Can anyone help me with advice?

I bought this 1986 RX-7 N/A off someone, supposedly ported and rebuilt - the rotors side housings are painted blue, so I don't doubt that.

I put in some spark plugs (trailing/leading) and lines. Then I put in a battery... all the electricals work, like interior lights, headlights, etc. Then when I tried to start the car, I heard "Raaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr" - then it just stopped. Then I tried again... and it was just "Click"... Try again, "Click"... and so on. From then on, it was always clicks. I tried stepping on the gas w/ the click, to no avail!

Anyone got any ideas? I really need to get this car running!!!

Thanks!

 

starter... got one for $144 then turned in the old one and got $55 back. it's kinda wierd to replace. but you'll get it.

bought mine form autozone with a lifetime war.

 

Dead battery maybe, or the starter solenoid is bad.

 

Just as a first check, make sure you have good connection on your battery cables. Next thing, get under the car and clean the crud away from the starter and the positive terminal on the starter. Tapping the starter might help too.

 

yeah, what acid said.. except if you have to tap the starter and it works then go get a new one RIGHT away cuz you can only do it a few times before it'll completly fail.

 

Yep, great advice! Clean bright connections will keep current flowing

 

Definately a battery or starter problem.

A starter will just click when there is not enough juice to crank over.

 

Take my NA Starter off me Sean. It's been rebuilt 2 yrs ago. Get her out of here - that Is If you need It. I'll pass by sometime to check out your new headache.

 

it isnt the solenoid--that is what makes the click that you are hearing. A bad solenoid would go like this--power to everything, but when you turn the key you hear nothing at all.

I agree with the others--check the little things first. Make sure the battery cables are tight and clean. Then look to the starter. Also--sometimes the cable connection on the starter itself(positive battery cable) gets loose and will do this. Don't overlook the simple fixes--a lot of times that is what you will find

 

Wow! Thanks for all the advice everyone!!!

The battery... admittedly I didn't tighten it... just stuck it in there. So I will tighten it... AND THEN, I will hit the starter with a hammer - got it!

Silverrotor... so generous of you! PM on the way!

 

Make sure the battery has alot of juice though (charged up).

 

****, the timing of this is just great.. it's doing the same thing as bighead described, AGAIN. atleast i know it's not my starter.. i just put it in.. it HAS to be a simple fix. oh well. for the time being i'll continue to drive the 00' grand marquis. not the coolest thing in the world for a 17 yo, but it gets me places RELIABLY.

i wish there were more hours in the day so i could work on her

 

Yeah well, if it still clicks after cleaning connections and checking the clutch switch, replacing battery cables is a consideration. That's my current project, plus upgrading the charging system wiring. Also, check the solenoid wire for looseness and/or corrosion.

 

try the ingnition fuse. thats what happened to me.

 

I could be wrong, but I dont think it could be the fuse.....since you re getting the click, the ignition system has juice--it's telling the solenoid to kick over the starter. That is where everything stops....either not enough juice(battery cables or connections, if your batt is fully charged) or the starter itself.

 

haha! WTF? alls i had to do was wipe the crud away from my positive terminal and tighten it...

 

hmm, its that time of year... my starter seems to not work either. Or it could be the solenoid (most likely) or something jammed in the engine (not likely, but ya never know) I hope it's the latter, then I have an excuse to rebuild it

 

WHAT?! You WANT TO rebuild your engine? You must have money to buuurn. Send some if it my way!

Anyways... I'm gonna take out the starter, clean it up... hit it with a hammer and try that out. I'll keep you guys updated.

 

Since were on the topic of hammering starters, I'm having some difficulty removing the mounting bolt and nut for the starter/solenoid assembly. I'm letting it soak in wd40 right now, but I doubt its going to help. I was pulling on it with a 3/4" driver w/14mm socket, didn't budge. How'd you guys get them off?

 

tighten a tad and than try and loosen it, sometimes works, it shouldn't be in there that tigh. If you really have to, heat it up.

 

can't tighten either, won't budge either way... adding more wd40.... meanwhile, searching for blowtorch.....

 

wd40 didn't work, I let it soak for 4 hours, drenched, no chance. Pulled out the torch, success!

Allright now that I have the starter out, I tested it. I jumped wires directly from my battery to the posts on the starter, it engages, but does not spin.

Anyone have any suggestions, ideas, documents, etc.. for fixing the starter? all help would be greatly appreciated.

(sorry for stealing your thread bighead, but ya never know, we may have the same problems! )

 

No problem! My suggestion is to hit the starter with a hammer to get it running! Haha... I didn't do it yet. Because I am heading to junkyard tomorrow to get some parts, and maybe pick up a battery.

You didn't necessarily have to take a torch to your starter... because sometimes you just need more leverage. But you got it off already, I was gonna suggest a breaker bar or using your feet to push it instead of your hands!

 

trust me it was on too tight, doing that might break something, torch was a little safer. Heck, everything there gets bloody hot when its running anyway, what damage could it do!

anyway, looks like I was wrong about the starter, it seems that the new starter had the same result, so I may be looking at an engine rebuild (only 111K miles!)

started my own thread:

https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...hreadid=243286

 

oh yeah, I found a crack in the insulator in the armature of the starter, what would be a good sealant?

thanx