Waytoomanycars

Hi, Sorry for the long post but I’m providing as much information as possible to help with this problem.

I’ve read a number at threads and help sites to try to resolve this problem but can’t find anything specific to the problem I am having.

A month or so ago I attempted to start my RX7 and found that I had no ignition lights in the “On” position together with no fuel pump or any other relay clicks. Turning the key to “Start” gives a number of under-bonnet clicks, ignition lights and fuel pump but the starter throw out solenoid does not activate and the starter does not turn. Headlights & radio still work.

Battery is new and fully charged.

Suspecting that the ignition switch was at fault I checked all terminals at the rear and find 12v from
battery to White/Red, 12v from “IGN” (black/ White) when key turned to “on” position, 12v from “S” when key turned to start. Still no starter activity though.

On testing voltage at the fuse panel I find that there is zero voltage at the “IGN” block of fuses. Bridging the link between the “IGN” terminal on the Ignition Switch and the IGN block on the fuse box resolves the voltage problem and restores ignition lights however does not resolve the starting issue.

According to the information I can find online and in my service manual the link between the ignition switch and fuse box should be direct between the 2 so I would have assumed that resolving this issue would have fixed my problem, but it hasn’t.

This leaves me with 2 questions.

1. Is the wiring between the “IGN” terminal and the “IGN” block of fuses direct (or does it pass through a relay or other terminal / junction / device).

2. If it is direct, what else have I missed?

I have tested the starter & Solenoid, both operate correctly. All connections in the starter system have been cleaned & tightened. Battery terminals have been cleaned & tightened. Fusible links on strut tower have been replaced with plug in fuses.

There is an immobiliser fitted (A jack plug in-dash type). The red LED flashes as normal with the plug out and goes out when inserted. Manually operating the relays linked to this will also restore IGN lights but does not resolve the starting issue. I suspect therefore that the original direct link from IGN to the ignition block of fuses now goes through the immobiliser (Can’t confirm
without undoing my Wiring harness).

Now it’s just getting annoying! Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,

Richard.

KansasCityREPU

iTrader: (9)

The 1979 wiring diagram does show another fuseable link in the steering column area between the switch and the strater.


http://www.foxed.ca/rx7manual/manual...ingDiagram.pdf

Service manuals can be found here: Foxed.ca

GSLSEforme

Remove the car alarm/immobilizer from the car, These things are THE weak link in electrical/starting system. Having repaired many no starts in 1st gens and many other cars that center around failed security system wiring and components and poor installation of said equipment it is the 1st place i'd look for your problems. Strongly suspect it and or how it's wired into your car as common denominator for your troubles.

Waytoomanycars

So after another day of pulling & replacing relays, cleaning connections, re-doing earths I have finally found that none of those were to blame!

Instead I found a dry soldered joint half way along my “IGN” wire from the switch to the fuse panel. Looks like someone soldered something to it previously, maybe an amplifier or something? In any case I’ve resoldered it and fixed that side of things. My upside down soldering skills still need some work though! A very unpleasant job!

Now I’ve got it turning over just fine but it has flooded! It has always flooded very easily but I thought I had rectified this by modifying my starting procedure. Apparently not! Any tips for starting without flooding? It has only ever started with full choke which I then have to push virtually all the way in as soon as it fires and then keep the revs up until it warms up and idles smoothly. I’m thinking a carb rebuild is in the cards, it floods so quickly that I imagine the float valve could be stuck open!

Waytoomanycars

Further to my last......while the ignition problem was traced to a dry joint the starter problem was all of my own doing! After bench testing the starter I failed to reconnect the solenoid wire!

if anyone can offer a solution for the flooding though it would be greatly appreciated.