2nd Generation Specific (1986-1992) 1986-1992 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections.

eletrical problem please help

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Aug 6, 2003 | 02:09 PM
  #1  
7ormore's Avatar
Thread Starter
Full Member
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 121
Likes: 0
From: minnesota
eletrical problem please help

Well we just bought an RX 7 and the 80 amp fuse keeps blowing after a few seconds I tryed to do some gounding that i saw from another post but it still didn't work. When the fuse was in the interior lights didn't work but then it blew after i jiggled the neg. battery cable and the light can back on. Please help, im running out of ideas.
Reply
Old Aug 6, 2003 | 04:44 PM
  #2  
J-Rat's Avatar
Alcohol Fueled!
Tenured Member 20 Years
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 11,093
Likes: 2
From: Hood River oregon
Check the polarity of your battery cables.
Reply
Old Aug 6, 2003 | 04:53 PM
  #3  
7ormore's Avatar
Thread Starter
Full Member
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 121
Likes: 0
From: minnesota
ok but i think its right
Reply
Old Aug 6, 2003 | 04:56 PM
  #4  
J-Rat's Avatar
Alcohol Fueled!
Tenured Member 20 Years
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 11,093
Likes: 2
From: Hood River oregon
Just a quick check. The symptoms you describe are like what happens when the battery poles are switched. but if they are good, you got a problem.

Try disconnecting the alternator and reattching the battery. May have a short in the alt.

Jarrett
Reply
Old Aug 6, 2003 | 05:37 PM
  #5  
boosted1205's Avatar
Rotary Enthusiast
Tenured Member 15 Years
iTrader: (9)
 
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,191
Likes: 0
From: west
It's definately a short. Check the positive wires from battery and alt. for any cracks in the insulation. It might be grounding itself and blowing the fuse.
Reply
Old Aug 6, 2003 | 08:01 PM
  #6  
Icemark's Avatar
Former Moderator. RIP Icemark.
 
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 25,896
Likes: 24
From: Rohnert Park CA
If an 80 amp fuse is blowning than its either big time melted wiring or the battery cables are backwards.

Remember the factory ground battery cable is Black/yel, not solid black
Reply
Old Aug 6, 2003 | 09:32 PM
  #7  
7ormore's Avatar
Thread Starter
Full Member
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 121
Likes: 0
From: minnesota
Well i took the alternator cord off and the fuse stopped blowing but the motor still won't crank and the headlights and radio still don't work, when i turned the key a fan came on but not the one you can see. Thanks for the help so far.
Reply
Old Aug 6, 2003 | 09:45 PM
  #8  
HAILERS's Avatar
HAILERS
Tenured Member 10 Years
 
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 20,563
Likes: 27
From: FORT WORTH, TEXAS,USA
Ok. It's like this. You know where the rectangular fuse box is in the engine bay. Now there is a harness running inboard of that fuse box and it goes in a downward direction. About a half foot to a foot from the fuse box should be a black wire with a single blade connector. Pull it apart. Inspect the connector to see if there are any bare spots touching to ground. IF that's good, follow the wire harness from there back towards the crew compartment looking for bare wire touching metal.

The way I understand it, when the key is turned to START, nothing at all happens. No click. Nadda. Right? So it's either that black wire which runs from the fuse box to the ignition key, or the key assy itself. Heck, I can guess as good as anybody.
Reply
Old Aug 6, 2003 | 10:40 PM
  #9  
HAILERS's Avatar
HAILERS
Tenured Member 10 Years
 
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 20,563
Likes: 27
From: FORT WORTH, TEXAS,USA
Actually it seems the Alternator was the problem. But the starter should rotate IF the black wire from the 80amp fuse is good to the ignition. I know not what car/year, so here, an 87 start/charge schematic.https://www.rx7club.com/forum/attach...postid=1389325

Check and make sure all the fuses in the crew compartment are intact. They are near the drivers left foot. BUT...if you do not even hear a clicking of a relay when you go to START....I'd be looking at that black wire that feeds the ignition switch and maybe see if the car has a theft device. Food...good. Theft device...bad. Grunt.

