So I just got my car, and it wouldn't start on the second day. (welcome to the club eh?)

Here's a lil background info...

Day 1 -
Car shipped from NY to NV, stalled 4 times going on to the truck, and wouldn't start after unload. The truck driver jumped the car and it started, let it warmed up and drove it home, idled for about 30 mins. Filled it up with 91 (no 93 here). Started the car 2 other times that night with ease.

Day 2 -
Tried to start the car, it wouldn't turn over or anything. Voltage on PFC showed 9.5v. Tried to jump it like the truck driver did yesterday, PFC showed 12v, still wouldn't turn over. Bought a new battery, disconnected the old one, and jumpered the terminals to the new battery (terminals in rear bin), 11.9v and still nothing.

I checked the "Engine" fuse by the driver's kick panel, and manually pressed the clutch switch in (didn't have a meter to check continuity). The cabin lights are working, and didn't even flicker when I tried to start it.

What else should I check?
Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

 

Starter relay in driverside kick panel or clutch switch possibly.

Are you saying the starting isnt even cranking? If so try the two things I posted above.

 

Thanks djseven. (security relay = starter relay right?) It started twice today...

Day 4 -
I ghetto rig a wire to bypass the security relay by the driver's kick panel, and it started right up!! It smoke a lil and I let it idle for about 30 mins, shut off then tried to start again, NOTHING. So I removed the rear bins then jumpered the battery again, I was getting frustrated so I kept trying to turn the key, nothing again for the first few times, then all of the sudden it started up!! But I forgot it was in gear and let off the clutch, killing the the engine. Then I replaced the battery and terminals, still nothing.

What should I do next? Starter solenoid? Ignition switch?

Please help...

 

I found this thread researching a similar problem on the 2nd gen side of the forums.

https://www.rx7club.com/2nd-generation-specific-1986-1992-17/starter-will-not-engage-845701/

I have had similar problems very intermittently where I go to start my car and get nothing. I have power to everything, the starter simply makes no attempt to engage...not even clicking as if the battery were dead.

I was doing some research to try and help in the other thread and google turned this up:


http://zilvia.net/f/tech-talk/135439...-relay-do.html

From the page:
Then, search the Tech Talk forum for the phrase "clutch interlock". You will see one thread started by me that shows you how to bypass the interlock switch. It's for S13 but the concept is pretty much the same.

The purpose of the interlock switch is so idiots don't start the car in gear and hit stuff, then sue other people. If you don't hit the clutch, the relay grounds out the starter signal and it won't crank.

 

Thanks JustJeff. Good info, I will try to bypass the clutch switch tomorrow.

just to make sure, its the one behind the clutch pedal right? (the one in front is the cruise control cancel?)

 

Checked out the clutch interlock switch and the security relay, still nothing.

What's left? Ignition switch? Bad ground? Starter solenoid?

 

https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generation-specific-1993-2002-16/starter-wont-crank-odysee-difficult-now-838186/

 

Can someone please tell me how to troubleshoot/repair a bad ground? I searched but I'm not getting it

 

So the starter solenoid is getting 12v, but the small quick connect is not getting anything. In addition, the prosports gauges will stay on when the key is not even in the ignition...I'm baffled.

 

Try to take a big wire ( like a cable for starting help ), put one on minus ( ground ) on the battery and put the other one to the engine.
Then try to start and tell us what do you hear.

I also had 12v on the starter, but had a damaged ground wire from the engine to chassis.

regards
Andi

 

Ok the no-start problem is fixed, but something else came up. I pulled the ignition switch, took it apart and cleaned it, and the car started up right away.

But there's a new problem, the car will stall itself almost right away whenever I let off the clutch regardless of how much gas I give. Same for reverse. Also the car idles at about 600~650 rpm according to PFC. Any thoughts?

 

Problem with the clutch switch sensor?

Btw, what was the no-start problem?

 

Hmm I'll double check the clutch switch, but which one? The one on the firewall or the suspending one?

The no-start problem was caused by the ignition switch, i took it apart and cleaned the contacts, superglued broken part, and now it's working fine.

 

Some info on what people have been doing to repair the clutch switch:

https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generation-specific-1993-2002-16/easy-fix-broken-clutch-switch-423749/

 

Thank you Lawman_AUT & Mahjik, it was indeed the clutch switch.