So when i bought my rx7 the guy told me a couple times a month it would random die while driving or idling . He would turn over the key and none of the guages would kick on. well i drove to grand rapids MN to see my uncle i was driving and all of a sudden the car shut down as if someone turned the key i pulled over turned the key to lock position and turned it back to on my guages tripped out for a second then i heard a short. Now when you turn the key over all the guages are dead. I have checked my ignition switch and the wires till as far back as i can see, and i also cleaned and tighten my terminals for my battery post and connectors. if there is any other idea that someone might have i would really appreciate it.

 

Check your fuses with a multimeter. Is it just the gauges? or will the engine not turn over as well?

 

The motor and gauges will shut down or trip out and stay running only killing the motor momentarily or for good. When I go to turn the key to the on mode or try to start it the gauges r all dead and the car will not turn over. The battery is good and so are al the fuses in the car and enginebay.

 

I'm thinking it has something to do with the ignition something that runs constantly when the key is turned to the on position cause I am thinking that's when everything kicks on to get the car ready, but do u think it good be a ground also and would it cause the car to shut while driving.
I appreciate any help that is given knowledge is hard to get now a days thank god for the rx7club

 

mine done the same thing have u checked the main relay?
i ended up having to repace wires in my engine harness because the short had melted the coating on some and they fused together
but ur main relay may be bad

 

which one is the main relay?

 

You can for testing purposes "only" and that is to disconnect the four wire plug from the Main relay and jumper the B/Y wire to the B/G wire and the White/Blue wire to the B/W wire (and leave this plug unconnected). Doing so will bypass this relay and help you to narrow down the source of your problem. Do not leave these wires jumpered when not using the car as it will eventually drain the battery. If the car still behaves in this manner then check the quality of the connections at the Engine fuse box related to the B/G wire, and the White/Blue wire, which are powered by the EGI INJ fuse and the EGI Comp fuse respectively, and the Black wire running from the positive battery terminal to this fuse box. Also, look below this fuse box and locate a Black connector which connects/joins two Black wires of decent gauge thickness. This connector connects the ignition switch to the Engine fuse box thus supplying the ignition switch with constant voltage. If this connection is iffy it will cause sporadic to constant electrical issues as will the other connections mentioned.

 

It's located next to the non-main relay! Just joking. It's near the trailing coil and bolted/mounted to the fender. Has two plugs which one is 2 wires while the other has 4 wires.

 

Thank you so much I will check it out hope fully I can find it

 

hi satch thnx for helping out on my thread when i had this same prob ur a life saver lol
the main relay is about 2"x1"x2" metal box between the firewall and the strut tower on the drivers side bolted to the side of enginebay

 

I had exactly the same thing and i hope i can make me understandable with my english but it's a simple thing to repair. It took me 3 days to find it but i'm for 99% sure it's the black groundcable coming from the fuse box under the hood. The cable has a connector which was bad in my car. Just by shaking the wires i had everything back. Cleaned the connection and no more problems and she started right up.

Question, car is dead but when you turn the key the headlights will pop up? My car suddenly died on me on the freeway doing 120 kph and had it towed home. Nothing besides the dangerlights worked.

I hope it's this simple on your car

Marc

 

Where I's my ignition control module located and I's there only one I believe that might be the problem I replaced the main relay located next to the cloth master cylinder but did not fix it

 

If you turned the key to the on position, do the wipers or turn signals work or not. If they don't then the ignition switch is not receiving power, which could be an intermittent thing and be causing your problem perhaps

 

