lights up and the voltmeter reads about 11 volts, the head lights dim a littel when i turn the key. thanks for the help

thats good news.but like mazd12ags said chack all the grounds, tap the starter and if nothing from that replace it. no problem. just trying to help.:icon_tup:

same thing happend on mine.. check all connectioins on the starter

Hey 85:) I have just gone thru this very situation. I did EVERYTHING I possibly could as well. My starter clicked like yours and my battery was strong. You should try pulling the small wire off the solenoid on the starter and try using a wire to arc between the clip and the terminal where the positive battery cable is connected. If the starter just clicks...then you know that the problem is not your ignition. Of course make sure that your battery terminals are making good connection.

If you cant get it to turn over, you will need to remove the starter and take it to your local auto parts and have it tested. However you shouldnt put much stock in a bench test, because I had my old starter tested and it seemed to work. I put it back into my car and it just continued to click. I put an AutoLite remanufactured starter in my car...that was supposed to be the same as my old starter...and the new starter spun, but did not contact the flywheel. I ended up taking my RX7 into a Mazda dealership and they are ordering a Mazda starter...which is a lot more money than the aftermarket one I bought. So be careful when buying an aftermarket starter. The old starter that I took out, had a NAPA sticker on it, so you might have better luck buying a starter from them. Good luck. It is a good thing that the starter is pretty easy to work on.

same happend to me, new starter and it works again

yes, the dash lights up and the voltmeter reads about 11 volts, the head lights dim a littel when i turn the key. thanks for the help. edit- sorry about the re post it was an accident.

ok thanks! so if it is the starter how much do they cost?

$60ish from blackdragon

$108 for one with a lifetime warranty from Napa. Though my starters are going out like crazy. I'm on my third one in five months. I have to have a draw in the electrical system somewhere because it is always the solenoid and not the motor.

wow man sounds like you got a prob there...id rather push start than pay that much...i actually did push start mine for a week until i got around to cleaning the terminals! haha kinda sucked but o well

well i finaly got around to haveing the starter tested yesterday and it came out ok, so i went back to checking the wiring, and on the blue wire with white stripe that goes to the terminal on the solenoid there is no voltage, it looks like the fuseable link was removed and in its place is a normal wire. anyway i traced the wire back to what i think is the hot start relay- it has four wires going to it 1 black, 1green w/red stripe, 1 blue w/white stripe, and another blue w/ white stripe that is one size bigger than the other and it goes to the starter . with the ignition on there is voltage at the smaller blue w/white wire that goes to the relay. i have removed the hot start motor because i have the rb intake kit, do you think the relay could be the problem? 85gs 12a 5sp

bump, anyone know?

bump for help please.

ok, anyone know how to test the relay?

someone....anyone......please! please! someone must know how to test a relay. :wallbash: :wallbash: :wallbash:

do i even need the hot start relay to start the car? i have the main positive from the battery going to the top post on the solanoid, and the blk w/yellow wire going to the clip terminal. there is no power coming from blue w/ wht wire form the hot start relay. please help :wallbash:

Don't see a how the hot assist would effect the operaton of a starter. Your wire from the battery to the top post is always hot and when you turn the key to the start position, the BY wire with the clip terminal should energize causing the motor to engage. If you have a grounding issue then nothing will happen. Might start by measuring the voltage between the main positive and a grounding point on the starter. If reading low or no voltage, check your grounding. If measuring a solid 12v, move to your BY wire. This will require someone holding the ignition in the start position. If measuring 12v, you should be good to go. If not, you will have to work back to find the issue. Maybe someone that has actually shared your issue will eventually chime in, I have not and base my suggestions off of schematics.