This seems to be an intermittent problem. I can hear the starter spin, but the engine doesn't seem to be catching. Sometimes the engine catches, sometimes it doesn't. Any ideas? Bad starter? I'm not sure if this is a common problem on the 12a/FB or not.

Thanks.

 

Sounds like your starter is on its last legs...

 

sounds like bad cable/terminals

 

woohoo, differing solutions. I searched around and I found this thread:

https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...hlight=starter

From what people described, sounds like a bad starter. the starter is spinning before engaging the teeth of the flywheel.

I would think bad terminals/cable wouldn't even have the starter spin at all right?

 

Bad starter...same thing happened to me, it would engage and make a screechy noise bad when it was turning over, new started solved it along with a new alt.

 

Its easy to see if you take the starter out. It will be worn down or missing teeth.
Taking the starter out is a really simple job, just unscrew the bolts and disconnect the cables, then slide it out of the transmission casing. Installing is the same, but in the opposite order.

 

Bad cables/terminals would make it click, but not turn over. If the cables were loose, then it would happen every now and then. As in, start it on a cold morning once or twice, and if it dies again, then it won't start, only click. Or something to that effect. I went and bought a new starter when I had problems with mine, but when I got down underneath it, I found out that the cable was just loose and that the starter was missing one bolt. So I tightened down the cable, put in a bolt, and it starts up every time.

 

Thanks again for the replies guys.

From reading what everyone has said, i went ahead and purchasd a starter from autozone online. 69 bucks - the core charge and with free shipping. I'll keep you guys posted.

 

sorry but AUTOZONE, PEP BOYS are low quality. you're better off getting it rebuilt somewhere else. if you're in LA, I can give you referrals. Lifetime warranty but how many times would need to change it.

 

I replaced the starter drive in mine when I put it on the road. The roller clutch in it went bad and it would spin and engage but the roller clutch couldn't hold it.

 

don't mean to hijack, but where can you get a rebuild kit for the starter?