86Rexguy

hey guys,

I have an 86 RX7 nonturbo. Its a bland bland with nothing on it model. Great car. I love it, in fact. Its my daily commuter car. The starter went out recently though, so, I have a question pertaining to that.

I have a buddy that can get 'free' parts through, an unamed source (Im guessing 5 finger discount from a parts store). But, what I dont know doesnt hurt me I guess. Anyhow, he got me a starter for an 89 RX7 turbo (all that was in stock). Will this starter work on my car? It should- I believe the motors were pretty much exactly the same from 86-89, correct?

What do you guys think?



-George

kleach18

Sorry to change the subject a little but what did the starter do before it went out? Sometimes I get in my car and try to start it and it makes this grinding noise. So I just turn the key to the off position and do it again with no problems. Is my starter going out? If you could help me out that would be great.
thanks

kleach

86Rexguy

Hey there,

Mine had been doing the dreaded 'click' noise for a loooong time, off and on. about every other time Id start it, Id get a: *click* when I turned the key. *click*click*click* rrrrr-rrr-rrr VROOM!

It had been doing that since I bought the car 2 years ago. Finally, the other morning I went out to go to work and got:

*click**click**click**click**click**click**click** click**click**click**click**click**click**click**c lick*

You get the point.

So, the starter motor itself is bad on m car. It could be the starter solenoid too, but it doenst matter, as theyre sold together anyhow. (although, Im very certain its the starter, as the lights dim severly when it clicks, evidence the the power is getting to the starter, which is the soleniod's job anyhow. Usually, it'll click, with no dimming if the solenoid is bad. Sometimes it won't click at all)

As for your problem.... The motor is fine if it's turning. It just might be a little old is all. What happens, is on a starter, theres a little gear that slides out of the motor to grab the flywheel... thus turning the motor over by the starter motor turning the flywheel. Sometimes when starter motors get old, the little gear on it wont 'slide' all the way out of the starter motor, barely touching the flywheel, causing the *~~~grinnnd~~~* noise. Thats usually the case. Sometimes, there may be flat spot on the flywheel. But, it doesnt sound like the case in your car. Usually, if theres a flat spot, it'll keep grinding everytime you try, until you actually turn the motor over a little to move the flywheel to a different position (you can do this by letting the car roll a little, and pop the clutch lightly)

Does it need replacing? Eh-- If you have the money to throw around, sure. I think the starter I just got listed at $94. If it gets bad enough, that **grinding** can CAUSE a flat spot on the flywheel, causing all kinds on nightmares. Replacing a starter is easier than a flywheel, I can attest for that. I had an old Chevelle that had a stubborn starter like yours. I never really had a problem with it. Just make sure you don't hold the key for a long time when it grinds liike that.

Id crawl underneath and make sure the starter is bolted tightly. If its loose, it can cuase the teeth not to mesh up right.

-G

JohnL

for the 86-88 RX-7's the starters are different between the N/A rx-7's and the turbo II's.... as for the 89-91, not sure if the starters are different. As for the click, click, then start, my car has had this problem for several years.. I just replaced the starter yesturday, guess what...... still does it. The starter had also been replaced about 1 year ago, and worked great for 2 days, then did it again.. click, click.. start. I have yet to find the cause of this problem. Its very strange.

RETed

Chain auto parts store rebuilt starters (and alternators) are CRAP.&nbsp Stay away from them even if it's "free."&nbsp Pay the money for a Mazda remanufactured starter from the Mazda dealer...



-Ted

86Rexguy

Dang. So, this starter I have here won't work. The only starter he had in stock was for an 89.... mine is an 86. Whats so different about the starter beween an 86-88 and 89-91? Its still cranking over a 13B, so what exactly is the difference? Also, what would the difference be between a turbo starter and an N/A starter? I don't get that either. I don't see how there could be so many different starters for a motor thats been around for years, externally, unchanged?

As for the chain parts stores being crap quality... thats fine.. for free, Ill take my chance. They do suck, I can attest for that... especially batteries. But I frankly don't have the $300 (yup, that is what Mazda quoted me) anyhow, so- Ill gamble my chances I guess.

-G

HAILERS

You have a n/a. It has a different bellhousing than the turbo models. I vaguely remember offering a turbo starter up to my n/a and it does not work. The bolt patter is too far off to work. Just get under and remove the thing. Takes maybe fifteen minutes if you piddle. Compare the na with the turbo. Ain't hardly no way 'tall. If I had a car that I changed the starter out and still had the click, click, click, I'd feel very unlucky or take the bull by the horns and make sure the negative and positive terminals on the battery and on the transmission were truly on good. Neg on the transmission mounting bolt for the starter. Positive lead on the starter.

bob13bt

iTrader: (9)

For those of you that have a click-click-start problem and are wondering what it is, ITS PROBABLY THE BATTERY CABLES!!!! My 87 TII started cranking over slower and slower. THought I had a bad battery or alternator, nope. So I was going to buy a new starter when I decided to check and see if the cables were tight on the starter. THey were pretty tight, but I got another 1/4 turn out of the nuts. Then the thing started right up, cranking over faster than it ever did . Later I tried to start it and there was a click and then nothing, no warning lights or anything. I popped the hood and moved the cables around. Then it started. Now about half the time I start it I have to wiggle the battery cables. So I assume theyre corroded or some ****, cause theyre tight on both ends. Sometimes the connection just needs a little persuasion. It sucks not having any clock or radio memory too. Just something to check, a $5-10 cable is better that a $100-150 starter!!!!!

86Rexguy

Aaahhhh- well, that makes total sense then. Thanks Hailers.

-G

JohnL

I also put a MAZDA REMAN. Starter on the CAR and guess what, click, click.. start. I has to be something like battey wires or a relay somewhere.... who knows. But I can live with it for now

86Rexguy

Hi guys,


Just thought Id give you an update.

I installed that starter this morning, and it worked great! No clicking, and it starts great! It turns over fast too. It all took about 30 minutes. Easy job.

Thanks for the advice guys.

-George

HAILERS

86REXGUY.........Are you saying you put a 89 turbo starter on a 86??????? I strongly suggest then that that was NOT a 89TURBO starter then. I have a 1987 turbo starter and I offered it up to a 86 transmission prior to writing my first post, and there ain't no way Jose.

86Rexguy

Anything is possible.... the guy that got it for me said that there were two different startes for an 89 in stock, that they both looked the same, but had different part numbers- so he just grabbed one. He might have grabbed the n/a 89 starter, but he thought it was the turbo motor for all i know, I wasnt there to look. The guy doesn't know me very well- he thought my car was a turbo car. Looks like he grabbed the wrong part,which ended up being the right part.

ut the 89 starters are suposed to be different, all together from the 86-88 motors. It worked just fine. It sounds a LOT different- but works better tan the other one ever did.

Anyhow- just thought Id share. It sounds like I got lucky- for all I know, it WAS an 86 starter, but the guy thought it was an 89 turbo... all I know, is that for free, Im not going to complain!

-George