GeezerMan

iTrader: (7)

Hello,

I had a strange experience today. I have a 91 NA FC. Went to go grab some food and when I got back to the car, it didn't turn over. All the lights were working, so I checked the fuses, relays, etc., and nothing. Tried the hit the starter method and nothing. Checked to see if the starter was getting any power by turning on the headlights and seeing if it would dim when I turned the key, but it didn't dim... Then I thought to try resetting the ECU by taking out the negative battery terminal, and BOOM it worked.

My question is, what would have been the cause in the first place? Should be something I need to fix, I presume?

Also I have heard of the starter relay/alarm relay going bad causing the starter to click, but not turn the car over? Where would this be located on an S5? I looked behind the drivers side kickpanel for the relay, but nothing?

Thanks guys!
-Mike

SpeedOfLife

iTrader: (16)

Make sure all your terminals are hooked up to the starter first, then the battery, and make sure they're all getting power when they're supposed to using a voltmeter. If you want to test if the problem is somewhere in the ignition circuit use an ignition bypass switch to try and activate the starter. It's possible your starter is stuck, extended or not, or that the motor is locked due to carbon buildup or a stuck seal. There's more to cover but that should get you headed in the right direction.

GeezerMan

iTrader: (7)

Ima check the starter tonight, any other ideas what it might be?

satch

iTrader: (1)

The FSM will show you where the starter cut relay is on an S5. On a S4 it is located by the main relay and has a 6 terminal plug but only houses 5 wires. Also, use the "advanced search" method and look for issues related to stater cut relay problems and the like.

EDIT: On an S5 the relay is located right next to the main relay and it has "4" wires.
http://foxed.ca/rx7manual/manuals/S5wiring.pdf

RotaryRocket88

iTrader: (7)

Sounds like it's the classic click-no-start problem. It could be one of many problems, or a combination of them.

1) Bad Starter
2) Bad Battery
3) Poor engine ground
4) Poor starter + connection
5) Corroded battery terminals
6) Corroded main fuse connection
7) Bad ignition switch
8) Old ignition wiring
9) Anti-theft relay

My car developed this problem about a year ago, and I've since checked/replaced just about everything on the list above. Cleaning the battery terminals makes it go away for a awhile, but it always returns once a little bit of corrosion comes back. Cleaning up the ring terminals on the two wires feeding the main fuse helped for a time as well. One of these days I'll get around to running some new wires altogether, but for the time being I'm always able to click the key a few times and get it to turn over. It's annoying, but it starts.

GeezerMan

iTrader: (7)

so it wouldnt start again today, but once i got off work, it did....

say my power steering was leaking. Would the oil and dirt collected from this clog up the starter and cause it to stick?

GeezerMan

iTrader: (7)

I bypassed the switch, and it started right up...

So that probably means its something with the ignition wiring, correct?

I dont have time to go through the wiring right now, so i rigged up a sort-of start button in the meanwhile


thanks guys!

oregano

iTrader: (1)

im having a similar problem. havnt had time to check a few things yet, but i while im at work im trying to get as much info as i can for when i get home and take a look at it.

I just did a tranny swap and now the car wont crank over. the starter solenoids clicks, i can hear it. the fuel pump comes one. but the starter doesnt spin. from the wiring diagram it looks like the starter will only click when it is trying to spin too, so my best guess right now is that either bad grounding or connections are leading to not enough current reaching the starter motor, or the motor is dirty and siezing up. tapping the motor last night didnt fix the issue...


oh, also, when i press in the clutch and have ignition in on position i hear the clutch switch click. but, after a second of holding the clutch i hear a buzzing/humming/clickity sound from the engine bay....

john ward

iTrader: (7)

I usualy find bad contact problems on the female connecter at starter and replacing it works.
Common on all cars with a spade type connection there.

oregano

iTrader: (1)

Well, the other day I bought a new battery since the one i had was pretty dead (and it was a performance dry cell battery with only 230 cold cranking amps), and i cleaned up the electrical terminals on the battery and all the ones on the starter and starter ground wire. After that the car cranks over fine. Also it turns out i dont have a clutch switch cuz the car cranks with the clutch up, so i dunno what the buzzing sound i heard was. i think its gone now anyhow.

So, as john said above (and many others in similar posts), dirty terminals on wires and connectors are a big factor. I think if the connections are dirty, and also if the battery is too weak, not enough current can get to the starter. the result is that you will hear the "click" of the solenoid, but the starter will not spin (same as what happens when your battery dies).

I guess my problem was that
a) I didnt think battery could be an issue since i had it charging and it was fully charged and
b) I heard a weird sound when i pressed the clutch in

But I guess a dead battery wont crank enough juice even if it is fully charged and i guess also you shouldnt worry about strange sounds unless uve tried addressing the isue with other more obvious/common things first (replace battery, clean connections) : P