Occasionally when I crank, sounds like the starter is running without cranking the engine. Shut it off, cranks & starts next time. I'm thinking starter solenoid, but I'm a real beginner rex mechanic. If so, how big a deal to replace, and is aftermarket ok? Thanks!

 

A solenoid is only a high powered relay, it takes the small voltage used to trigger it and draws from the large wire to turn the starter, nothing more nothing less. If the starter even turns at all your problem isnt the solenoid. Better be looking at the starter, sounds like its not kicking the bendix out far enough to meet the flywheel... Find a compenent rebuilder or buy a new one, and DEFINATELY dont buy a Autozone special, unless you like replacing it ever 2 months or so...

Theres a guy here in town that did my 85 starter (its now on my 88 vert) he did a perfect job. Its Gary's Auto Electric here in Owensboro, KY give him a call. I think he charged like $30 and its perfect, only thing old is the case..

 

Ummm...The silonoid is what pushes the starter gear into the flywheel gear. So if the silonoid isint working, the starter will turn, but the gears will never engage. Sounds like the silonoid to me .

~T.J.

 

A solenoid is an electrical relay.. So your saying on fords that have the solenoid on the fender wall, that it has a LONG LONG rod that pushed the bendix to the flywheel, um sorry I dont htink so..

 

~Dictionary.com

Ok, my version is that the solenoid on the starter is the 1st and second version...It acts as a magnet to move the shaft to engage the starter gear to the flywheel...So when you turn the key, it triggers a relay which allows the current to go to the solenoid which then acts as a magnet and pulls the solenoid shaft down which moves an arm that moves the starter gear up the starter shaft and makes the gear engage into the flywheel (also makes the starter spin)...Then when you let go of the key, the starter stop spinning and the gear comes back down and disengages from the flywheel because of the spring thats in there. Without the solenoid, the stater would be spinning all the time because the gear would constantly be engaged, and thats bad . See the (very simplified) pic attached .

~T.J.

 

Buy a remote starter gun from your local Pep Boyz or O'Reilly's....clip one lead on the solenoid's tab where the connector normally goes from the wire harness. Clip the other lead on the big wire coming directly from the battery. Get the car in neutral and squeeze the trigger. If nothing happens, it's the solenoid. Just replace the whole starter anyway, though, and make sure it has one of those life-time warranties so you'll never buy another one again...

 

Sounds like Mike-P has a good idea, take it to a starter place & have them re-do the whole thing. $30 is cheap, I'll check around locally first. Thanks all!

 

This is an article by David Lane on starter motor issues with the RX7. I'd suggest you try these before going with a new starter.

Good Luck



http://www.nellump.net/peri/epi/gen7Techs/starters.html