Last edited by HAILERS; Aug 6, 2003 at 10:43 PM.
Reply
Old Aug 7, 2003 | 02:25 AM
  #10  
J-Rat's Avatar
Alcohol Fueled!
Tenured Member 20 Years
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 11,093
Likes: 2
From: Hood River oregon
Damn I am good..
Reply
Old Aug 7, 2003 | 08:19 AM
  #11  
HAILERS's Avatar
HAILERS
Tenured Member 10 Years
 
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 20,563
Likes: 27
From: FORT WORTH, TEXAS,USA
****Damn I am good..******J-RAT
As good as you are, and as bad as I am, I'm as good as you are, as bad as I am.

I'd be interesting if 7ormore would write back and let us know if there is any sign of life when he puts the key to the START position when the fuses are installed. If there is no sign of life when going to START we can tell him how to disconnect the right connector prior to his ignition switch and see if there is voltage going to it, or????????? He needs a simple digital meter. Cheap will do, expensive is better.
Reply
Old Aug 7, 2003 | 09:11 AM
  #12  
banzaitoyota's Avatar
What Subscription?
Tenured Member 15 Years
 
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 5,926
Likes: 2
From: Aiken SC USA
This sounds simmiliar to the Electrical Failure I had 2 weeks ago.

Connector X-23 had intermitently shorted to the brake line and caused the connector to melt and interupt the circut.
Reply
Old Aug 7, 2003 | 09:39 AM
  #13  
7ormore's Avatar
Thread Starter
Full Member
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 121
Likes: 0
From: minnesota
Sorry for the late reply but yes nothing happens when i turn the key and it does have a security, I have the GLX non-turbo 1988 model. I haven't checked it yet because the car isn't at my house its at my friends house, thanks for the help, im going to check the wire going to the ingition
Reply
Old Aug 7, 2003 | 10:58 AM
  #14  
7ormore's Avatar
Thread Starter
Full Member
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 121
Likes: 0
From: minnesota
Well i looked at where it connects to the ignition and looked to see if their were any bad spots in the engine but so far it looks ok. I'll take it out later on today.
Reply
Old Aug 7, 2003 | 02:39 PM
  #15  
J-Rat's Avatar
Alcohol Fueled!
Tenured Member 20 Years
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 11,093
Likes: 2
From: Hood River oregon
Originally posted by HAILERS
****Damn I am good..******J-RAT
As good as you are, and as bad as I am, I'm as good as you are, as bad as I am.

I'd be interesting if 7ormore would write back and let us know if there is any sign of life when he puts the key to the START position when the fuses are installed. If there is no sign of life when going to START we can tell him how to disconnect the right connector prior to his ignition switch and see if there is voltage going to it, or????????? He needs a simple digital meter. Cheap will do, expensive is better.
Your still the electrical guru of the 2nd gen section.

I am just wondering why the Alternator was causing the problem. My guess, it had a short, and took some other components out with it.

7ormore, Have you made ECU tester lights yet?
Reply
Old Aug 7, 2003 | 03:50 PM
  #16  
7ormore's Avatar
Thread Starter
Full Member
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 121
Likes: 0
From: minnesota
Well im an idiot i have the battery cables on the wrong ones and so now pretty much everything works but its still won't crank and i don't know how to make ecu tester light and i don't believe i have a way to check the voltage. Thanks, wow i'm stupid....
Reply
Old Aug 7, 2003 | 04:56 PM
  #17  
J-Rat's Avatar
Alcohol Fueled!
Tenured Member 20 Years
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 11,093
Likes: 2
From: Hood River oregon
Oh boy... What did I ask you in the beginning?!?!

YOu have any idea how much damage you could have potentially done to your car?

There are alot of threads here that subject. Do a search, and pray!
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Jeff20B
1st Generation Specific (1979-1985)
73
Sep 16, 2018 07:16 PM
WyomingTII
2nd Generation Specific (1986-1992)
12
Sep 28, 2015 10:32 AM
lnlreaper
2nd Generation Specific (1986-1992)
2
Sep 27, 2015 09:59 AM
The1Sun
1st Generation Specific (1979-1985)
7
Sep 18, 2015 07:13 PM
The1Sun
New Member RX-7 Technical
5
Sep 15, 2015 04:45 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:22 PM.