I have been driving my FD around and go to lunch one day. I park it, eat, and come back out. I try to start the car... it powers on but will not start, turn over, or even click. All the acc. work and the battery is fine(reading from Power FC and my multimeter verified). I tried pumping the clutch pedal several times. I finally push(luckily I was parked on somewhat of an incline) started it and it started right up and drove it home. It now has the same symptoms of course. I immediately thought it was the clutch switch. And pulled the one off my other FD(that starts and runs with no problem) and put it on... still nothing. The starter has not been giving me issues and it starts right up everytime. I don't have time to work on it until this weekend and I plan on checking the starter relay as well as all the wiring and grounds, but I was wondering if anyone else has had the symptoms and remedied the issue. Like I said... my car DOES NOT CLICK. Here is a reference thread from my search where FDNewbie had the same problem. Never does say though if this fixed his problem for good. Any help is appreciated. Always like to brainstorm.

https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...problem+solved

 

try flicking the key back and forward a few times. if it starts after say 4-5 goes then its probably the starter relay.

 

tried that... no luck. Thanks for the suggestion though

 

did you flick it quickly?

 

yes... I'm familiar with the technique... I use to have a boat that did the same thing. It is more common with the "clicking" issue with the bad ignition switch. Mine does not make any noise at all.

 

I think this happened to me more than once (lol) and I can remember that at least ONE of the times, it was that the battery contacts were loose (not visibly mind you...they looked pretty tight, but they weren't). Try that. Simple stuff first

 

Thanks. You were the one I was wanting to hear from. Tried that already too. I've done pretty much anything I can do without crawling underneath the car. I'll have to drive home to the shop over the weekend to troubleshoot the bottomside of the car.

 

I actually have the same problem right now. New battery too. Only about a month old. I figure it is a bad starter relay. Which I think is under the car?

 

check your ignition switch. take off your steering column shroud (the thing between your dash and steering wheel). it is on the other side of where you put in your key and look for a white circular thingy. it is held by two screws and take it off. once off, carefully... i mean carefully take the white cover off. DO NOT LOSE THE SPRINGS!!! check for wear and all that good stuff, it should be pretty obvious for what to look for. if it looks like crap in there, it is time to change that thing.

 

This actually happned when I was test driving a FD i was going to buy. The first 4 times I started it up it was fine. The 5th time, everything turned on, but no click. I was dumbfounded. I thought it was the clutchswitch or if i didnt push in the clutch all the way or somthing, but it wasnt that. If your car has cruise control... just press the off button on the gauge cluster, not sure if it was a coinsidence, but it worked for me. I just pressed the off button before i turned the key and it started. But it was after about the 4th try that i did it. So going from what post #2 said, it could be the starter relay.

 

Here is an idea that might work, happened to me awhile back. All the reds came up on the dash but would not turn over but seeing as I knew I had power I figured it wont be ignition as all reds were up etc and I knew that batt was good other wise the lights would fade or it would click.

How did i fix it? I lied down next to the car and looked at the starter motor wires, 2 things can happen here, one being that years of vibration has caused the clip to come loose or second that the contacts have oxcidized. Just pull off the little black plug an if its loose it will almost fall off cause it shoul be tight. you can either pinch it tight with pliers or replace it with a new spade terminal. if it has got a bad contact pull it off and give it a clean.

I would ty this as you generally dont even need to jack i up to check.
good luck an hope it helps.

 

Mine ended up being the Starter Cut Relay. Its a blue connector connecting to a black relay that has 302 on it, under the driver side kick panel.

 

I had the same problem with my automatic FD for a bit. I tried everything: new battery, cleaned the ign switch & new starter. It finally went away and I'm still not sure what caused or solved it.

 

Oh since some ppl mentioned the starter, I remembered one thing I did...

Believe it or not, I read that sometimes the starter can stick...so there was a time or two where I jacked up the front end of the car, got underneath, grabbed a hammer, and smacked the starter a few times...and guess what? She fired right up! lol. I couldn't believe it either, but if you search, it's been done, and it obviously works!

~Ramy

 

Thanks guys for all of the input. I figured out the problem a couple of weeks ago

 

so was it the starter relay?

 

yeah, what was it?

 

ummm yeah so what was it?!?

 

Yeah, after putting in all that effort, at least let these guys know what the resolution was? It is frustrating to be in the dark not knowing what caused the problem.

Somebody else may have also benefited from this thread? So please let us know, I had a similar problem, it was the Alarm system's cut off switch. Had to by passed it with jumpers, the alarm system still works, but fuel will still be available.

So now I engage a lock to my clutch and floor in case some jerk wants to hotwire it.