So I replaced the main relay located on the inside driver fender next to clutch master cylinder that didn't fix it then I moved to the ignition switch I gain volts except I put it I'n reverse and now I lost power so I pulled o believe it's called the back up light switch on my transmission it has two red male connectors and two green individual female connectors then I noticed there I's another switch on the passenger side of the tranny and it has two green wires that has one femal plastic connector can anyone offer some of there knowledge as too what both these switches are for and if they run constant and of it would be related to these symptoms while running or idling the car periodically would die as if someone turn the key to turn the car off even while driving instantly would shut down when I go too turn the key over nothing none of the gauges would kick on then if I left it like that or waited 5-30 mins how ever long it needed the gauges would come on and I would have power and it would turn over well anyways when I replaced the ignition switch it fixed it however when I put the car I'n reverse instantly lost all volts car shut down and no I cannot seem to get any power so I pulled both those switches out hoping to replace both except I can only find the two green and two red baxk up light switch on eBay that's locate on driver side of the tranny however for the switch on the other side of the tranny with the two green coming out I canning seem to locate or know the correct technical name for it or what it's for any knowledge would be greatly appreciated this car has sat long enough I just wanna get her running again amd by the way I am replacing starter amd ha it test it worked fine but they said wouldn't hurt to replace it

 

I did pull all fuses and the main groun leading to the fuses inside the engine bay everything worked from what I remember headlight opened amd closed no problems same with brake lights except for blinkers those did not work I know this car I's worth keeping just replaced transmission, clutch, pressure plate, starter, ignition switch, main relay, radiator, cold air intake, engine I's decent only 150k I have had tons of people trying to buy it off me it's rust free pretty much, and I won't let her go she I's a good running car but this ignition problem I won't lie has been eating at me and I am starting to lose hope I have put so much time an money into her I don't know what else to replace or what else could cause this problem I appreciate any help amd knowledge that I's offer and am happy to be a member of the rx7 club rotary for life

 

Get any power from what? You need to explain your situation in a clearer fashion.

Is this car an auto transmission? Was it an auto transmission that was converted to standard? If it's a standard are you required to press the clutch to start the car?

If the is/was an auto then there would be a four wire plug on or near the the transmission that combines the Reverse Switch and the Inhibitor Switch. If you do have the Inhibitor Switch then the voltage found on one wire w/key to start would have to pass onto the other wire in this switch for the starter to turn over and if not then the stater won't engage.

 

It's a 5 speed was never an automatic or converted I'n anyway

 

I have no power to the car ignition wise and yes I know the clutch has to be disengage (pressed to the floor) what I was meaning to say I's when I turn my key to on position my volts don't kick on like they should with any vehicle I'n the on position (key wise)

 

Take some time to go over the car's wires with a fine tooth comb,looking for any wires that may be rubbing or a bare wire causing a short.

 

If the car was previously an auto then it would have been likely that the clutch would not need to be depressed when starting which is why I asked.

You have a Neutral Switch on the standard transmission as well.

W/the key to on do the wipers or turn signals work. If not then make sure the Main fuse is good. If the fuse is good then make sure that the intermediate connector located a foot below the engine fuse box is mated properly. If the Main fuse is good then both sides of the Black connector, which mates two thick Black cables/wires, would have constant voltage. If only one side has constant voltage then there is a poor connection at this particular plug. This wire powers the Ignition Switch.

 

These are the two switches I pulled off my 5 speed transmission 87 rx7 n/a 13b can anyone tell me what these two switches are for there technical name and if they run constant when key I's I'n on position and if they could be related to my ignition problem when the car would shut down while idling driving or going I'n reverse any info would be greatly appreciated

 

Thanks satch and misteryx69 yea it I's a 5 speed and I will check now I did replace the main fuse and cleaned up both the ground cable attached to the main fuse how ever I don't know how to check to see of they both are running constant voltage

 

No wipers and blinkers did not work at all when key was I'n on position

 

As stated earlier, there is a Black connector a foot below the fuse box. One of the wires is powered by the Main fuse and this wire must have constant voltage. A multimeter set to DC volts would tell you if it's doing what it's supposed to. On the other side of the connector the Black wire receives constant voltage from the Black wire powered by the Main fuse. NOW if the wipers or turn signals work w/key to on then you would know that all that was just mentioed is good and your problem lies elsewhere.

The Reverse Switch is not a player here as all it does is make sure the reverse lights work when necessary. This switch is powered by the Meter fuse. What else does the Meter fuse power? Answer: the gauges.

 

Can any one tell me where my neutral safety switch I's located it's an 87 rx7 5 speed n/a and information would help