Occasionally, when I turn the ignition in 87 NA nothing happens. The car doesn’t crank, nothing at all happens. I typically flash the lights and turn the again and it starts like it should. Is there something I check? Any suggestions?

 

If you have power to all your accessories but the starter simply isn't making any attempt to start, then I'm betting it's your clutch switch on the clutch pedal arm/leg. It's a dummy device to keep people from trying to start a manual engine when the clutch isn't pushed in.

 

If the car does not have the factory alarm then there would be a Blue plug near the trailing coil w/three wires on one side of the plug. One of them is Black/Green. W/key to start and the clutch depressed this wire must have voltage. If it does not then the problem lies at the Interlock Switch at the top of the clutch pedal (has two wires, B/R and B/G). Or the problem is at the Ignition Switch. If the car has the factory alarm then things are just a bit different. And the clutch pedal has two switches if the car is equipped w/the Interlock Switch w/the other being the Clutch Switch.

https://www.rx7club.com/2nd-generati...switch-587144/

 

Follow Satch, and his last link.

Do you any click sound at all during the no-start condition?

 

There is no sound at all when it happens. Everything works, expect the car doesn't try to start. It's a very intermittent problem so it's hard to test.

Where would I get a clutch switch? I can't find one at the local stores or Mazdatrix (but I could just be missing it).

 

You need to focus on the Interlock Switch and not the Clutch Switch. First one involves starting the car while the other does not. The info supplied is enough to tell you if that is your problem.

 

I haven't nailed down the problem since it happens so infrequently. I'm going to replace the interlock for peace of mind.

Is there a good place to get an interlock switch?

 

Locate the two wires which connects to this switch and place a jumper wire between these two wires and you will bypass the switch thus allowing you to figure out if the switch is indeed your problem or not. And some of the early S4's do not have this switch so you need to verify if you actually have the switch. If you do have the switch it has a Black/Red wire and a Black/Green wire. W/key to start, the B/R wire should always have voltage to it and if not then the Ignition Switch might be the problem.

 

I have this same problem in my Vert 91. I have to turn the key about 2-3 times and bam! Kicks over and starts. Sometimes I'll hear a click. But it's been doing this since I've owned the car. It has been 7years now and I have never given a thought to check it out or replace the starter. But, once the car has been warmed up and driven around, the next few times I start it, it starts up fine.