foibles

Hi everyone - I am new to the forum, and probably for one of the two reasons that 'drives' people to join a car forum...something has gone drastically wrong.

I'm not mechanically minded in any way, shape or form - but I have owned my FC RX7 S4 coupe for nigh on 16 years.

That's right - 16 years. And in that time, I have driven all of - probably - 1000klms. Most would argue I do not deserve the thing!

It gets very little use - but the other day I took the wraps off her again and gave her a squirt down to the shops - probably did not get over 3500 revs. All seemed fine.

That is, until I parked it back in the garage, and it started making an awful screeching sound....I was out of the car at the time, allowing the turbo to cool. The screech then disappeared.....for app 20 seconds....reappeared for app 40 seconds...then disappeared again. No exhaust emission to speak of....no burning smell from the engine....no smoke visible - just an unholy screeching sound.

Next day, I went to start it, and nothing - no power, no nothing. Battery is actually OK - so I trickle charged it and it is fine. Dash lights come on, windows go up and down. But car wont start - will not even crank at all.

My guess is that this would mean starter motor - and the bushings are gone. My understanding is that a blown turbo wont stop the car from starting - it will just make an awful smoky mess. Unlikely to be alternator or battery either. Or electrical - given that screech.

I know this sounds absurd but - as the car is parked at my garage 40 miles from where I live, I can't just pop my head under the hood to see....for instance if a belt has slipped or sheared.

Could it be the engine itself has seized - or would I have expected a whole heap of garbage to come out the exhaust?

Should I be looking for any specific lights on the dash (they all come on initially of course)....

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.