My brother has a 79 RX7. Won't start. Not even crank. But everything else powers up. What things should I check?

 

Sounds like its a starter....

Check to see if its getting power, has a good ground and if you get 12V at the little wire that clips onto the solenoid when you turn the key.
If you have 12v or more on the little clip, the big battery cable, and theres a good ground its the starter.

If Its not getting power your gonna want to look at your fusible links, fuses, and battery cables, depending on what has power and what doesnt.

Does the starter even make a click noise when you turn the key?






P.S. before anyone beats me to it.....SEARCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Start with a fully charged battery, clean all of the battery cable connections at both ends, check the ignition wire that goes to the starter solenoid. Post more details on exactly what you are doing to try to start it and what the car is or is not doing.

Welcome to the forum and the Darkside. For more help on trouble shooting, check my sig line for the link to the online FSMs and witing diagrams.

 

You could check the FAQ's, but as far as quick ideas, I second the starter, or outside chance I would check to make sure the ignition is grounded. Yesterday my buddies and I had that exact problem after some electrical work on his car, we just forgot to hook up one of the grounds.

 

I third the thought behind the starter, and I would also check to see if you can perhaps push start it. I mean if it isn't even cranking, then clearly something with the starter (whether it be wiring to the starter or the starter itself) is bad. I would just be extra precautious and make sure it will in fact start.

 

ive had this problem on both my sevens , both times it was a bad ground (dirty batt. terminal). does the starter at least make a clicking noise when trying to start?

 

ill tell u this from experience MAKE SURE THE NEGATIVE CABLE IS GOIN TO THE BODY AND IS CONNECTED TO THE NEGATIVE POST i have done it backwards.
Let the roasting begin

 

LOL, I can't believe nobody suggested fusible links yet. I almost didn't even check this thread, figuring that it had been covered. Although, now that I think of it, do 79s have fusible links?

 

Yes, three of them, just like 81 - 83. IIRC, 84 -85 have a couple more.

 

Thanks for all the info guys. I took the starter off this morning and had it checked. The starter was bad. Have a question about the fusable links. Where are they, and what do they affect if they burn out?

 

Fusible links are located on the driver's side strut tower. What's affected depends on what link burned up. IIRC, one of the outer ones is for the retractable headlights, the other outer is for the lighting system, and the other is for the ignition/starting system. That's the short answer, based on my memory.

Scroll up to trochoid's post and follow the link to the manuals. Download the 1980 manual (s1, basically the same as 1979) and the 1979 wiring diagram. They're all on the same web page. Read them, and many of your questions will be answered. For those that aren't, you'll at least have a better idea of what to ask and how to understand the answers.

 

Its up there... I just didnt focus on it because it could be one of many things.

 

You guys have been a great help. Suckers cranking now. Put a new starter, battery, and cables on it. Fusable links were ok. Next question is were is the fuel filter?

 

Under the car, under the storage bins on the driver's side there is a plate you take off, it will be the location for your fuel pump and fuel filter.

This is entirely assuming that they are in the same location in a '79 as what they are in later years.

 

Never mind. Looked at the manual through the posted links.

 

You get an 'atta boy' cookie for using the FSM and having only 4 posts.

Your next step with the 79 is to convert is to electronic ignition and get rid of the points system, only 7 to have them was the 79. You will need to find 2 j-109 ignitors, 2 12 volts coils. wire and wire connectors. If you can find an 80-85 7 in the junkyard, pull the dizzy, keep and cut the wire harness connected to it, grab the coils, then find the write up for the conversion.