Starter Click Click Problem Solved~~~
 

Ok I have tried so many things to fix this damn problem and search numerous times about this issue and no one had one solid answer so I found that I need to figure this out myself!!!

This is the answer!!~~~
ITS THE IGNITION SWITCH LOCATED WHERE YOU PUT THE KEY AND TURN IT.

You can locate it when you take out the bottom steering hub cover. Now this is what you do...
Either get a new one or take it apart and use a dremel with a wire brush and brush out the copper plates in there. When I opened mine it was a bit corroded where the connection was making and after I used a dremel and brushed it all clean.... walla!~~~ I never had the click click problem again!!!

If ya guys who had this problem need some help just PM me or reply here~~ I would love to help since this click click crap bothered the crap out of me. hehehe.

Thanks
Laser man~~~

can u describe the problem a little bit

Well... the problem is that many FD users have a problem with starting the car once in a while and it starts to get worse and worse. Basically when you turn the key to start... you can hear a "click" noise and you keep on turning the key until it starts cranking.
However this problem starts to get worse and worse by time...

I had 2 FD's and both of them had the same problem... it seems its more likely to happen to the older FD's 93... since both of mine were 93.

I bet a lot of ya guys are having this problem.

Another way to get this fixed is to get a remote starter alarm system... since this will bypass the ignition switch and it will start from the alarm computer itself.

Cheers~~

I'm going to have to end up doing some sort of fix on this soon, as i'm only hitting the starter on every third turn of the key. I thought there was a solution before that didn't involve the key stock, but showed that the problem was resistance in one of the wires somewhere under the car? I haven't read about or searched on this problem in a long time though.

I have this problem with my FD.

Also try a spray contact cleaner. Humidity can cause oxidation and cigarette smoke also can build up on connections.

Yes another helpful fix.

Thanks for the report. Many FD owners will be glad to fix this problem. I know I will, when I have time or just get sick of turning the key a few times.

David

Is that it? I have an issue where if I jump in the car right away and try to crank it...it just...*clicks*. If I wait a moment before I crank it, it seems to be fine.

I always thought it had something to do with the turbo timer relay engaging or something.

akiratdk and/or others...

I think I am experiencing the problem you described here. Ocassionally, when I put the key in, turn it to the ON (prior to crank) position, depress the clutch, then turn the key, I get a weird click, then everything (acc/dash lights) shuts off... once in a while, the acc/dash lights come back on almost immediately, then I crank again, and again nothing... just that click then everything shuts off. So when I open the door, take the key out, put it back in, it sometimes does the exact same thing, or it starts.

I thought it was the starter, so I got a new reman from Ray Crowe, installed that, but it's still doing it, so I know it's gotta be something else...

Akira, is this the same thing you experienced prior to cleaning your ignition switch? Particularly the acc/dashboard lights/beeps shutting after you hear the click? Hopefully, cleaning it like you said will work.

thanks in advance to everyone for the help.

i had this problem bad when the car was auto. I also thought this problem plagued auto owners more than 5spd owners. Since my swap i have never had the problem since....and that was with no modification to the ignition switch. I remember some olds threads awhile back talking about the auto harness or the one of the relays as a cause/solution.

Again, I had the problem when i was automatic and ended up swapping a good starter and new ignition switch....both of which didnt do sqaut.

A couple of pics would be great bro.

Does anyone know what the resistance of a properly working ignition switch is? I was thinking this problem was my starter solenoid as that is a likely cause of this also, but I'll give this a try first as I haven't been able to find a starter solenoid under $150.

I also have this problem. Once my car is finished I'll be looking to fix it. Pics would be great!

I checked the FSM and couldn't find anything usefull. Anyone?

I had this problem.. the only fix was to add a relay to the starter wiring harness giving it 12 volts of power at all times. this was done at tripoint and problem has been solved for two years now. and yes prior to this I replaced the starter, and ignition switch and got the same problem "expensive lesson"..

Jeff

Where exactly did they put the relay in? Is all the wiring done by the starter?

There's not enough voltage getting to either the starter solenoid or the starter, so there is excessive resistance somewhere before those in the circuit.

Similar issue here.
I also have a greddy turbo timer, .. that I don't use.
(FC)

Try searching on this forum as there's a direct replacement by Bosch sold at the NAPA autoparts store. The part number is in the thread.

That's funny! I have my steering column covers off and put a temp push button switch in. I was going to permanently mount it. I'll try this instead and see if it does the trick. Unfortunately, I'm doing some engine stuff at the moment (see my "Where's the oil coming from" thread). But that shouldn't take too long. I'll take some pix when I get to it.

-KPM

This is a common problem seen on Miatas. Don't know if the internals of an RX-7 ignition switch are the same as a Miata's, but here is an article on teardown of the Miata's switch.

sweetness~~~