Hey guys, i'm a newb to the site, but definately not a newb to the RX-7. I bought my R1 when they were first introduced in 93 when i was just getting out of med school. It has been my baby ever since. The car has been maintained religiously and it is amazing shape with only 20K miles on it.

However, of late, i've been having some trouble. It seems the battery won't hold charge and if i turn the car off and let it sit, for even over nite, the battery goes dead. In the last year i've replaced the battery 3 times, and the alternator twice. I also took it to a Mazda dealership and let their techs have a day with it, and they couldn't seem to find anything wrong. But there is obviously a problem, whether it's in the wiring, a short? i have no clue. anyway, i would really appreciate it if any of you could give me some suggestions or thoughts as to what it may be, or what might be pulling excesive charge from the battery when the car is off? if any of you have had the same problem or may know a solution? Basically i now have to revert to carrying a charge pack with me wherever i go, even when i do drive it, which is rare now because of these problems.

I know you guys know this car like the back of your hand, so that's why i turn to you. any helpful feedback will be much appreciated... so PLEASE HELP!, not being able to drive my R1 is killing me. thanks for your time and i look forward to your feedback!

 

If you have been replacing the battery and its still going dead then it sounds like you have a draw somwhere. You can check this by putting a volt meter on the battery and see what kind of power is being put out with everything off. If its putting out power then somthing is staying on. I would start with the glove box light because it can stay on and you wouldnt even know it.

 

1. I always assumed the mounted light goes off when I close the hatch. I don't think that is true. So, for some days, I was runing down because of that.
2. I would also check the alternator to see if it is overcharging the batteries
3. Can't you use an ammeter to see if there is a draw when the car is off. I would start pulling fuses with the meter in place to see if I could find the culprit.

 

Bad battery connections or bare wire somewhere will bleed power.


Do you have a red R1 in Abacoa?

 

sounds like a draw on the battery to me. I had the same prolbem with an old Vett I fixed up last summer. Using a volt meter, it took me a better part of the weekend to trace the prolbem down to a stuck winshield wiper switch and a bad relay.

 

Does the car have an aftermarket alarm? That could be a possible source, if equipped.

First thing, put a volt meter on the battery to see if there is a draw. If there is, check your terminals and cables. Then I would test all of the relays, starting with the TNS relay and then move on. The cargo lamp (by design) goes off when the hatch is closed. You can easily check this by obviously removing the cargo divider and peer through.

Joe

 

Could be the line from the Alt to the battery, thus making the altinator useless. This is what caused my car's battery to keep going dead.

 

First off, i appreciate the helpfull ideas... im gonna talk to my mechanic and try them all this weekend... however, i also forgot to mention, at the same time this started happening, my stereo also went dead. It won't come on at all when i turn the car on. it has an aftermarket bose system installed: that was done, christ, in 97' i believe, and i've never had a problem with it. i can only assume that it may be a result of the battery problem? maybe? idk? any ideas on why the stereo might also be affected?

but idk guys... this is killin me. i only drive it on weekends anyway (my daily driver is an 04' bmw 330ci convertible), but i LOVE to take it out. it is hands down the best car i've ever drivin, as am sure many of you would agree, and i just need to get everything straight with this car

also to rajeevx7:
it is a red R1, but i live in pga national, west palm

thanks again for your thoughts guys!

 

You buy mechanical battery disconnects for about $12 at your local auto store to keep you sane until the problem is fixed.

e.g., http://froogle.google.com/froogle_cl...le&scoring=mrd

 

Have you done ANY modifications to your car? If so, what have you done?

 

 

it's competely stock.... all the original R1 parts. i guess the only thing aftermarket in it would be the bose system i mentioned. i was thinking about getting some wheels for it this year though... any suggestions?

to tell you the truth im not sure how much longer i'm gonna keep the car. i've had my eyes set on an astin martin db9 for a while now, and if i get that, then the rx-7 is goin to my lucky nephew up in PA... he a 7 enthusiast too and has given me more advice on this car than i can even remember. he has a 240sx now, but i know ever since i've got the car he's talked about getting one for himself... so it would definately make him happy and i know it would be going to someone who would take care of it...

idk, maybe if i can get this charge problem figured out and fixed i might end up keeping it. it would hard to part with a car that i've loved for so many years now.

 

fix it and keep it or else ull regret it =D