1990 rx7 vert: Car does not turn over. I hear the fuel pump i think, and a click from under the dash. Gauges have power, all main fuses under hood are fine, as well as fuses in driver kick panel. Where is the starter relay? i cant find it. supposedly it is a black box in drivers kick panel, but I do not see it. It may have beenb bypassed? any other things you could think of other than starter relay?

 

Perhaps the starter is bad.

Turn on the headlights when you try to start the car. Have someone watch the lights. If they get dim when you turn the key, then the starter and relay are working. If they do not get dim, I'd actually look into the starter.

 

Possibly not an electrical/starter issue. One possibility is 'carbon lock', a condition where excess carbon builds up inside the engine and causes it to sieze. It can be cleared by a mechanic familiar with the condition, using penetrating oil and then turning the motor over with a breaker bar. I do not recommend trying this yourself; let a pro do it. Even then, there is risk of busting a seal=engine rebuild.

Check that there is voltage going to the starter when the key is in start. If not, start diagnosing upstream. If there is, you should hear the starter gear engage. Pull the starter and have it bench checked. If it is good, the engine is likely locked up, due to carbon lock or some other internal problem.

The 'lights dim' check is a good idea. If the lights dim when the key is in start, it is likely that the starter is drawing power but unable to turn the engine. If not, it may be a bad starter, or voltage not getting to the starter (wiring, relays, etc).

 

If the engine won't even crank, first verify that the battery and all the ground connections are good. Make sure the battery terminals and ground connections are clean and tight. Check the fluid in the battery and fully charge it. Then check the battery voltage. If the engine still won't crank, go looking for the problem elsewhere.

 

I feel stupid. It was the battery. for some reason, the e-fan was saying on.