Hi guys! Just wanted to say Hi to everyone, as I am new to the whole rx-7 thing.
AND... some problems...
I just bought myself a 1988 GTU and for some reason, I cant get the car to turn over and start. It wants to start. I will go turn the key, and I can hear the fule pump engaging along with some hum from the engine bay. But for the life of me, I cant figure out what is wrong. The battery is ok, and I don't think it is the alternator nor the starter. I think it has to do with some wiring.
Any ideas on some ways to try and get it going would be great.
It is a non turbo, regular 13b rotary motor.
Thanks so much for any input!

 

is it cranking? does it turn over? I can't tell from yout post. Could be as simple as de-flooding it..... could be worse......

 

Well, I am new to this. Sorry ahead of time...
Not the most mechanically inclined person for cars out there.
Anyways, I turn the key, and I can hear the fule pump working. But there is no actual clicking or anything in the engine bay area.

 

so it just goes "chunk" and the display goes out, right?

 

What do you mean by display?
The lights inside stay on if that is what you are talking about.
Man, the anticipation of getting this running is killing me...
haha!

 

i mean the lights on the dash.... when you try to turn it over. Easy tiger.... I assure you the fun is just beginning!!

 

Hahha!!!
You should have seen me working on it all day today attempting to get it working. I changed the battery clamps, and gutted the inside as it was kinda disgusting... All in all it was very productive.
but the lights stay on when I turn the key. And the headlights work as well.
I also tried jumping it, to see if it was the alternator, and it still didnt work.

 

back to the original question...... is it turning over? Is it trying to start? You do know what I mean by turning over right?

 

Maybe I dont?
sorry...
>.>
<.<
Anyways, lets see here...
I turn the key, and all the lights stay on. No noise or anything from the engine bay. So when you say turn over, I dont think so...

 

Oh man..... well at least the first car you are going to get to know is a rotary.....
Check your starter. Check the starter solenoid. Check the ignition wires. Check the plugs. Check EVERYTHING (and yes... the battery too...again. I'm betting it's the battery.) Got to rx7.com and download a Factory Service Manual. Go to the FAQ sticky at the top of the threads and learn for the next hour. Get some tools. Have fun. Goodnight!

 

Thanks, Ill take a look. Thanks for the help!

 

check your engine fuse, the fuse box should be right under your clutch pedal to the left, the fuse is i think 15? its blue i just cant remember, i blew mine and it sounds a little like what urs is doing, but it doesnt hurt to check it. Be carful not to flood your engine by starting it either good luck

 

realize your is a real JDM license and not from ebay. where you get it?

 

Check that the signal wire from the clutch pedal is attached and also check the plug that goes on the starter itself. I must also ask if you are pressing the clutch pedal while attempting to start, you must know this already but just to eliminate possibilities...

 

check your engine fuse, the fuse box should be right under your clutch pedal to the left, the fuse is i think 15? its blue i just cant remember, i blew mine and it sounds a little like what urs is doing, but it doesnt hurt to check it. Be carful not to flood your engine by starting it either good luck

I will have to take a look. Right now, everything is a possibility.

realize your is a real JDM license and not from ebay. where you get it?

What? If you mean where I got the car, it was from a friend.

Check that the signal wire from the clutch pedal is attached and also check the plug that goes on the starter itself. I must also ask if you are pressing the clutch pedal while attempting to start, you must know this already but just to eliminate possibilities...

HAHAHA. I am not that bad... But eh, it could have been it. Lol.



I am going to work on it tonight. I have work till 6pm, so afterwards, I am going to hop skip and jump over there, and pray that its not to dark...
Its at his house, so it makes it a tad bit harder on me, as my tools are at my house. But I cant get it running to move it here.

 

Could be a few things...some parts have been mentioned:

1. Clutch switch bad or disconnected. Even if you press the clutch, the starter wouldn't turn the engine over. BTW, "cranking" or "engine turning-over" just means if you put your hand in between a belt and a pulley it's gonna hurt...i.e. the engine is spinning because of the starter turning it to try to start.
2. The smaller wire going to the starter is disconnected (this is the starter solenoid wire).
3. A bad connection from the battery (+) to the starter (the thick *** wire going to the starter.
4. A bad ground is most likely not the case. The starter is grounded i.e. gets the (-) from the battery) the starter case being against the engine and bolted to it.

Essentially, first get the engine cranking. Battery power has to go to the ignition switch and go past the clutch interlock switch to the solenoid. If your idiot lights aren't dimming (because of the amount of power the starter/starter solenoid draws), you're not getting power to the starter/starter solenoid.

Unplug the starter solenoid wire at the starter (the smaller wire with the push in connector) and put the (+) side of a multimeter (multimeter set on 12V) or test light to it. Ground the other side of the mult. or test light. When your friend holds the key to start, you should get 12V or the test light should light up. Proceed as follows:

If you get 12V or light lights up:
Check to make sure the battery has at least 12.6V. Even if it does have the voltage, it may not have enough amps (it would fail a load test) to do its job. Get another one or boost car. Plug the solenoid wire before and make sure the car is in neutral.

If no volts or no light:
Get a long, not too thin wire (at least 16ga.) to bypass the ignition and clutch switches. Make sure starter is plugged in, ignition on (idiot lights on). Make sure battery is reliable. CAR IN NEUTRAL, WHEELS CHOCKED. Take one end of wire to the (+) battery terminal, and another to the solenoid wire terminal on the starter.

If the starter does NOT spin, connect jumper cables to the starter directly after removing it. (+) to where thick wire hooks up, (-) clamp to the flange with mounting holes to mount on engine, small wire from (+) battery to solenoid terminal where solenoid wire connects to. If nothing happens, you know it's the starter.

BTW, FSM in my sig. There's a more organized approach there under troubleshooting...let me check the page....no, section 5, engine electrical, page 4

GL. BTW, get someone handy with cars to help you with these issues. Everything outside of the actual rotary engine is similar to piston engines. You can also post a thread for help in the regional section....a guy in my area got help removing an engine with offers of beer and BBQ! I almost went to that one, but he already had some help and I don't know FB's (first gens.)...