omgstimpy

ok so i have a 85 gsl se and i may sound dumb but idk what it could be so when i go to start my car its not everytime but its like 1 out of 6 times it happens when i go to start it it there is a sound in the front left side that sounds like a starter not catching or something i am not good with descriptions but idk what it could be could it be a coul? or what please go easy on me as to im new with rx7s haha let me know its annoying cause i have to give it gas then it will start other wise it sounds like when a starter is just spiining and nothing happens

BlackWorksInc

The solenoid may be going. If I understand what you are describing.

-Every once in a while the start sounds like it spins up, but does not mesh with the flywheel?

That sounds like the solenoid might be going...

Anyone else have a suggestion or correction to that?

diabolical1

iTrader: (3)

i'd agree with the starter solenoid being on it's way out.

however, you could start with simply checking all major electrical connections up top and down under. if you're up to it, you may also remove the starter and clean it up, then reinstall and see if makes any difference. sometimes it works.

SLIDN7

My 7 had the same problem so i took it out and the selenoid wasnt catching so just finished installing a new one an hour ago.
Pretty cheap $47.

omgstimpy

ok thank you i will check everything today and let everyone know what it is

LickyMYwalker

you mean it makes a click sound but it doesnt turn the engine over right?

let us know what you find!

Noxi

iTrader: (4)

Is it a click sound? or a spinning sound? I had a problem recently where I turned the key and all I would get is a click noise, after pulling and testing the starter I found out that the starter was almost brand new I found a 10 volt drop on my positive Battery Cable there was enouph power to get the clutch to kick out but not enough amperage to turn the flywheel at all, I replaced the end connection to the Battery terminal and it now runs like new

omgstimpy

well i didnt have time to look at it today but it doesnt click it just kind of whines like a starter brush not cathing or something

mazdaverx713b

iTrader: (91)

kinda sounds as if the bendix isnt kicking out but the drive gear is turning.. the first thing i would do is check the connections at the starter and battery and make sure they're tight and clean. next, if that doesnt help, remove the starter and have it tested. replace it if its faulty.

Starfox07

I'm most inclined to say that the starter itself is bad. Replace it, its not too difficult.

dmc83RX

I may be way out in left field, but if you are hearing a noise fron the left front, and you have to give it gas to get it started, the noise you are hearing may be the hot start assist motor dying.

trochoid

iTrader: (6)

Hearing just a whine, like something is spinning at high speed indicates the starter motor is spinning, but the solenoid isn't pushing out the starter gear to engage the flywheel. You can just replace the solenoid, but it's easier to replace the entire starter.

4portgsl

This may or may not be related, My starter used to grind every once in a while when i went to start it. It was the starter gear not engaging the flywheel and slipping. I thought it was the solenoid, but it turned out to be worn ring gear teeth on the flywheel. Good luck with your fix!

Starfox07

Happened on my Mustang as well, but it happens very rarely from what I've seen.

trochoid

iTrader: (6)

Piston engines have a tendency to stop in the same rotational position. This causes the starter to wear on the same set of ring gear teeth each time. Sucks when it happens with an auto tranny. I have yet to find a rotary that exhibits the same wear pattern on the ring gear.

BlackWorksInc

My 1982 RX7 did the same thing...

NewYorkLaw

There are a lot of similar threads, so rather than create a new one, I'm piggy-backing this one.

The prior owner replaced the starter with a cheap replacement at 35,000 miles and I bought the car at 36,000. Earlier this year, at 39,000 miles, my starter was occasionally grinding (1 out of 5 or 6 starts). I replaced the starter. I had a mechanic do it so that while up on the lift we could evaluate whether the flywheel looked damaged. It did not. We replaced the starter with an original mazda starter from a reliable source (used, not rebuilt).

That starter would make a grinding sound maybe once in every 10 or 15 starts, so I assume that somewhere on the flywheel are some bad teeth.

Yesterday, maybe 2,000 miles since the starter installation (6 months, give or take) of maybe 6 starts a week (3 days of round-trips to work), the starter simply whined and did not engage the flywheel at all. The battery and starter connections were clean (I cleaned anyway) and no luck. Battery is under 1 year old and is 100% fully charged. I tried banging on the starter to make it engage, but that won't help. I tried pushing the car while in gear to force the flywheel to move into a new position to start, but that never worked.

Push-starting the car was the only way to get it moving. While moving, I turned off the engine and tried restarting a few times, with no luck. I assumed that the flywheel would be in a different position each time. And, when I got home, I tried to restart it again, no luck.

Before I run out and get another starter, which I will install myself this time, what is the likelihood that that flywheel could be the culprit this time? That's my biggest fear. I am guessing that the entire flywheel could not have failed, and it would have started in *some* positions, even if there were some bad teeth, right? I'm also concerned, though, why I would be unlucky enough to have gone through another starter so relatively quickly.

EDIT: by the way, any recommendations on a source for my next starter?

Thanks for your thoughts...
Pete

speedracer_not

with cars as ancient as ours , why not replace the battery cables with 2 guage and see through insulation, gold connectors.

it is kinda **** retentive, but one less thing you have to worry about.

Starter recommendations? Stay away from AutoZone. Their starter went bad after 1 year of occasional use. Cragen lasted 6 years.

I have just installed one from NAPA, it sounds so smooth that I almost get an erection everytime I start my car.

Also make a wooden box to hold your battery. The wood will absorb the battery acid.

NewYorkLaw

Not a bad idea, I'll consider it. Although, the cables on my battery now appear fairly new. My car was in storage for about 10 years before the prior owner took it out of storage for a couple of years of use (before my year and half of ownership). My guess, based upon the box of receipts i got with the car, the cables were changed probably 5 years ago.

Anyway, ruling the cable out temporarily, do you have any other thoughts on my problem?

4portgsl

Sounds like your starter bendix(gear drive) isnt coming out of the starter far enough, probably caused by a bent or worn solenoid lever. Do a bench test with a vise and a pair of jumper cables. Clamp the starter in the vise by one of the mounting ears, make a small jumper wire about 5 inches long with little alligator clips on the end and connect the large battery terminal to the small ignition switch terminal, making sure not to ground out on the case. Connect the black jumper cable to the case and negative terminal of the battery. Connect the red cable to the positive terminal of the battery and bump it on the starter battery terminal. Check to see that the starter drive comes the whole way out.