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Gen 2 starter wiring issue?

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Old 08-10-18, 08:49 PM
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Gen 2 starter wiring issue?

I just picked up an 87' FC Turbo 2. (super new to this car, not new to rotaries) A few months back when I was checking it out, and after playing around with it and getting it onto a charger it cranked. (Just to check, not to get running) It's been sitting for 14 years, and escaped bad ownership and rust due to Maryland salt.

ANYWAYS- I get the thing off the flatbed today, get good power to the car, and no crank. Got under the car, jumped the small terminal to one of the big lugs and it cranked. Here's the strange thing- the lights DO dim when I try to crank it from the cabin, but I can't hear anything from the starter. Same thing when I left the little starter line disconnected- lights still dim. I HAVE NOT put a tester inline with the starter to verify it's not getting voltage.

The car is an s4 t2 that shouldn't have come with anything anti-theft from factory, right? It does have an aftermarket security system installed, some thick steel wire covering going up to a little keyed box, that wires into a plug next to the battery tray. There's also a little siren thing in there. That didn't get in the way of it cranking before.
When the key is turned on, I get beeps, then after awhile the buzzer goes off. I suppose the buzzer is from lack of coolant. I didn't hear the fuel pump run or try to when I held the key to start. Sorry for the long *** post, just want to get all the info out there. Any suggestions? I reaaaaaally wanna hear this thing run.

Last edited by Kei2543; 08-10-18 at 08:58 PM. Reason: forgot to add important info
Old 08-11-18, 02:30 PM
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Welcome to the board.

When you first connected the car to power, was the key in the ignition with it turned on? Maybe try that. It may disarm/bypass it. When I first got my FC, it had an aftermarket alarm and it gave me hell. I ended up removing it altogether.

The first thing is to get a copy of the FSM and a Haynes manual.

Go through the wiring to confirm and secure all connections.
https://www.rx7club.com/2nd-generati...wiring-990270/

if you still have a problem after everything checks out, then I would say remove that aftermarket alarm system.

Unless you jump the fuel pump, you're not supposed to hear unless the AFM sees the engine turning.

https://www.rx7club.com/new-member-r...cluded-786591/
Old 08-31-18, 03:51 PM
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Originally Posted by diabolical1
Welcome to the board.

When you first connected the car to power, was the key in the ignition with it turned on? Maybe try that. It may disarm/bypass it. When I first got my FC, it had an aftermarket alarm and it gave me hell. I ended up removing it altogether.

The first thing is to get a copy of the FSM and a Haynes manual.

Go through the wiring to confirm and secure all connections.
https://www.rx7club.com/2nd-generati...wiring-990270/

if you still have a problem after everything checks out, then I would say remove that aftermarket alarm system.

Unless you jump the fuel pump, you're not supposed to hear unless the AFM sees the engine turning.

https://www.rx7club.com/new-member-r...cluded-786591/
Hey there, sorry for the super late reply. The starter for whatever reason can be hit or miss at times, I found that sometimes it won’t engage and that if I manually cross the solenoid terminal with one of the big leads and get it moving it’ll then work with the key no problem. Also, after a bit more troubleshooting, I found the lights were dimming from the fuel pump, which was locked solid and gross, and drawing a good bit of current. After replacing it, cleaning the tank, and priming the system a few times, it started for the first time in 14+ years, woo!

Ill eventually remove that alarm, it has a pretty huge rotary siren that kinda freaks me out. It seems someone broke in at some point, the passenger door has a bigger gap around the top of the window frame than the driver’s.
Old 09-01-18, 07:20 AM
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Congratulations on troubleshooting and getting the root problem solved to get the engine fired.
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