RX7 refuses to start and makes funny noises at me (video)...
 

This is a 1996 RX-7. It was having the infamous "click click start" problem where occasionally it would take multiple turns of the key in order for the engine to even turn over, but it would usually start. Then, it just quit altogether.

We bypassed the starter relay and made sure the clutch switch was working. It turned out that the +12v signal to terminal-S of the starter solenoid wasn't getting through, so we bypassed the whole starter circuit completely and added a wire directly from the ignition switch to the starter. That cranked the engine just fine. It fired up just fine too and ran for about a minute, but then started stumbling until it died. This was after sitting for 3 months without having been run.

After that, every time we try to crank it, it will not turn over and there is a really strange buzzing/whining noise that seems to be coming from under the intake manifold. As soon as we turn the ignition switch off, the strange noise goes away (as seen in the video). Any ideas?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ovOYfIjxK4

LOL i know that sound exactly, its your ISC valve, the grey and black thing bolted to the throttle body on the firewall side, disconnect the the electrically connection to it and see if you car runs. My rx7 doesn't like when the isc valve is plugged it, it will run, but it will have a bouncing idle between 600 and 3000rpms for about 2secs and then will stall after it stalls, it makes that retarded noise. With its wire connector disconnected and valve still attached to throttle body (to prevent intake leaks my car runs just fine.

I remember the first time i heard that noise and freaked out lol.

Also, this may not be the reason why your car isn't starting. Check fuel and spark, i hear no signs of your motor wanting to turn over.

Sounds like the engine is flooded as far as the starting problem is concerned. Step one is pull the spark plugs out, pull the engine fuse so you don't get any spark or fuel, and crank the motor over with the plugs out to flush some of the crap out of the motor. Get a fresh set of plugs, reinstall, and give it a try.

Don't worry about the ISC making noise right now, just get it RUNNING.

Dale

Did you use fuel stabilizer or anything while it sat? Gas starts to go bad around 5 weeks.

idle speed control valve go bad after a while, I have taken it out and cleaned it. after reinstalling it, the car runs fine. new ones are expensive as hell fyi. Anyways, sounds like the car is flooded due to failure to spark.

Hey silver-rex-7,
What did you clean yours out with and how did you clean yours? Mine started making the same funny noise as in the video posted above. I just unplugged it and tuned my idle until my engine just ran ok.

But if there is a way of cleaning/fixing the isc, I'd love to give it a try, right now since its tuned for the isc unplugged. When I do plug in the isc, on engine start up it rev's to 3k, then drops down to 600-800 rpms until it stalls which is always within 3 seconds.

thanks,
Jay

clean it with alcohol or electrical connector cleaner. anything that can break dirt and not leave residue. some degreasers leave a film which would only make the valve stick, so make sure you don't use that. spray it right into the opening, make sure its a lot and shake it a little. on twinturbo fds, the first turbo pulls vacuum from the oil filler neck, sometimes ingesting oil, my guess, is because the car naturally creates a film of oil in the intake ducts, the idle speed control valve gets dirty and sticky over time. On single turbo FDs, this will happen again over time if you dont have an oil catch can. the air the car ingests is not 100 percent clean so it carries dirt which sticks to whatever sticky surface. its crazy, lol. let me know if it works out for you....

I. Hate. That. Buzzer.

It only goes off when the car wont start after a few hard tries, it seems to be crying out for you to stop.

thanks for the advice silver rx 7; ill give it a try this weekend when i pull the manifold off to do the vacuum system again.

lol@ilovejdm : ya i only hear it make that noise after it stalls, however i do think its making that noise while the car is running and you just cant hear it over the engine. who knows.