Hi everyone, my name is dan and i dont actually have an rx7 but my dad does. He has an 85 ( i think) gsl.
This car has been sitting for probably 4 or 5 years and my dad just brought it to my boss's house ( i work for a guy that builds custom hot rods). Well we got it all cleaned up, put new tires, new battery, and did some paint touch ups and gave it back to my dad. The next day when he was driving it all the idiot lights came on at once, well my dad had no idea what was causing it so he brought it back over to us, and since neither of us are very familiar with the wiring in these cars i was hoping i could pick the brains of some rx7 enthusiasts as to what might be going on here. So if any one has any ideas or suggestiongs i would greatly appreciate some input.

 

exhaust leak huh? is that this forums name for noobs heheh?

 

oh yeah one more thing, its a gsl se, not a gsl, i didnt know there was a difference

 

the main difference between the gsl's and gsl-se's is that the gsl-se has a 13b, which is a larger rotary engine than the 12a's that come in the gsl's and lower models.

Cant help you out with your "idiot lights" problem tho, sorry, im sure somebody will.

 

Check your alternator output.Also look around for some blown fuses possibly.....

 

Might be loosing your ground wire. I've seen that condition before and that's what it turned out to be. Good luck!

 

More than likely, the alternator has gone out, or the belt has broken - usually when all 'idiot' lights come on, it's due to the power signal from the engine causing havoc with the engine computer that controls the dash lighting.

Give that a look and report back. SE's aren't anything more complicated than the 12a models once you get used to them.

Welcome to the boards,

 

nope the alternator and the belts are fine the car drives good (but a good suggestion nonetheless cause that has happened to me before), i think that kentetsu may be right about the grounds, i may just have to get my multimeter out tommorow and start playing

 

oh yeah thats a sweet looking car long duck

 

The idiot lights are run by a 15 amp fuse in the fuse box inside the car, which also runs the back up lights.

Do the back up lights work?

 

Another thing to check is the Choke & Check Relay (Gold Box) ; Located on the driver side Fender Well w/2 other relays.
It should be stamped on top w/ above.
There is a 2 prong plug 1 wire B/W 1 wire W/B.
This plug sends a signal to turn the idiot lights on then off once the car is started.
Took me alittle searching here to find out that that Plug needed to be Plugged back in after a AC & Rats Nest Removel and a lot of other wires that I had figured I did not need.
Just a place for you to look at.

Hope it helps & Welcome to More Than You Ever Wanted to Know About & Spend $$$ Forum.

Every One hear has an answer or will get you in the right direction!!!
sgieldon
steve

 

Where in michigan are u from, and i would say check your grounds. When i swaped engines i missed my ecu ground and it caused all the dummy lights to come on

 

i live in flint

I feel like an idiot long duck was right the belt had broke, i should have looked before i took my dads word for it.
Those belts are not fun to change either, its a pain that you have to remove the fan and 2 other belts to get to the alternator belt.
thanks guys

 

Don't take the fan off!

You can change all the belts without messing with the fan or water pump by just 'winding' them around the fan blades to get them over the fan. Once there, it's a simple matter of loosening the AP mounting bolts (2x14mm) and the Alternator mounting bolt (1x14mm), and the A/C compressor mounts (1x14mm) and you're golden.

Also, since you have to get all the belts off to do the alternator, may I make the suggestion that you buy ALL NEW belts and do them all at once? With the sudden failure of the Alt belt, more than likely they were all changed the *last* time, and therefore you may have another belt on the verge of going out right now. Do them all, and you're sure that you won't have a similar problem shortly down the road.

Don't feel stupid - it's good that it's a simple fix. You would have been kicking yourself for all the WORK it would take to troubleshoot a more difficult electrical condition! Glad to help,