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engine won't crank

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Old 12-12-08, 07:56 PM
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engine won't crank

symptoms:

5:30 am cranks right up in about 30 degree farenheit weather
I drove it to jack's and grabbed breakfast

7:30 am will not even crank.. i turn the key and nothing.. completely dead
I catch a ride to campus and take my exams

4:00 pm engine cranks but doesn't turn over on first 3 attempts, on 4th attempt it sputters, 5th attempt nothing happens, not even cranking now

Battery seems fine as stereo and lights are working strong...I have pulled the clutch switch and checked the spring that has broken before, but it is fine... I also have the plugs pulled right now, but engine still not even cranking, much less turning over..

... so what should be the next thing I should check?

Thanks guys
Old 12-12-08, 08:32 PM
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Eh

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https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...cking+ignition

There is also a relay on the driver side kick panel that can fail but I cant find the part number.

Good luck.


Originally Posted by clint034
symptoms:

5:30 am cranks right up in about 30 degree farenheit weather
I drove it to jack's and grabbed breakfast

7:30 am will not even crank.. i turn the key and nothing.. completely dead
I catch a ride to campus and take my exams

4:00 pm engine cranks but doesn't turn over on first 3 attempts, on 4th attempt it sputters, 5th attempt nothing happens, not even cranking now

Battery seems fine as stereo and lights are working strong...I have pulled the clutch switch and checked the spring that has broken before, but it is fine... I also have the plugs pulled right now, but engine still not even cranking, much less turning over..

... so what should be the next thing I should check?

Thanks guys
Old 12-12-08, 09:24 PM
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thanks for the suggestion...

UPDATE, engine wouldn't crank with plugs out, but I took off the clutch switch, and now it IS cranking... not sure if it will turn over though, got to get the plugs back in first..

... I'm confused on what the clutch switch actually does though. I know its either a closed or open, according to whether the clutch is pressed or not, but what does it regulate?..
Old 12-12-08, 09:38 PM
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It makes sure the car won't start without the clutch being pressed and it also is used with the idle control.
Old 12-12-08, 11:10 PM
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okay, so i just put plugs back in... clutch switch is still off the car... and it crunk right up... it idled just fine also, high around 1,500 but it was constant... i let it run for about 5 minutes..

...but what could be causing this? i mean for it to work one minute, not work the next, and then work again.. i really do not not where exactly the security relay is located in the driver side panel, or what it looks like... but is it known to break or just be loose? because it seems like i'm dealing with a loose wire or a corroded contact somewhere rather than a broken part...
Old 12-12-08, 11:16 PM
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Sounds like an ignition switch, starter relay, or clutch switch. I get so tired of these cars doing the same thing after replacing all these components that I began completely rewiring the starting circuit with its own dedicated relay. The problem is usually an intermittent bad connection in the harness. The wiring is marginal when new and now over 15 years old in most cars.
Old 08-10-09, 10:32 AM
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Originally Posted by Rotary Experiment Seven
Sounds like an ignition switch, starter relay, or clutch switch. I get so tired of these cars doing the same thing after replacing all these components that I began completely rewiring the starting circuit with its own dedicated relay. The problem is usually an intermittent bad connection in the harness. The wiring is marginal when new and now over 15 years old in most cars.
Please, could you tell me where the starter relay is placed?

Thank you!!
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