1982 rx7- No power to anything? new battery/ starter.
 

Hi i am very new to this forum, part of the reason i made an account was to figure out how to get my 82 rx7 started.
Its been sitting for a while and hasn't been started in god knows how long... but a friend of mine took a look at it and said its in pretty good condition given the year.

Anyways...
I got a new starter, battery, spark plugs, fuel filter, oil filter and other misc parts that should be changed regularly. But for some reason the car wont turn over... actually nothing happens... the headlights can be turned on, and the highbeems aswell but everything else does nothing. No Start, No Click, No Radio, No nothing.
When i put in the new starter there was no negative terminal plug, only the positive and the ground... do you think that wire broke off?
or is it a fuse problem?

Any help would be greatly appreciated... Thanks

The starter casing IS ground.
the only 2 wires that you are going to have is a positive battery wire and a "solenoid switch" wire.
I hope you changed the starter with the battery disconnected.(#1 rule of thumb).

yes i did this all with the battery disconected.
Maybe i can post a picture and explain it better with the old starter.

That would be great.A pic is worth a 1000 words...no cookies though!

[IMG]http://i50.tinypic.com/2d8jjpu.jpg[/IMG]http://tinypic.com/r/2d8jjpu/6

i have the one of the wires hooked up, and the smaller gound wire that attaches to the side. But there is nothing that bolts to the other terminal.. i have looked everywhere there is nothing that would go there that i can find.


sorry its so big....

Put a nut on the right side Big terminal.It goes to NOTHING.(basically connects solenoid and starter)
Use the little spade connector to Solenoid wire, and the Big terminal on the left to 12 volt Positive battery.

see then it should be working... cause that's how i have it. so it must be something else. As i said before the headlights work... there stuck up, but they can be turned on and off, the highbeems work as well.

have you checked any wiring?.there should be a Negative off the harness that goes to a Ground bolt( I have a 86 but maybe yours has a NEG off the harness too) .
It goes to a starter bolt on the Engine side...You will know if you missed it,IF you connect a Booster cable to engine,and then to battery Negative..
Check your fuses too,If the main fuse is blown you don't get starter power.

Check your fuses. Main fuse in my S4 burnt out and I had the exact same issue. Replaced the fuse and it fixed the problem.

In 1st gens there referee to as fusable links
And are on the drivers side inner fender in front of the strut tower by the ignition coils. There literally two plugs with a wire attached and they are prone to failure.
Go the easy way and buy a 2nd gen fuse. The fat plastic ones with the clear windows on top. And just plug it in like its supposed to fit. It goes in perfectly go ahead and replace them all.with their respective amp fuses there a lot better off trust me.
I swapped in an entire 2nd gen fuse box. So I could use them and have extra slots for More goodies later.. sorry this is long but ehh there's a lot to say..

I said that to say that if the main fuse is blown it will act the way you are describing. It should be the. Biggest one there. I be live its a 40a. But dont quote me on that look it up and be sure

Thanks so much guys, is there anyone who has a diagram that shows where the "fusable links" are or whatever. I also have the 79-85 rx7 book, and if anyone knows where I could find that info there that would be great. Also where would go about finding the second gen fuses?
Again thanks for the help guys!

The fusible links plug into a brown-ish plastic box located on one of the fenders. There will be loops of cloth covered multi colored wire on one side, and wires going to various locations in the car on the other side.

okay and can i just order these from parts source or something?

If you have not solved your problem i think you should check the ground cable. it goes from the battery to a ground on the inside of the fender from there it is bolted to the transmission with a bolt that holds to the engine.

this is a close up picture
Attachment 694339

this is the fusable link block, with 2nd gen 87-91 fuses installed. goto autozone or whatever and find the fuses easy.

lots of pretty pictures Attachment 694340

good luck.

qoq thanks so much! this worked perfectly! the engine spins, and is trying to fire... i sprayed some ignition fluid on and it fired up 3 times then died. Think its a fuel problem?

my intuition would agree with that statement. if it runs when you pour fuel in and then doesnt when you arent its fuel related. but congrats :smiley309

so... check your fuel pump, filters, lines, and tank. one or more of them are probably toasted. :blush: i see you change the filter did you check the pump itself?

no, i didnt check the pump cause it has that cover over it. some has told me it could be the relay, it there a simple way to tell? keep in mind i don't really have any tools so i have to be imaginative with everything i do haha.

you do have a decent socket set at least right?

that plate is held on with... 3 bolts. size...12 if i had to guess.

you should hear the pump humming, or feel it vibrating if you hand is on it while someone is turning the key, or use a voltmeter if you want to be all high and mighty. :icon_tup: lol hope this helps.

most the tools necessary to work on these cars can be had at a cheapo hardware store, or auto parts store. in a pinch. you can damn near strip the entire car down with only 12mm and 14mm sockets and rachet.