I have been dealing with this problem with my RX-7 for the last month and luckily it's not my DD. Every time that I want to drive it however, I have to get it jump-started. After driving around for a little bit, the car will start immediately after with no problem. After sitting for about an hour however, nothing whatsoever. The idiot lights don't even come on. All I hear is a click when the key is turned. I have changed my alternator, and my battery thinking that these would solve the problem, yet no luck. I don't see what else it could be...help is much appreciated.

 

do you have any aftermarket electronics that could be installed to power at all times?

 

short somewhere in the system. Try using a multimeter and going through each fuse one at a time to find the short... don't ask me how to use a multi meter because im declined in that area

 

You need to do a lot more investigated to give us a better idea of what is going on.

What is the voltage at the battery terminals (the lead part - NOT the clamp part), before and after this problem?
If the battery voltage stays the same, the battery clamp terminals could be loose or corroded - common problem.



-Ted

 

Starter!!!!! 100%

 

After you turn the key and it does not start, bang on the starter a few times with a hammer and then try again. If it then works it maybe the starter. However, I dont see why the starter would cause the idiot lights not to come on.

 

I have a feeling that it's something to do with the wiring at the starter. Not the starter itself because if the starter was at fault, it wouldn't even start from a jump. I'll do some troubleshooting. I don't have any aftermarket accessories except a DVD deck. There must be something that's draining power....the search begins.

 

Do you have a Efan? also make sure you didnt blow a fuse Check your dome light fuse; when this is out the idiot lights wont come up also with the clock.

 

what about bad grounds?

 

Don't have an efan....if it was a fuse, the idiot lights wouldn't come on when the car is running from a jump-start....I will check the grounds next chance I get.

 

Definately sounds like a drain killing your battery whenever your car isn't running. Measure the voltage on your battery before you start your car. I bet it'll be ~11V or less (battery low or dead). And I bet after you drive for a while it'll be ~12V (battery charged).

Check all the fuses, regardless of what the idiot light say. It's easy if you have a multimeter. Remove battery terminals. Measure resistance. Pull a fuse. Repeat. The BTN fuse is connected to the internal fuses. If pulling it fixes the short, put it back in and check the internal fuses. When you find the right fuse, examine the component(s) it connects to.

 

its the starter I know it is...I had the same problem everything came on but wouldent start at all I wacked the starter a few times then it tryed to click....then I got a new starter and started right up

 

Are you sure the batt is good? How did you verify it was good?
Assuming it is good, the first thing I would look at is the battery connections. If they are corroded at all then it can cause the starter not to work. I chased down starter problems all over the place and that ended up being the problem. Make sure to pull the connector apart to check for corrosion, thats where most of mine was.