Ok i just replaced the transmission and clutch in a fiends 1986 Rx7 NA. On the first start up it went and i drove it off a trailer where i did all the work and then parked it to put the hood on and bolt in the shifter. Then i tried starting it again and when i turn the key to start it just clicks and does nothing. I do get power inside the car so i know its not a bad battery. I can pop start it and it goes and i put a battery charger on it to see if it was the battery but no dice. Is there a nuetral safety switch or some gadget that i may have triggered?

thanks
Dan Chizek

 

If it clicks then the neutral safety switch is not the problem. Recheck the wires to the starter and the ground wire to the engine.

 

Bad / loose engine ground
Bad / loose battery terminals
Bad starter


-Ted

 

I figured it was along those lines but i guess i will just have to tinker with the wires some more then. Thanks

 

Just went through this myself. Starter runs when on the "test machine" at autozone, but wouldn't crank on my car. I hear the relay clicking behind the dash and confirmed the battery was getting 8volts at the relay on the starter and 12 volts from the battery whith the ignition set to "start"

Put a new starter on, but it sounded weak ... but the battery was holding a charge just fine. Sure enough when I connected my battery charger and set it to 55amp start, the started cranked up much quicker.

Battery was only putting our 420 amps when warm, so warentee swapped the battery at autozone... now it's putting out 570 amps.

I still think I need to clean all the body grounds on my car as sometimes the starter cranks like a champ and sometimes it sounds a bit weak.

Along those same lines, my rpms drop slightly when the applying the brakes which leads me to think electrical/grounding.

 

the click is the solenoid engaging, but for whatever reason, it doesnt have enough juice to energize the starter. I have never seen this happen as a result of a bad ground, but i suppose its possible.