Ok so I'm 17, and just bought an rx7 for $300. I know the last owner said that there was a problem with the cooling system, and that it built up pressure and finally blew the radiator, so now it has a new radiator. When you try to start it, it clicks multiple times and doesn't turn over at all.. any ideas? I'm charging the battery tonight and see what I can do in the morning..

Problem #2, I know next to nothing about cars.. so talk in english please... lol

 

Dead battery. Bad electrical connection at the engin bay fuse box, or at starter.

 

ok.. I'm charging the battery tonight and I'll do what I can to check the connections tomorrow..

 

Ignition switch?
My 88 Turbo use to do that. I'd turn the key and all I would hear is the pump and the click of the starter... I wired a push button and that kind of ghetto fixed it...

 

well.. my friends car did that.. but.. this is different, you turn the key to the start position, and it clicks for as long as you hold it..

 

Yup that can cause it to.

Here is my take on this.
https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...2&page=1&pp=15

 

Just replace the battery, thats the most likely cause. If that fixes it, take the car to autozone or something and get them to check that the alternator is still working.

 

ok so I'll also see what I find with the alternator and the starter...

 

thats going to take me forever.. lol... *knows nothing about cars*

 

Dont wori about all that yet. Your just gona lose sleep of thinking about how hard this will be.

Just get a charged batt in there and go from there.

 

Hmmm, your car builds up pressure in the cooling system to the point where the radiator blew, and now it won't turn over . . . . . . . .

Lets try something simple. Remove the radiator cap. Go try and start the car. Does it crank normally? If so, don't be surprised if when it starts the exhaust blows a lot of steam, and the cap-less radiator shoots out coolant like old faithful. Also, if it works like I just described, your $300 car has blown a coolant seal. The fix for that problem is a new engine.


The Southern California Rx-Club Beach BBQ is August 20th. The last biggie B4 SevenStock.

 

Put the car out of gear. Open the hood. Grab the alternator belt or the airpump belt and try to turn the engine over with either. If the engine will not even budge, it's frozen up. Buy another engine.

 

HAILERS and I are tonight's "good news crew". Anyone else want to describe a blown engine before I call it a night and go to bed?


The Southern California Rx-Club Beach BBQ is August 20th.
The last biggie B4 SevenStock.

 

I dont want to give the dood that kind of news befor bed.

Stick with the battery for the night :-/

 

lol great.. thanx everyone I'll see what I can do in the morning.. : ]

 

where would I look for a new engine? and what kind of price range am I looking at for it?

 

First, we are talking English, so we've got another problem...

You don't know anything about cars.

There are three types of car owners who don't know jack about their cars...
1) Rich - you pay someone else to take care of it for you.
2) Stubborn, but not rich - the car will eventually end up as a lawn ornament.
3) Lucky - everything works.

My suggestion to you is to get rid of it.
It sounds like you don't want to make the effort to learn about your car, so why bother trying to teach you?
The automobile is a very complex technical marvel.
Very few things has had the impact on society as the modern automobile has.
There's a reason why people pay mechanics to fix their cars - fixing them is not easy.
If fixing cars were easy, the majority of people would be doing it; the fact of the matter is that the majority of car owners DON'T.

These things are approaching 20 years old.
**** breaks.
**** fails.
Deal with it.
It costs a lot of money to get the car running in the best condition due to the fact that...
1) It's OLD.
2) Mazda quality SUX.
3) Previous owners don't usually take care of the car properly.

I tell all potential owners to be prepared to sink another $1,000 to get the car running in top shape after your purchase; this was assuming the engine and drivetrain is in good shape.

If I were you, go get a Toyota.


-Ted

 

ok then I put out totally the wrong message.. I completely want to learn.. thats the point.. and I don't care what it costs... I've got it.. anyways.. I got it running today. The Battery charge did wonders for it.. I drove it about two miles and then back home... I changed the oil and filled the coolant in the radiator. Then I Washed it lol.. and tried to go again and now it won't start, it turns over, but not to the point of starting... I think its flooded.. so I'm lettin it sit for a while ... Ted.. your mean dude.. If I didn't want to learn, I wouldn't be here.

 

If its flooded.. uhm try unflooding it.. https://www.rx7club.com/2nd-generation-specific-1986-1992-17/faq-fc-frequently-asked-questions-2nd-generation-rx-7-a-181219/
FC's will give you more problems than a jag.. especially our gen and its Electrical problems, but the look the sound and power is alll worth it.

 

so also I noticed that a belt was missing... is that normal? How many belts should you be able to see? I can see two.. I'll see if I can upload a picture..

 

Communication via typing can cause confusion.
You didn't explicitly state you were willing to learn, so I didn't assume that.
Yes, my typing is kinda dry, cause sometimes I don't have time to type all those smileys... , etc.
I just wanted you to save your money, and that was the gist of the reply.

If you're willing to learn about the car, then by all means, GO FOR IT!
Good luck!


-Ted

 

Lol.. thanx ted.. Does anyone know how many belts an 88 RX7 is supposed to have?

 

4 if nothing has been removed

 

1) alternator / water pump / main
2) air pump / water pump / main
3) A / C (if you have A / C?) / main
4) power steering (if you have P / S?) / main

Yep, there are four of them if you have all the accessories.
You should have at least the first two!


-Ted

 

ok kool.. well I think I have all four of those features.. but I still only have two belts... anyways.. umm I think I have found the worst part yet... I flushed out the radiator, and filled it back up,and moments later the fluid level was low. So I filled it again. Then I was watching and noticed that (oh joy) little bubbles were coming up to the filler cap from the rear direction of the car.. so I will need to investigate that tomorrow.. let me know what you guys know... Tomorrow I plan to check all the spark plugs, and fuses, the main relay, and a couple other unspecified things..

What else should I be looking at since my car turns over but doesn't fire... I need to find a manual on the fuel injectors to see if those are doin good

One last thing, when you try turning the engine over you start to smell fuel/gas. Any ideas what that could mean?

Thanx a bunch..

PS.. I'm learning alot yay!