WalkerCaroll

After taking my upper intake and lower intake off so that I could clean the ports and do the pineapple sleeves, I put the stuff back on again. But once I finished putting all that back on again it wouldn't start. The first time I tried to start it, the car tried its best but died out after letting off throttle. The second time was exactly the same but it lasted a little longer. After that, the car would just shut off all electronics as soon as I turned the key to anything, accessory as well. After checking for grounds and putting jumper cables to it, the car did the same thing as it did the very first time, just started and died. One thing I noted though was that if I turned the headlights on, the car's electronics will all turn off as if normal, but as soon as I turn the key to try and start it, all the gauges and dials will just shut off and it won't even try to crank. Have I done something horribly wrong or is it just a mixed up grounding or wire?

snivley whiplash

iTrader: (4)

this sounds like a ground issue, check the battery connections and the ground lead there it connects to the chassis and engine. make sure you did not miss the ground wire in the intake as well. take a good long look around you missed something.

WalkerCaroll

What I removed was: The upper intake manifold w/throttle body, airbox and hose. Lower intake manifold.

What grounds are there that I could have forgotten? Are there any diagrams that I could look at? Because the factory service manual I've looked at doesn't exactly show anything.

But does a grounding issue really cause an issue like that? Because it doesn't exactly sound like an important issue.

wallyrx7

iTrader: (1)

What you are describing engine wise sounds just like a vacuum leak to me/ air is getting into the intake after the MAF .

But this of course would not cause electrical issues.
Is this electrical issue happening after you have started the car several times and the battery is drained? If so I think you are getting un-metered air in somewhere.

Did you put gasket sealer in between the upper and lower intake manifold?
Check the annoying two piece rubber intake is sealed properly in the center.
Make sure all hoses are attached
you get the picture...

My GSL-SE displayed these same symptoms when I bought it and it turned out to be the old rubber intake cracking.

WalkerCaroll

Yeah, I put the gaskets in correctly and all the hoses are connected. I'll need to check again to see if the air hose is perfect but I don't know of any reason why it would be bad all of a sudden. And the problem with the battery persisted even when I had them hooked up the mom's car via jumper cables. It was like it had just enough juice for one charge then it just died and didn't like to do anything. We could get the headlights up and on and then we couldn't get the headlights to go down. Im so confused

WalkerCaroll

But does anyone know what the problem with the battery could be? I took the negative connector off the batter around 2 weeks ago when I was removing the intake and I only just put it back on and it didn't seem to have much charge left. Would leaving it off have drained it?

wallyrx7

iTrader: (1)

If the issue persisted even when connected to another car then you can rule out the battery. Have you checked the fusible links? These can burn out but still half way connect giving you intermittent function.

WalkerCaroll

How do I check those links? My dad took the battery and got it checked and it was at 81% charge so thats not the problem. None of the fuses in the car were broken but I don't know what I'm looking at in the engine.

But would there be any reason why it could have burned out in the time between me taking the intake on and taking it off? I only disconnected like 4 connectors and once I put them back on this started happening. I've never had problems like this before I did that.

wallyrx7

iTrader: (1)

I will be honest with you I am not perticularly good at electrics. Do you own a multimeter? If not, getting one and learning to use it will be invaluable if you plan on keeping your rx7 in running shape

To test the fusible links you could check the resistence in Ohms going through them. Or just take them off and intspect them. Are they discolored or burnt on any portion? They are hard to find but if you go to a mazda dealer they can usually still order them for you.... get a bunch. Maybe just replace them anyway.

Aside from that I would just start searching the forum for gsle-se electrical issues. There is a wealth of knowledge on here hidden in old posts.

WalkerCaroll

New observation. Took some more looks at it today and when I tried to start it the electrics just cut off when I turn the key from "Lock" position to the any other position whether it be ACC or Start or whatever. The electrics just shut down and it won't even let me try to crank the engine.

WalkerCaroll

Anybody? Could it be the ignition?

Jeff20B

iTrader: (13)

Battery connection. My brother's GSL-SE did that once. The hood was up and I saw a small spark, which made it easy to diagnose.