wthdidusay82

iTrader: (15)

I just tried to turn over my car today finally after installing my rebuilt engine. The lights and everything come on but turn the key and nothing, not even a clicking noise.

Car had this same problem before but ended up being fixed by a mechanic and told me it was the clutch switch. How do i fix this if it is the clutch switch ?

Also i have a few wires/clips that are disconected around the ignition (3 i think), and there are a few other numerous clips that arent connected because i cant find anything for them to goto (mainly on the driver side)

will look at the connections on the starter and possibly test the starter (but it was working b4), hoping to get the car started soon

Funkspectrum

iTrader: (5)

neutral safety switch, otherwise known as a 'clutch switch'. you can disable it. look for a little box above your clutch pedal and disconnect it. try that. if not, i would say the problem is on the ignition circuit somewhere after the fusebox.

PastelliFC

Its also possible that you belw your main fuse.. Just a guess

REnoob

sorry to hijack but i got a noob question, on every car i have drove, you must disengage the clutch (i.e. push the pedal) to start the car, my 7 will start without ever touching the clutch is that normal?

Syonyk

No, it's not normal. The RX-7s have a clutch safety switch. Yours was most likely bypassed.

Back on topic, did you tighten the electrical connection down at the starter? After my rebuild, I spent a bit of time trying to figure out why the exact same thing was happening.

Step 1 was to remember I had to press the clutch.

Step 2 was to get under the car, find the positive line to the starter, and tighten the nut down so it actually made contact.

You can bypass the clutch safety switch easily enough. It's the one that actuates at the bottom of the clutch travel, and I'm guessing (though I could be wrong, don't hold me to it) that it makes a connection when the clutch is all the way down. Jumper the switch, presto. Instant constant clutch.

Do the warning lights change when you turn the key? A few more should light up when you turn the key (at least if you don't have the ebrake on, the brake one should light up while cranking).

-=Russ=-

HAILERS

Some of the early 86/87 came without a clutch interlock switch.........but on the whole I agree that it's more likely the switch has been jumpered by someone in the past.


IF you just installed a rebuilt engine, and the clutch switch worked prior to that you might consideer you have pulled apart the electrical connector just below the engine fuse box that feeds the ignition key. It's a wire black in color. A single wire connector. Three to six inches below the engine fuse box.

The headlights will work just fine if this wire is pulled apart, BUT there will be no starter action when yoiu go to START and like was mentioned above, when you turn the key to START the idiot lights WILL NOT light up either.

wthdidusay82

iTrader: (15)

well that clip is connected, the warning lights do come on...at first just 2 lights were coming on but now all of them come on when i turn the key, but still the car doesnt turn over

i tried jumpering that switch and it did nothing, also tried jumpering on a few other wires cuz they looked like they might of went to it cuz there clips were the same but i guess not

the only other thing i can think of is that its the starter itself ? i just want to get my car started, i dont really like tinkering around with this alot cuz i dont want to mess anything up

me guessing and jumpering those other 2 clips even i shouldnt have done anygthing i hope ? i just really scare myself with my car i dont want to **** it up, i put over 40 hours of work into this car in the past 6 months, but as longas it doesnt ruin anything its ok but ill go crazy if i screw something up i just realy want my car to start, i been waiting since last september when i got this car to get it to run

HAILERS

There are TWO clutch switches. One at the very top is the clutch INTERLOCK switch. The one below is dedicated to the cruise control and ??? whatever.

The switch at the top should have had a BLACK/RED wire and a BLACK/GREEN WIRE going to it. If those were the colors and you jumpered it and the starter still would not turn over when the key was put to START, then it's another thing.

Get under the car. Car in neutral. There is a single, small, blade connector on the starter solenoid. Make sure it's connected. IF it is, then pull that small wire OFF the solenoid.

Now with the car in NEUTRAL, jumper b/t the LARGE wire on the solenoid and the small blade connector on the solenoid. The starter should turn over and the engine will start if the key is to ON.

If the starter does not turn over....then the starter is bad or the solenoid is bad. Try this then. Get a HAMMER. Rap solidly on the side of the starter without doing obvious damage to the case. Try to start the engine now. If it starts, then the starter is on its way to the repair shop or a new/rebuilt one needs to be installed.

All the above was predicated on you having done the obvious things like making sure the battery positive and negative cables are on the battery good with no corrosion. I've a feeling this is not the case because you mentioned some lights coming on that were not on earlier.