car wont start...please help
 

Hi. First-off, i did use the search function...But it seems for one reason or another (such as different mods or location) nobody's story is like mine. Or enough like mine that they can help.
Now, as you already know, I am having trouble starting my car. I went to the local sonic after driving the car around. I wasnt driving it hard and i properly cooled it down and warmed it up all day. Well when i go to leave Sonic...it wouldnt start. It wont even turn over. Everytime i try to turn the key the only thing i hear is click-click and thats it. While i was waiting for the tow truck(approx. 30 minutes from when it 1st would start) i noticed the Overheat EXH System light was on. (The warning Ligt by the ash tray). I dont know if it was on when the car first wouldnt start or not. Plus, t mya have been on only cause my key was on the "on" position but the engine wasnt running. You know how if you put the key on "on" but dont start the engine, all of your warning lights will come on. Maybe that was the reason the Overheat EXH Light was on.
As for mods, I am basically all stock. I just have a Boost gauge, Aluminum A.s.t, and i had just ordered a water temp. gauge today.
Any suggestions will help. I am still relatively new to this and this is the first big problem i have had.
Oh yes, one more thing, my car has 108,000 miles on the original motor. Do you think it may be blown?
Thanks alot for your help. -Jeff

Was the engine hot or cold when you tried to start it

first off your right about the exhaust light. second you need to get a new battery.

Yes., the engine was still warm when i went to try to start it( at sonic.) I am going to try to start it again in the morning when it is cold.

You said i am right about the light? You mean as it is just coming on since all the lights do? And secondly, why would i need a new battery? My battery is only like 2 months old and is fully charged.

yes, my light does the same thing. I just thought that it sounded like your battery was to weak. at least go get it checked there might be something draining on it.

Uh, FDs are notorious for having to hit the key several times sometimes to get the starter to engage. I know mine does it, quite often. I will turn the key and....nothing, and will have to hit it like five times in a row, then it will engage the starter. Others have reported similar trouble. Just try bam bam bam keying the ignition, it might work for you.

thanks for the suggestion, I will try it in the morning. -Jeff

i got the same problem on mines some time, especially if i have not driven very far, some times i gotta hit it like 40-60 times before it starts but thats once in a blue moon. 98% of the time it will start right up. just keep on hitting it, you got not thing to lose.

also you might try checking the negative ground for your battery.

I thought this was just an FC problem. On my TII the original ignition key is actually bent from restarts. Imagine my surprise when this happened in my FD for the first time. Not much fun. The problem is cheaply constructed ignition switches (either that or we start our cars waaaayyyyyy too often and wear the switches out)

:p:

Yeah, the first time it happened to me was when I was stuck in traffic, on a really hot day, and the engine died, so I just went to restart and.....NOTHING! And OF COURSEn traffic started moving then(!) and I was looking like a dumbass....so I just sort of frantically started turning the key and it engaged the starter finally. So......the next time my car wouldn't start, which was a few days later leaving work, I was like, "Hmmmm, I wonder......." so I just started turning the key quickly and voila!
It really sucks to have passengers in the car when that happens, they sort of raise that quizzical eyebrow, and all you can do is say, "uh....sometimes it does this....." :(

It was my alternator that did that to me. It went out and I ran the battery dry. Do a voltmeter test and that will clue you in a little.

I thought I was the only person with this problem. I didn't start having the key problem or 3K hesitation until the engine was replaced by the (idiot) dealer.

I'm checking all my grounds and adding a big strap ground at the firewall on the passanger side.

I even had the car checked by a dealer, and they couldn't find anything wrong, though they couldn't get it to do what it does, either!

I checked all I could, I have a new batter, the alternator is working fine, I really believe it is in the ignition switch, some sort of intermittent electrical deal, as when it acts up, there is no voltage going to the starter.....

I have not priced one, but I hear that ignition switches are like over $100 for the FD? I'd get one if that would eliminate the problem, but I have dealt with British cars and their LUCAS (the Prince of Darkness) electrical systems and experienced the frustration of intermittent electrical trouble! :D

You and me both (Healeys to MG's to Triumphs) and the one thing we both learned from that experience is the real reason Brits drink warm beer. :beerchug: :beerchug:

Lucas refrigerators!!! :beerchug: :beerchug:

Jeff, that light comes on all the time along with the other lights. If your battery is new......it's just loose. Just tighten that bitch down real good and it will start right up. I know this bec. that's what happened to me quite a few times. You can test this out by turning the key to the on position then open your hood and move around both (+, - ) connections. If you hear the click click while doing this....it's just the battery. Good luck man. It's definitely not a blown engine !!! :cool:

this has happened to me, we put the battery in and it made clicks when you turned the key, everytime, so we looked in the electrical box everything was good, we couldn't figure it out so we ended up paying $80 to have it towed and repaired, it turns out that it was the electrical box, the fuse was blown so the car clicked every time we tried to start it, also check the wires in the electrical box.

hey Ted, I tries your suggestions but they havnt worked. I even tryed hitting the key.for 10-15 times(wrist got sore). When i tyrn they key the electricity comes on and stays on and it does the click-click automatically. It sounds like the same problem RX7ROTOR had. WHich electric boc are you referring to? The one that comes reight off the pos. battery connection? Thanks for all the help guys. -Jeff

i don't know which one, all i know there is a little box, and the car clicked everytime we tried to start, it clicks for various reasons, you hook up the battery wrong, but the lights, work, everything lights up except the car won't start, try looking at the box where the wires for the starter car from, that might help, or from the batt., sorry i just stated to learn about these rx7, so i don't know where their boxes are located yet.:( but what i said my help, if you look into the electric box and everything looks all right, it might not be, because when we took ous apart, it looked all right but under the electronic board there was more stuff that's where we found the problem so i suggect you take the whole box apart, not just the lid and look.