My 88 vert issue...
 

So here is the deal. I didn't drive my vert for a while because I needed to do an oil change. So it sat for a week and a half. I went to go start it and it didn't sound right. The start sound like it was whining to high and I could see some smoke but I didn't know what it was. So I took the battery to get it charged and the battery was bad. So I got a good new battery and installed it and I still get the high whine. The smoke was coming from the starter. What's strange is the starter wasn't running no longer then 3 secs and it started to smoke. My bud checked the engine and it was turning. I also put the car in gear and moved it to see if it was seized. The car moved fine. I am getting fuel and spark. I know because I got a backfire. I know for a fact that the starter sounds strange. Could the starter still turn the engine but be bad. Maybe the starter shaft is not engaging long enough.

The starter was smoking? Yea something aint right...I guess it could still turn the engine but I would still fix/replace it. Im thinking maybe some type of electrical short, especially if the battery was bad...could a short have killed the battery?

I don't know..the battery is 4 years old so I thought it was its time

any one

How about take out the starter and run it by itself (like just hooked to the battery) and see if it smokes. The reason I say this is if it doesn't smoke then it could be working too hard (something jammed maybe flywheel issues), but if it does smoke then replace it.

I checked the starter its good.

is the starter disengaging? because if not that would cause it to whine. ??????

The engine rotaries and I am not getting any kick. It just turns. I am getting fuel and spark because I am backfiring when trying to start it.

bump

Any chance of sabotage? (There is a lot of testosterone at ERAU- did you sleep with..you get the idea)

if that is a possibility check your plug wires
(going to the correct plugs)
Fuel contamination
(water in gas tank)

Smoke indicates something is melting... so What is the condition of the wires at or going to the starter.

And you didn't hook the battery up backwards right??? It's very very very common to do on the RX-7 since the ground and positives are backwards to most cars.

nope....the wires were not on backwards and the wires are in good condition

LOL....no but my car did get broken into the same day it wouldn't start. I checked the spark plug and one was oilly and thats it.

bump

I am assuming that the car runs fine (if you push start it), that the problem is only related to the starter... correct???

I am going to attempt the push start it

similar problem...perhaps
 

I have a similar problem with my T-II...if I push start it it runs fine (accelerated warm up and all) but the starter is not working...I get the tell tale click and thats it. I took the starter out today and took it apart, and a bunch of what looked to be carbon buildup came out (black powder looking stuff) and I tried bench testing it and...nothing. Any ideas? is my starter shot? Thanks
-Rob