K-Nives

iTrader: (1)

Not only is this my first RX-7 but its my first car in general.

Its a 1983 so lots of mileage on the body but its got a rebuild engine with about 50-60kms on it. I think my problem is the battery considering my friends were sitting there listening to loud music in the parking lot as we decided what we were going to do. Thats where I killed my battery.

It has about 12v but it just doesnt want to start in the morning. I almost had it this morning but it killed itself as I was opening the choke. Thank god my neighbor came out and gave me a jump so I wasnt to late for work :P

I was just wanted to get some people opinions on what it might be or see if Im just a complete fail with this new car.

Thanks for your time guys and sorry if this is a stupid question xD

K-Nives

K-Nives

iTrader: (1)

Just a update!

I got home today after work and was going to go for a drive with a friend. I got it to start and was sitting there with the choke open to warm er up but it lost power after a minute or so. After that I coudnt get anywhere close to getting it started. It was sitting at 10v and when ever I turned the key to start it all the lights dimmed.

Should I be reving the engine while im warming the car up? Or will that flood the engine?

shm21284

10V under no load won't start the car.

If it started then died, and you think its electrical, then its the alternator. Don't waste your money on autozone crap. Buy a bosch reman as the cheapest form of alternator. Chances are if the battery has been discharged too many times, its bad too.

Once the car is started the alternator takes over. Even if the battery is dead (or even disconnected), then the alternator will keep the engine running and all accessories powered.

I wouldn't run the engine higher than 2500 (high idle) when the engine is dead cold. Once the needle is a notch above the cold dash mark, 4k is fine.

You aren't a failure, its just your first car! I remember my days of 15 and 16.

K-Nives

iTrader: (1)

Thats something I will have to look in to. Do you think it would be worth buying a battery for it and seeing what that does? I took it to a mechanic before purchasing the car and he didnt mention anything about the alternator.

I did email the old owner to see if he had any similair problems. My neighbor said I should try unplugging the amp from the battery and see if that helps (He thinks it might be draining power while the car is still turned off)

Sorry for posting so many times, tried to edit but I have to wait a half hour apparently.

So I was talking to my gf's dad and it occured to us that I might not have given the battery enough time to charge. With some luck that will be the problem because I am flat broke!

Ill wake up early tommarow and throw the charger on since I dont have to work later in the day. Ill post an update tommarow and hopefully get some pictures of the car!

K-Nives

iTrader: (1)

Update.

I tried charging the battery for 3 hours and still no luck so when I get a day off I will have to get a jump and and go get the battery tested.

shm21284

Alternators are usually sudden failures. If you take it off, you can get it tested at an autozone (not sure if they have those in british columbia).

K-Nives

iTrader: (1)

Well I emailed the previouse owner and he said its the same battery that was in there when he purchased it. Also said there was a bit of a problem with it holding its charge so Im going to go buy a new battery just for the sake of it and hope to god thats the problem. Otherwise I know Ill be asking for money this christmas to get this all figured out!

Thanks for checking up SHM Really appreciate it!

K-Nives

iTrader: (1)

Update!

I bought the battery but before we even installed it we decided to try and jump the car to see if the battery or alternater was the problem. Even with the jump it didnt want to start so tommarow I will check the spark plugs. Hopefully its something cheap and not mechanic related :P

Kentetsu

Have the alternator tested. A lot of places will do this for free. Installing a new battery into a car with a bat alt can result in toasting of the new battery as well. So make sure the alt is good first!

I would also recommend replacing (or at the very least cleaning up the connections) both battery cables. Mazda used aluminum cables, and they tend to corrode internally which makes it very tough to get the power where it needs to be.

Also, if the car tends to turn over a lot before it finally starts (when the battery is good), then it would be worthwhile to check the timing.

Good luck!



.

K-Nives

iTrader: (1)

Allright so I went back out there and tried to start the car but not the battery is toast.
The weird thing is that when I baught the car the fuel pump was really loud, got so used to it that with the music on I didnt even notice it. Now I can even hear the thing when I run the car from my battery.

I have yet to check the spark plugs because one I have no idea where they are and two I have to wait for some help (Not mechanically smart). Do you think the fuel pump might be the problem.

I bought it only a week ago and have only driven it a few times (in this order)
Bought the car and drove it all night until I killed the battery listening to the stero. got it jumped and we continued on threw the night.

Next morning I was driving someone quickly and it had some troubles starting but she started

Next day I sat in the driveway for about 30 mins in frustration trying to start the car until my neighbor jumped me and I was able to drive off once the car was warmed up. After work I started it a few times withought needing a jump

Day after that I was going to the movies and my friend had to give me a jump to get going.

Ever since that the car hasnt started even with a jump and im starting to get really frustrated. Im still happy about buying the car Im just hoping I can get her back on the road!

K-Nives

iTrader: (1)

Allright so I have spent the last few days in frustration trying to figure out why my car wouldnt start. I found out that the fuel pump isnt running.

I tried to give it a tap with a hammer like some people have done but with no luck. Going to have to raise the car to get under it to take a look. Im just wondering what Im looking for or if anyone has some suggestions on what to do.

Thanks for your time guys!

K-Nives

iTrader: (1)

Was to lazy to hoist it up so I crawled underneath and found what I was looking for. Hit it with a hammer and now I can hear the fuel pump!

With my battery being hooked up to another cars we tried to start it but with no prevail. My friend put some gas in the carburator and she ALMOST sounded like she wanted to start but only slightly.

Tommarow if I get a chance im going to install the new battery and give her a whirl but other than that I am clueless at what the problem is! A friend said there might be a clog in the fuel line somewhere. Is there way to tell if thats the case? A guy at Canadian Tire said that there might be the wiring to the distributer cap.

I would take the alternator in but I have no idea what it looks like. Any help is appreciated! Im getting so frusterated looking at me car in the driveway as I bus around! Plus I want to hear the beautiful sound of the rotary!!

K-Nives

iTrader: (1)

Well after all that frusteration it was just the simple task of installing the new battery. I wont get a chance to drive it again till thursday but Im going to get the alternator checked so I dont mess the battery up.

So glad to hear the beautiful sound of my car again. Ill be posting pictures sometime tommarow in a new thread.

Thanks for your help guys! Look forward to the rest of my RX-7 adventures!