Ok so I have this RX7 that was supposedly last started around 2 years ago, I have a brand new battery in it, new oil and coolant, but from what I can tell it's not turning, I don't see the blades of the fan moving at all, but I have power, I am getting sorta of a grinding sound. Could this be the starter being bad or something else?

Also I have not turned the engine by hand, I'm not sure how to go about doing that since the fan seems to be in the way.

Thanks for any help.

 

The engine might be frozen up and in need of something to jolt it free and the starter might not have enough oomph to do it. You could try to push/pull the car while in gear to free it up if that is indeed the problem. You could also try to rotate the main pulley as a quick check to see if it rotates freely. If you find that the engine is not frozen and you want to check the starter you could locate the Black /White wire that runs to the starter solenoid and jumper some voltage to this wire from the battery and the starter ought to turn over. The B/W wire can be found in a blue plug near the trailing coil and if you have the factory alarm then the blue plug is plugged into the starter cut relay which is found next to the main relay.

 

I've got a decent length ratchet, just need to know which way to turn the engine, does it matter? and also need to know what size socket I need.

 

If you're facing the front of the engine you would rotate it clockwise.

 

19 mm bolt is on the main pulley.

 

Yeah, but first I gotta get the fan off, since I can't even get a 19 mm in there anyways. Thanks for the help so far, I'll see what happens tomorrow once I have some light to get the fan off.

 

If the engine is not frozen you could use the alternator pulley to rotate the engine. Easy and no parts to remove.

 

I tried using that, but the pulley would slip on the belt.

 

Well I've pretty much confirmed that the engine is frozen, tried turning the engine with no luck, it wouldn't budge, I pulled a spark plug too and it had rust on it, so the engine looks to be no good at all. Fortunately, my verts engine is good and will be pull it from that car and putting it in my couple.

 

bump for my last post...

 

Could also be worn teeth on the flywheel. Have you checked if the starter is bolted tight?

Also, for a little help with trying to free the motor, drop a little ATF in the spark plug holes and let it sit overnight.

 

Just reposting what I posted, not sure if you saw it.

Well I've pretty much confirmed that the engine is frozen, tried turning the engine with no luck, it wouldn't budge, I pulled a spark plug too and it had rust on it, so the engine looks to be no good at all. Fortunately, my verts engine is good and will be pull it from that car and putting it in my couple.

 

Teeth on the flywheel was for the grinding noising when trying to crank.

Spark plugs will rust from moisture if they have set. I still say drop some ATF in the spark plug holes, let it sit and try to free it up. Could make some a few good housings, maybe a decent rotor. Make you a bit of spare money.

 

Fair enough, I'll see what I can do then, better then nothing I guess.

 

Sorry I wasn't clearer on that haha