w33n

Well, I bought a 1987 RX7 GXL a while back from a friend for 100$ because it wouldn't start, it was a piece, and he didn't have the time or money to deal with it.
SINCE THEN I HAVE:
-Cleaned up the interior
-Installed a functional coolant recovery system (it didn't have one before)
-Done a tune up on the car (oil, plugs, wires, air filter, etc.)
-De-flooded the car and gotten it to start

I gutted the interior to install my cheap-*** e-bait racing seats (more on that later), and thusly I can't drive the car. since I haven't been able to drive it lately for the past few days, I have been routinely going out and starting it, partly because it had been sitting for a while and I figured it would appreciate it, and partly because I am a nerd and like sitting in it. Well, I go today to do the same thing, and it begins its normal routine (takes a few rounds of cranking to get it to fire up...eh it has over 200 k miles I am not gonna be too picky.) All of a sudden, the tachometer needle drops to zero and won't jump back up, and when I crank the engine it doesn't even try to fire. Now, I searched on the site, and basically all I got was "if the tach doesn't jump it must be an electrical problem." Well, no **** there. My question is, based on these particular circumstances, what exactly might it be? From what I understand, FBs that had this problem were having trailing coil/igniter issues. If this also holds true for S4s, then I will go resistance-test my coil/igniter today. However, any advice in the meantime would be appreciated. I am so close to getting this seven roadworthy, and I have spent just shy of 400$ so far...I would say a decent running RX7 for 400$ is quite a deal, and if I get it done, I will have the satisfaction of knowing I brought the car back from the dead.
Any help would be appreciated. I know, I know..."Use the search feature"...I get it.

Aaron Cake

iTrader: (1)

Test the main EFI relay, check the EGI fuse.

w33n

Both are fine. Input by experienced 7 mechanics is appreciated, though.
Could it possibly be one of the coil/igniters? Or is that only for FBs?

Aaron Cake

iTrader: (1)

Have you checked to see that the ECU is actually firing ignition and spark when the car is cranked? If it is not, test the CAS per the instructions in the FSM, and check the ECU for 12V at the appropriate pins (FSM).

The S4 EFI system is totally different from the GSL-SE.

w33n

Alrighty, thanks.
One other thing; I did a resistance test on the solenoid resistor, as that is one of the "Troubleshooting" suggestions in Ye Olde Haynes manual, and the resistance shown was 10 Ohms, but the recommended resistance it said in the haynes manual is "About 5-7 ohms"...is that off enough to screw things up?
Thanks dude.

w33n

Also it isn't the ecu...just swapped a good one in and same thing.
If that helps at all ^_^
Thanks!

w33n

Okay, if this helps at all too: Normally, with the key in the "on" position, if you have the egi fuse out and then you insert it, there is a clicking noise, which I am sure is the noise of a circuit being completed.
But with all the above that has happened, it now no longer makes any sort of noise. Also, I know it's not the fuse itself that is bad.
Thanks again. I am absolutely stumped. I sure have learned a lot about the starting system for this car in the last few months though.

phoenix7

the haynes manual is cool but look into these (if you haven't already):
https://www.rx7club.com/showpost.php...18&postcount=8

It will be hard to pinpoint exact problems on the board. Look at the troubleshooter in the FSM (above) and work your way down. In an old car like this it's better off to start from scrath and test everything.

w33n

Whoo...that is some thick ****.
I have a lot of respect for people who know this stuff ^_^'
Well I have been reading that FSM for like an hour now. I get the feeling I better get used to reading it.
Thanks for the link, btw. I guess I should have thought to look for that myself.

phoenix7

I barely scratched the surface of it (only look up things that i need to fix.) It DOES help though, which is why I consider it my bible when it comes to the 7. Good luck and let us know if you can't figure anything out. I don't have a copy of it on my work computer (not sure if I should DL it due to work restrictions) but someone else who has it at hand can help you out further.

I plan on buying a cheap RX7 laptop so I can have all the diagrams, FSM and other tuning things on there to take with me to the car. You CAN buy the FSM from Mazda also (if you prefer a hardcopy) but it's 180 bux last time I checked.