Ok, this is tragic.... I go to start my FD yesterday night, and when i turn the key, the engine cranks for a second... then I get nothing at all. I can hear the starter spinning, but i'm not getting any response from the engine. It sounds like the flywheels not catching on the starter, but I'm no expert. There has been no prelude to this at all, all of the suden it just stopped working. please, any suggestions as to what it may be!!

 

Sounds like the spring that pushes out the gear on the starter isn't doing its job. I don't know if it can be fixed. You may need a new starter.

 

tap the starter with a wrench or something and try again, it may need a rebuild(the starter) because some teeth are missing.

 

there is a solenoid that pushes the teeth out. That prolly went bad. Some time the wrench trick works b/c it's stuck.

Happened on my TII about a month ago (225,000 on it ).

 

you might want to have someone stand in front and verify that the engine is or isn't turning over the whole time...

a month after I first got my FD, I had similar symptoms... sounded like the starter was simply spinning and not turning the engine over at all. I thought that the solinoid was bad or something similar.

turns out it was just flooded and I just didn't realize how quiet the engine was without spark! I felt so damn stupid... didn't realize it until i had my buddy verify it for me.

unflooded it and I was back in business needless to say, I won't make that mistake again... I guess that's what you get when you're used to working on piston engines

 

If the starter is making a spinning noise but the engine is not turning, its likely the starter drive which is connected to the solenoid and houses the starter gear. This is a clutch type device design to lock in forward and spin free in the other direction. I would not screw around here because you don't want the flywheel ring gear to be damaged. This would mean the trans has to come out to replace the ring gear/flywheel. Check the connections both bolts and electrical. Your likely in for a starter. John

 

It's been my experience that when you turn the starter over and all you get is a high pitched whining noise it's usually the bendix spring in the solenoid. Then again if you turn the key and nothing happens, then tap on the bottom of the starter, it' means the brushes are worn down to low and are not making contact.

 

Addition to my last post. when you turn the key and nothing happens, tap on the starter and the car starts, that means the brushes are bad.

 

might be flooded all rotarys are known for it even the 13b renisis in the rx-8 or if you dont here anything it could be that your battery needs a charge to turn the starter over or the starter took a crap...

 

How old is your battery?

 

Drewroman, you hit the nail on the head for this one. I feel like a retard, i didn't hear the engine turning over(and niether did my buddy, we're used to pistons i guess). Luckly, I looked up how to unflood it on the forums and it started up and runs like normal again. In case anyone is searching this later and doesn't know how to unflood the FD, here's how it works:

1. Hold the gas pedel all the way to the floor when trying to start it for 15 seconds. This will crank the engine but not feed any more gas.
2. Release the gas pedel and try to start it with just to clutch in, do this for 15 more seconds.
3. Keep repeating steps 1 and 2 untill it starts(could take a couple of minutes). Once it fires up, it will run rough for a couple of minutes, this is normal, it will pass.
4. A word of caution: Don't start your rotary's for a short period of time, OR SHE WILL FLOOD!

 

heh heh... don't feel bad... it's amazing how quiet it is isn't it? I even had nothing but 1st gen RX-7's for about 10 years before I got my FD... you could always see the fan turning with the hood hinged from the front though.... not quite so easy on the FD

glad to hear you're running again

 

Thats good to know how to un flood the FD.