Stupid Electrical Problems
 

I have a '91 RX7 coupe with Package A. Today it decided to crap out on me, and it is something electrical.

The problem:
What was happening is I would put the key into the ignition and move it into the On position. All the lights would go on, the regular beeps would sound, and everything would appear fine. When I tried to crank it everything would just go dead. The lights would go out and nothing would come on. The next time I tried to put the key in and crank nothing would come on at anytime.

I checked the fuses under the hood and they were fine. Nothing really looked out of place from the last time he looked, it just decided to stop working.

It has done this before, but I would put it in the ON position, wait a little bit, and then crank it. Now nothing at all will come on.

Please help me figure out what is wrong, I don't know much about electrical problems. :confused:

First have your battery checked, most autoparts stores will check it for free

Do you know if that would make EVERYTHING shut off? I'm kinda skeptical about that, and I don't really have the time to get it checked for no reasons....


Not that I doubt you, I just am in a pinch... :(

well if your ground wire on your battery was loose that would do it

i had simlar problems with my '86 gxl... i replaced the battery terminal connectors and it's been working like a champ since...

I should point out this car was formerly mine...

The lights (and even radio) on the car require very little juice. The starter, however, needs pretty much all 12 volts of power that the battery can muster. You notice how the lights go dim and the radio cuts out normally when you crank up this or any car. Well, if the battery doesn't have the juice, the starter kills it, and it doesn't have enough power to even turn the lights on anymore. If you let it sit a while, the battery will regain the slightest bit of charge, letting you use the lights again. But if this happens a couple of times, it won't gain any charge, leaving it dead.

Like I said in the PM, it's probably the battery, and if it is get a good one and I'll pay for it.

I just saw your car sitting at wendy's. You are right down the street from me, so if you need any help just let me know and ill be glad to give you a hand. Its funny because at first i thought it was my old car because the guy that bought it lives in Rhynes gate thats right besides wendys.

Yeah, I'll get all this checked out tomorrow before work....


Thanks for your responses.... :)

Allright, well I went to get the battery tested at Advanced Auto Parts and it tested out fine..... So I got some coke to clean the terminals... Cleaned them and put the battery in....

I get in the car, put the key in and the lights come on... I was getting about 12 volts... I try to crank it and it goes dead again....

Could it still be the battery or is there some other major problem that could be the culprit....

Turn your headlights on and have some body watch to see if they dim or go out while you try to crank the car. If they dim or go out, then you still have a bad connection somewhere, probably around the battery.

Ok, if there is still a bad connection, is there anywhere I should focus my attention?... :confused:

Well I just realized, if I remember correctly, that I don't even remember seeing a leading coil ground wire.... I'll have to check again....

Id be happy to meet you at your car to give you a hand if needed, since i live right down the road from where it is.

i would reground the negitive to the strut bar tower to be sure it has always helped mine.

Allright, I'll try that....

Thanks for the offer, but if I do take you up on the offer it will have to wait till tomorrow... Its about time for me to go to work.... :(

The coil grounds out through the body, so if its bolted down it should be grounded.

By connections i mean mainly your cable ends. Get you a battery terminal brush and clean the insides of your terminals . Reconnect your battery cables and make sure they are good and tight.

This might not be the problem at all, thats why i said what i did about seeing it the lights go out when you try to crank the car. Do that test and we will go from there...

sounds like the starter
 

I would first snatch the battery out of it and recharge ..give it a load test ,,,find a place that does it free of charge....but from this end 1 of 3 things ..battery fried, starter or alternator not charging..and if the alternator was not charging it would be leaving you stranded more than this time..slip battery back in if is ok ...5sp?..push start it or try to smack the starter with a hammer ..if youdo get it push started and the battery was ok and it's the alt.it will die when you are driving it..so the last thing would be the starter..good luck to ya ...get me an order of fries while your there!!!.....(couldn't resist!!!)