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When I bought my 88 GTU, the previous owner said if there's ever an issue with the car not starting, to fiddle around with this thing. No idea why, or what this is. Anyone know what this is, and why the harness has been jumped like this? Ive heard about issues with a wiring harness causing non-starting issues, but I was under the impression that was in the driver footwell.
There's normally a relay there that part of the car's anti-theft system. When the anti-theft system is triggered, the relay prevents the car from starting. That wire just jumpers the main terminals to defeat the purpose of the relay. The problem with doing that is the alarm can still be triggered (i.e., lights flashing and horn beeping), but the engine will still run. Not sure what the point of that was. Maybe the previous owner had infamous click-click problem when attempting to start the car. If you want to replace the relay, than you can buy one for cheap at RockAuto (Airtex/Wells WMA 1R1801).
There is a jumper there from the factory. I believe it's something to do with an immobilizer but my car had an alarm and no immobilizer so I'm not entirely sure. My car still has the jumper and will refuse to crank without it.
If fiddling with it is required to start, you probably need to make a new, better quality jumper wire.
EDIT: Whoops, Hot_Dog has provided a better answer in the time it took me to write this. I'll leave this up but he has better info than I do. It does make me wonder why my car had an alarm but no immobilizer though.
That doesn't look like a factory jumper wire. Looks like something somebody jerry rigged. My S5 has a relay plugged into that socket. I was under the impression that all RX7's including S4's had that alarm relay, but I might be wrong.
For some reason, it took a long time for my response to get posted.
That doesn't look like a factory jumper wire. Looks like something somebody jerry rigged. My S5 has a relay plugged into that socket. I was under the impression that all RX7's including S4's had that alarm relay, but I might be wrong
The one in this thread is not factory, but mine has one that appears factory. It uses an actual connector instead of spade terminals and a small black jumper wire.
Its very possible my car was messed with or maybe had the factory alarm installed after the fact, but I was under the impression it was original and perhaps the immobilizer function wasn't added until later (build date on my car is 10/85).
There's normally a relay there that part of the car's anti-theft system. When the anti-theft system is triggered, the relay prevents the car from starting. That wire just jumpers the main terminals to defeat the purpose of the relay. The problem with doing that is the alarm can still be triggered (i.e., lights flashing and horn beeping), but the engine will still run. Not sure what the point of that was. Maybe the previous owner had infamous click-click problem when attempting to start the car. If you want to replace the relay, than you can buy one for cheap at RockAuto (Airtex/Wells WMA 1R1801).
Interesting. I have yet to encounter the alarm. I was under the impression my car did not have one. I've physically tried to set it off, to no avail.
I think I've come across the infamous 'click click' issue despite this jumper being in place. Every so often, I'll push the clutch in and turn the key. Gauges will jump, but the starter will just click. Nothing. I have to let the clutch out, turn the key all the way off, then try starting again. Sometimes 2-3 times before it'll go. But I almost never have to fiddle with the wire shown above.
Interesting. I have yet to encounter the alarm. I was under the impression my car did not have one. I've physically tried to set it off, to no avail.
I think I've come across the infamous 'click click' issue despite this jumper being in place. Every so often, I'll push the clutch in and turn the key. Gauges will jump, but the starter will just click. Nothing. I have to let the clutch out, turn the key all the way off, then try starting again. Sometimes 2-3 times before it'll go. But I almost never have to fiddle with the wire shown above.
OK, than maybe some S4's didn't have an alarm. I've once owned an '86 Sport, but its been so long I don't remember if it had an alarm system.
Sometimes that switch will cause the starter not to crank. I just bypassed mine using a short jumper wire. this may cause a potential safety issue, but just make sure the clutch is depressed when staring the car. .
I dug into this a little, and it seems like the option sheets in the stickied thread in this section indicate that in '86 anti-theft was a GXL only option. Mine isn't a GXL, so it's anyone's guess as to where the stock alarm came from (probably the same place as the AC and PS that my car had when I bought it but not when it left the factory).
Anyways, in reference to OPs click-click problem the same sheets also show that the anti-theft system was standard on all models by 1988. Meaning the jumper is probably there in an effort to rectify the click-click problem. The fact that the problem is still present means that checking the clutch switch as Hot-Dog mentioned is a good idea, since the anti-theft relay was not the culprit.
On my first FC (86 SE) I had a no start issue with a relay that was there. There are definitely factory jumpers there, blue connector IIRC, but that is not one of them. Completes the circuit between the starter solenoid and the ignition switch. Looks like it jumps C and F.
Last edited by FührerTüner; Apr 29, 2021 at 03:50 AM.
Sometimes that switch will cause the starter not to crank. I just bypassed mine using a short jumper wire. this may cause a potential safety issue, but just make sure the clutch is depressed when staring the car. .
So the culprit could be the clutch switch rather than the anti-theft relay?
