GnubberLang

Hey everyone. I just got a 1986 RX-7 GXL thats been sitting for about 2 years. Hasn't started since then. As far as I can tell it flooded and was unable to start and was just left alone aside from the owners monthly attempts to start it, I assume that because of the amount of fuel mixed with the engine oil. Anyways, it seems to have a very bad ground issue, nothing inside lights up aside from the door warning light (which stays on all the time, doors open or not until you take the battery terminal off.) Hazards dont work, or the flip up lights. From what it looks like the little fuse box to the left of the pedals is corroded as hell, but I think it's missing its cover, so no idea what each fuse is for. Anyone have a list or scan telling what each fuse is for on the 86? Also any suggestions or advice would be appreciated! Thanks in advance.

robfeltner

Read this thread, I tried to help this guy the other day. Look at the stuff I wrote about getting the starter to turn.

Rob

robfeltner

sorry.

https://www.rx7club.com/2nd-generation-specific-1986-1992-17/starter-problems-387566/

Rob

GnubberLang

I'll try that today but what I'm worried about is the interrior not getting any power at all. Anyone have something that identifies the fuses to the left of the clutch?

Icemark

fuse box layouts are found in the FAQ for FC sticky thread at the top of this section, which should have been read before even posting.

It sounds like either the battery was hooked up backwards or that there are missing or blown fuses.

There would be nothing he lists as having anything to do with bad grounds. I am not sure why you are barking up that tree. But then I am not sure what Rob is posting about either, since the two problems do not seem related at all.

robfeltner

He said he thought he had a bad ground. That's why I went that route. If he doesn't, then you're right, that info won't help him.

bigturbo

Also another thing to look for is the main fuses under the hood. Someone tried to hook my terminals up wrong and blew two of them out. You can look into the top of all of them except the main fuse which bolts into place. If that ones out then the starter wont budge. Replace it from autozone for a few bucks along with any others and check all the fuses next to your clutch using the faqs. Does the starter turn and the engine turnover but just not start?? Are you getting fuel and spark?? If you turn the key all the way to acc and it wont do anything then it could def be the main fuse. And as for the flooded guess install a cheap 5 dollar switch and find out. There are tons of threads on fuel cut switches. I installed one in about 10 mins and it saved me a lot of push starting my ride till I could get injectors. Thats my advise for your situation

GnubberLang

Well when it was in storage before I got it, you would turn the key, no interrior lights at all, turn to start and you would hear the starter spin freely, wouldnt engage to the flywheel. When I got it to my place, I did the same thing, it spun for a second, clicked, and wont do anything now. I'm trying to get the electricity to the interrior first off, and find out why its draining the heck out of any battery I put in it. (Sounds like a short somewhere) The door light is in fact the only thing that comes on right now. And thats not even working right! As far as hooking up the battery wrong... theres one cable with a red stripe and one without, I assume the red stripe indicates positive. I really hope it's just fuses, but the dead battery makes me think its a short. Maybe something to do with the door sensors?

Icemark

The stock wiring is one black cable (+) and one black w/yellow strip (-)... so if you hooked up to the striped wire you indeed hooked up the battery backwards, which would also explain the blown fuses in the underhood fuse box.

Another easy way to tell the + and - if you don't have a battery in the car to referance too and the stripe is hard to see, then the shorter cable that is closest to the underhood fuse box is the + and the longer cable that is almost halfway to the headlight is the - cable.

bigturbo

yeah i dotn remember seeing a red wire at all under my hood. Maybe the previous owner messed with them.

GnubberLang

red stripe is negative!!!???!??! Alrighty then, thats why nothing worked, thanks guys!

bigturbo

and I garentee if you put them on wrong then you blew the main fuse. I would replace it for sure

Broke_but an_rx-7

i'm going through the same problem....when i tried jumping it a screwed up the terminals and it blew the main fuse.....replaced that and still nothing happens.....no lights no electricity.....it might be a bad ground.... idunno. i have a new battery in and checked the rest of my fuses.

GnubberLang

Make sure the terminals are really tight on there, I was getting nothing but I tightened down the negative a lot and everything worked. Some cars are picky about it and some not.