mwpayne

Crawled under to take off an apparently dead starter, the top bolt has no head! Maybe 1/8" of threads are sticking out. I haven't put pliers or anything on it yet, hoping you guys may have a miracle method for getting the starter off or the bolt out. Ideas??

WackyRotary

That one comes out from in front of the starter. It goes through the tranny and the bolt head is on the engine side. Good luck.

mwpayne

OOHhhh!! So, the bolt head is on the other side, right?

Not the same side as the bottom bolt?

Wankelguy

mwpayne

Ok, I sheepishly accept the "RX-7club.com-idiot-but-sorry-it's-my-first-starter-of-the-week award....

Anyway, I hooked up the solenoid to the batt, it engages. Wasn't doing that on the car. HMmm, I cleaned connections, bet my headaches are elsewhere.
I got a haynes, I'll find it! If not prepare yourselves for more idiotic questions....

Wankelguy

Try reinstalling the starter and see if it works now. If it doesn't, disconnect the spade lug that goes on the solenoid and verify that it gets 12V when the key switch is turned to the start position.

...Been waiting for the perfect opportunity to use the DOH! smiley, just funnin' with ya'! -Mike

mwpayne

Oh, I know all in fun!!!

I reinstalled the starter, still no workee. In search of voltmeter...the fun continues! (No kidding, it can be frustrating, but its a hoot working on these things!)

Thanks!

mwpayne

No voltage. There seems to be a red wire jumpered at the fusable link block, on the 'main' line.
I'm still lookin' on my own, but will grateful for kind suggestions...

Wankelguy

Have you checked all the fusible links and fuses? Sometimes a fuse can open up inside the little metal cap and you can't see the break, but it's there. If the fuses are all good, I'd check out the ignition switch first verifying that you have 12V at the switches input (white wire w/ red stripe) and then verifying that the various terminals (ign, acc, start) go to 12V when the key switch is in the corresponding position. If the key switch checks out okay, I'd look at the starting relay next. There isn't a whole lot more to it, you'll probably have found the problem by then. Good luck! -Mike

mwpayne

I'm going to have the starter checked in the next day or so. Hmm, starter relay, where is that?