If you aren't experienced with an ohm meter don't use one. Tow the car to autozone and have them test the alternator. If it comes out ok, replace the starter.

For a copy of the factory service manual go to http://www.iluvmyrx7.com

 

I second that

 

ok, i'll post back when i find out whats wrong.

 

Er, hello? Anyone think it may be flooded? Start car, idle for minute, turn straight off, hmmmm

 

but it's not spinning...just click, dead.

clean the battery terminals and make sure you have a good connection.

if the connection is bad, then trying to jump the car wouldn't work.

 

I cleaned the terminals and still no go. The tow truck will be here in an hour.


-adam

 

If it's not trying to crank, it's electrical.

 

Where did you get this "new battery"? Trak Auto perhaps?

I'd check the voltage, sounds like a bum cell.

 

true, its an el cheapo from walmart...got it as a hold over b/c I was gonna get an optima. Pep Boys is going to call me after they test. He said probably the starter. Is there anything they can majorly screw up replacing a starter? I have read so many posts about mechanics ******* peoples cars up i am really paranoid.


-adam

 

Hmm.. somehow i doubt its the starter... all they (or you) would need to do is hook up another battery (known good) real quick and try it.

 

I agree. Sounds like a crappy battery.

However, if you want to check/replace the starter, its only held on by two bolts. Just jack up the car and it's on the driver's side of the bellhousing. I can't imagine anyone messing that up, however I'm sure it's possible.

 

Ok, it’s still at pepboys. It isn’t the starter or battery or alternator. Some wiring problem that so far, they have not fixed. The car was stolen in 2002. The mechanic said under the dash is a mess. He said there was a heavy gauge wiring harness "like one for an alarm" that wasn't connected to anything; he also mentioned "some grounds were cut". Plus the actual ignition is brand new he said, but the ignition switch is in bad bad shape. Looks like it was been glued n **** he said. He ordered a new one from Arizona. The ignition switch wasn't the problem he said but STRONGLY recommended getting a new b4 it became one. I sure hope this isn't gonna be one of those chronically ill FDs.

 

If it isn't the battery, alternator, or starter, and it isn't even turning over, then I'm at a loss. It must just be that power isn't getting to something, maybe through the hack job under the dash, but if it worked before, I would think it should work now.

Have you tried push starting it? That NEVER fails.

 

CHECK GROUNDS

 

Hmmm that's odd. I'm kind of at a loss myself. My only suggestion would be check the grounds and the wiring. Hope all goes well, and keep us updated!

 

Maybe hes an AT and can't push start it.

 

no, 5spd. But i don't car if i can push start it. I need it to start when i turn the key. There is a hack job under the dash. It makes NO sense that it ran, it was washed, (mind, not powerwashed or engine bay, nor did i spray under the dash ) and now it doesn't. I'll update after i run up to pepboys and see whats up.


-thanks, adam

 

Is there any specifc grounds to check? Isn't there a lot?

 

Push starting it could help in diagnosing the problem. If it'll push start, that tells you the problem is directly related to the ignition.

 

I see, sry for the noobism

 

Well if it started with a pushstart then you know it was the starter right? I wouldn't have my car at pepboys hell I don't even shop there I hate that place. In fact I wouldn't really trust anything they say about anything so in my book none of the stuff you listed is ruled out.

It definetaly sounds like a wiring problem to me and you need to get it to a rotary specialist. What I meant is check the main grounds. There actually aren't too many in the engine bay but with 1 just missing or not working it can do some strage stuff to the car. A friend had his ground on the motor near the plugs covered in oil and the car would spark but couldn't start up.

I say get your car out of there right away before they rack up a huge bill. Get someone near you with a 7 to help out and you can learn at the same time. Try swapping parts out such as ecu first.

 

hmm has anyone mentioned spark plugs? It definetely sounds like a connection problem to me. I don't own an RX-7 but i had the same problem on my vw golf. I heard the click but no wind-up. I thought to myself "aww *** its the starter or the alternator" but actually it just turned out to be bad connection from the battery to the alternator.

Oh and btw get your car out of Pep Boys as fast as possible. I wouldnt trust all those companies like Pep Boys or VIP Discounts. My dad took his Audi A6 there once and told them to rotate the tires. They didnt, so we came back again and they forgot to do it again!! We got really mad so to compensate for our waste of time, they put on four brand new ones

 

check the main fuse also. i blew mine when i grounded out one time while i was working on the engine. would click and i had power but never turned over. just a thought.

 

Good call. That happened to my Dad's R1 a while back.....

 

thanks for all the imput.

I'm giving Pepboys until Friday becasue thats when they say the ignition switch is coming in. They push started it. Now they are saying that the old ignition switch was in such bad shape it was most likely the problem. I'll get pics of the old switch incase anybody wan't to see....and i'll update if the car works.


-adam