I have a 1987 RX7 and when I try to start it nothing happens. NO noise or clicks or anything to indicate what the problem might be. My dad is an ASE Certified Mechanic and has no idea where to start looking. Is it an electrical problem???? I've checked the major fuses and they are all fine. Does anyone have any ideas what might be wrong with it?

(Edit for subject line...Please be descriptive)

 

Battery working? Lights working? Electrical connections solid? You just need to work it out by process of elimination. Power, fuses, grounds, starter, etc..

 

do all the idiot light come on when you turn the key? check for clicking sound from main relay located on drivers side fender close to the fire wall beside the rear coil pack.Also starter selinoid could be bad give it a few taps while turning the key.Also check fuse panel located in the drivers side footwell above the kick panel.

 

I replaced the battery and the lights work. I'm not that stupid. I thought that there might be a common problem in rotary engines. I've never had a car that when you turn the key nothing happens. Complete silence!!!!!!!!! IE... If it's a bad strarter, alternator, battery ect...

 

well, some people are. don't be so quick to get an attitude with people that are trying to help.


check to be sure the ignition switch works. if that's ok, and the main relay isn't clicking, then that might be where the problem is.

 

JSTAGRL getting spanked. Lighten up babe. This is a great site. Can learn alot from everyone. ""check ALL fuses"

 

My brother's Honda suffered a similiar issue when the clutch interlock switch went out.

What happens to the lights on the warning lamp cluster do when you turn the key to try and start it?

 

You say you've changed the battery, have you checked the voltage ? Sometimes there will be enough power in the battery to make the warning lights come on o.k but not enough to make the starter even try to turn the engine over.

 

easy enough to do a check on the clutch switch first- got a Haynes or the FSM?

 

When that happens, you'll likely hear a clicking from the starter solenoid.

 

Thats exactly what i used to think untill about a month ago. My car had been sitting for about 2 months and i went to start it, warning lights came on o.k but nothing happened when i turned the key - no clicking at all. Checked the battery and it had around 11v so i got a mate to come around and jump it. Fired up first time.

 

If I hadnt read further into the thread I was going to mention the battery. Just today I went to fire her up and got a loud click and then nothing. No power anywhere. Freaked me out. Turned out my posotive battery terminal wasnt getting good contact.

 

SORRY GUYS. WHEN YOUR'E A WOMAN YOU TEND TO GET DEFENSIVE BECAUSE MOST GUYS DON'T THINK YOU KNOW WHAT YOUR'E TALKING ABOUT. THANKS FOR THE INPUT!!!!!!

 

There is a item called a CLUTCH INTERLOCK SWITCH. It's located on the ....clutch pedal. If the car is stock as it came from the factory, then you have to depress the clutch pedal to start the car. What you do when you depress the pedal, is to also depress the interlock switch located on the clutch pedal. The interlock switch then makes the circuit to the starter. IF the switch is busted....then the starter won't crank over.

So you get down and look at the clutch pedal. There should be a switch/plunger about three quarters up the clutch pedal. Pull the connector off the switch. Get a meter out and see if there is 12V on the Black wire with a Red stripe WHEN the key is held to the Start position.

IF 12v is there when the key is held to Start, then try this. Get a piece of wire and strip off the insulation on both ends. Insert it in the socket for the Black/Red wire and then into the socket on that connector, the Black wire with a Green connector. Now, with the car in neutral, go to Start with the key. IF the starter cranks.....go buy another interlock switch OR permanently jumper that connetor that has the B/R and B/G wires.

Try that and write back.

 

Before you try what I wrote above, answer this.....when the key is turned to the ON position, do your idiot lights on the dash come on???? I'm assuming that they did come on prior to this current problem. At least some anyway. It's a gotta know question. Answer asap. Thank you.

 

There ya go Hailers.

 

No, not really. What lights were on is not stated. Headlights don't count in this case. I need to know if the idiot light cluster lit up.

Headlights are not related to the ignition switch. Idiot lights are. If there are no idiot lights working, then I'd take another tack with this thread and go for the black wire that runs from the fuse box to the ignition switch. It has a habit of becoming disconnecte about six inche below the engine fuse box. There it has a single socket/pin connector that can be easily disconnected when someone has been working in that area. If that connector is good, then she should look at the ignition switches connectors that are located about eight inches down the steering column. There she should pull apart the two wire connector. One wire Black, the other Black and White. With a meter she should see if there is 12v on the BLACK wire. It should be there 24hrs a day. If not then the connection B/T there and the engine fuse box is busted.

Really didn't wanna write all that

 

Well from what I got out of it, I thought she was responding to Red 86 rx-7's question of "Do the idiot lights come on". But I guess it would be best to hear it from her.

 

Probably not the case, but I'll ask anyways: is the battery hooked up correctly?

I only ask because this has happened more times than you might think.

 

Electrical works, so try the following:

Is there a car alarm (stock or aftermarket)? If so, that might have a starter disabler if the alarm has been triggered. Happens on my Civic when I pull the battery, happened on my FD as well.

Check all the fuses (duh... probably already did that)

Check the wiring to the starter, make sure it's all connected well, and has good voltage.

Turn the key around (seriously)... in my FD the key would turn both ways, but would work one way and sometimes not work the other direction.

 

If the car has a factory alarm system like my 7 you can disconnect the fuse for the alarm,Thus eliminating the alarm from the list of possible causes.The fuse is located behind the driver's side left kick panel,in a harness that leaves a small black box.Not the main fuse panel.

 

Did you try to jump the car from another car? I had the same problem with my car. New battery terminals, ATF trick, and a jump later, my car was back up and running better than before. I have 2 1987 FC's and they like to act weird like that sometimes. Most likely nothing major.

 

awesome thread, hoping this fixes our issue.. lol rocky you knwo this is from 04

 

You posted this on facebook and I thought it was recent. Sorry for bringing this thread from the dead.

 

didn't want to start a new thread... searched and found this one.. so i sent it to him to check it

we are pretty sure its the black wire underneath the main fuse block, but wont know until tmw