r1rx7girl

my car has a rough start and it always has, sometimes its worse than others, its almost like a skipping skreetching noise while turning over, I cant imagine what it would be, I change my spark plugs regularly, all maitenence is done before due, anyone elese have this problem?

rx7nam

what can you compare the skreething to? does it aslo have a rough idle? when did this start happening?

r1rx7girl

no rough idle, the screetching is like a sputtering squeal, like when you turn over a car w/a dead or dying battery it kinda makes a squealing turning over sound a few times then starts up, well mine makes that same sound but randomly through the starting process.

rfreeman27

iTrader: (5)

try to get a new starter on the thing.

manual or auto?

GoodfellaFD3S

iTrader: (213)

based on her username, I assume it's a manual

GoodfellaFD3S

iTrader: (213)

Btw, I'd like to hear a sound clip of this 'skreetching noise' or at least a clip of you trying to pronounce that word

thesleeperrx7

iTrader: (43)

How many miles are on the engine itself? Has it ever been replaced?

r1rx7girl

yes a manual. the motor has approx 20K on it. is it possible to post an audio clip on here? if so I will get one or just a short video clip. my car runs perfectly, its just the initial starting of it that sounds kind rough to me and its not all the time so I will try to catch it on tape. bettery is less than a year old, relocated to the back yellow top, spark plugs have maybe 500 light miles on them, alternator is about 1 year old, so maybe the starter, like I said this has been going on a long time but the weird thing is sometimes it just wont start, I have to jump start my car about 1-2 times a month, I drive it about 2 times a week, so it shouldnt be loosing power like that either.

ptrhahn

iTrader: (9)

Well, if the car runs perfectly, then it's something isolated to the starting mechanism.

Could be the starter motor itself... and/or, some shorn teeth on the starter pinion or flywheel.... although its odd that you're ALSO having a charging problem, which seems like it could be seperate. The only common thread between the two would be the alternator.

oorx7

iTrader: (2)

Actually I have been dealling with a charging problem myself. After asking around it seems as the starters coil could go bad and start causing a constant drain on the system. I havn't had a chance to see if this fixes my problem. But they might be related.

adam c

iTrader: (2)

Do you have an aftermarket alarm? Have you done a fan mod to your car?

r1rx7girl

that would make sense, my alternator and battery is new(er) they should have no reason to be bad , but the starter coil going bad and causing a drain would explain why I am having these problems but then again maybe it is coincidince, its worth a try and seems to be the best soloution, I will give that a try once I find the part. still any other info will help if you have been in the same situation
thanks guys

r1rx7girl

I do have an aftermarket fan that stays running for 10mins once I shut off the car but I always switch it over to the lower setting once I shut it of to try and save the battery. no aftermarket fan though

adam c

iTrader: (2)

Running the fans after shutdown will drain your battery, especially if you don't drive the car often. I used to have the same problem. Rather than run the fans after shutdown, I turn them on well before I reach my destination. This gets the engine to its lowest possible temperature at shutdown. This keeps my battery charged, and keeps engine bay temps from getting too high after shutdown.

I don't know why, but many of our cars have some sort of constant battery drain when turned off.

Does your starter make the same noise when the battery has a full charge? If it does, you probably have a faulty part on your starter. If you are mechanically inclined, you may be able to fix it. There was a thread about someone doing this not long ago.

SlingShotRX7

Could it be a simple thing as loose/worn belts??

Check the tension and tighten and see what happens..

scrubolio

iTrader: (8)

^ thats what i was thinking, worn or loose belts

adam c

iTrader: (2)

Not likely a problem with belts. Bad belts will also squeal after car is running.

Here's the thread about starter repair:

https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generation-specific-1993-2002-16/how-fix-your-starter-its-solenoid-547097/

r1rx7girl

I do ocassionally notice a slight squeal and it is the belt when I am driving, well at a stop light I hear it squeal, I do need a new belt but I am still thinking the starter coil may be the issue for the drain and some of the rough start and the belt would contribute to that even further.

SlingShotRX7

I just changed my starter this last week.

One of the easiest jobs there is.. Very very simple..

As old as our cars are. Might as well change the starter.. they are on the way out anyways.

Malloy mazda has refurbished starters for $108 + core. Was very suprised it was that cheap.

Jack up the car. Disconnect the Ground clip. Unbolt the Power line.. Then just 2 bolts,
which are very very assessible..

Goodluck.

BTW: for a long long time. I thought my clutch switch was malfunctioning.
It was the starter the whole time..

goodluck..

OneRotor

iTrader: (3)

i'd say change the belts, clean your grounds, and replace the starter. it sounds like you have a small short in the starter causing your battery to slowly drain, the squealing sounds like a belt, and dirty grounds could be causing your hard starts when your battery is fully charged. keep us updated