car only starts when I put jumper cables on another car the other car isn't on! 7 is:
I have a 93 Rx-7 R1 50,000 on it . It runs fine as soon as it is on after I hook the cables up to another car, the other car doesn't even have to be on. As soon as I turn my Rx-7 off and try to restart it will not, it just clicks and then I lose all power (the battery dies) The battery is fairly new only a couple of moths old it has not been relocated or swapped for the miata battery.

Has this happened to anyone???

It could be the ground
or the alternator
or god knows what else with the wonderful reliable Rx7
But I love her anyway

Any Ideas welcome.

Thank you Andrew

 

check the voltage and make sure the connections are good.

 

Sounds like a typical dead/bad battery. Unless you have acid growth all over your battery contacts, replace the battery with a new one.

If it were your alternator, the car would die a few minutes after you jumped it. W/O the alternator, the power for everything on the car would come from the battery.

 

First thing you should check that many people over look is the connection to the terminals. I would have to jump my car all the time but it really didn't need a jump. Just when the clamps where put on the terminals it connected the wires to the battery. At least that what happened in my situation.

 

I would start by cleaning the terminals. They can look fine but make lousy contact. Use a wire brush or wire-brush-style battery terminal cleaner tool.

-Max

 

If they are dirty use baking soda with water to clean the terminals then use a wire brush to clean the rest.

 

Thanks first off to everyone that posted to help with this. The battery is fairly new and the terminals are squeeky clean and on tight. I will have to test out the voltage of the battery but arent FD's known for there amazing shitty grounds?????
Anyway anyonther Ideas before I replace my battery and reground the system!

 

Bring the battery to a local Kragen/Pep Boys etc. (or the place where you bought it if local) and ask them to test it. It should not take more than 60 seconds and it will tell you if the battery is bad. If it is not bad, then your starter may be dying.

My friend's BMW has exactly the same problem at the moment - it will not start with its own battery buy will start when a second battery is connected in parallel. We had the battery tested (it was fine) and sanded and checked the terminals and it did not fix the problem. We are going to replace the starter this weekend after doing some on-car tests to make sure it is fried (cf. http://www.misterfixit.com/starttst.htm).

You can also try the test outlined on that page (which should be easy for you - unlike the BMW, you will not have to remove the intake/throttle body/heater vents/injectors/fuel rail/UIM to get to the starter). Basically, it the starter draws current but does not move, it is fried.