While I continue to have no luck getting my RX-2 to run for more than 3 seconds, I have this problem:

get in, turn the key to crank and, while the dash lights dim a little, there's nothing from the starter at all.

Get out, short the hot wire and solenoid with a screwdriver briefly and it fires.

crank it right after that and it cranks, starts the car, etc. car then dies after a few seconds.

crank it again... nothing.

short it (fires) and then it cranks.

what does that mean? Is my solenoid failing? Could it somehow be the culprit in my car not running for more than 3 seconds?

Will a starter out of an early RX-7 fit or do I need a specific one for the RX-2?

 

The starter is responsible for one thing--->>starting the car. Once the engine is running the starter(and battery) have done their job. The problem could be your alternator or battery/starter cables! I would check for high resistance in the lines. The deal with the shorting the starter is a little tricky as well. If the starter soleniod is working only after you short it then the soleniod may be worn out but this still doesn't seem right. Try hitting the soleniod with a hammer or ratchet before jumping the wires. If you have a top mount starter then you can't use an rx-7 part, good luck finding a new one(i have a used working one for sale). I would check all my connections first then work from there.

 

thanks. I have a top-mount, I'll go bang on it a bit.

Kragen advertizes a warrantied rebuit RX-2 starter for $54 or so ($15 core) so if it's really my starter I guess I'll order a rebuild from them, unless your good used one is cheaper.

Trouble is they have an "automatic" and "manual" version... I have a automatic now but I want to install a manual gearbox as soon as the car works properly. I guess I'd have to buy the automatic one and then see about getting a manual one later

I'll check my wires, though they are brand new. I'll clean the contacts and check them with a VOM for resistance but I suspect it's something else like the solenoid failing somehow causing this.

 

Graded, you *really* need to get a Factory Wiring diagram for your 2. There are so many little extra things that Mazda engineered to do various bits of things for certain conditions that it is truly ridiculous trying to trouble shoot your car without one.

For example, perhaps your ignition relay is not working. It is a seperate circuit that bypasses the ceramic resister on top of the coils when you start the car. Without the wiring diagram you have no way to check each piece of the circuit.

I have one that I found on eBay. You should try and find one. If you have a 73 and you can't manage to find one yourself, then I'd be willing to do high-res scans of mine if you pay all the costs. I don't have a scanner, so I just mean the cost of scanning the pages (about 10) doing a simple binding and mailing it to you.

let me know if you'd be interested in that.

thanks
Dave

 

Thanks Dave, I actually do have some diagram options: I have the Rotary Engine Manual (two in fact for good measure), found a set of scans of the owner's guide online, and have an owner's guide from ebay on the way.

I understand what you're saying now though, I really need to go through troubleshooting with a VOM and a diagram for anything wrong with this thing now because it's not wired in any straightforward way. It's certainly possible there's nothing wrong with the starter.

I have replaced the ignition relay with a brand new one (Mazda actually had one) but that didn't help. I also put in a brand new ignition switch and lock when I got the car.

I'm really used to working on my BMW's where stuff makes very good sense I'm sure this will be an excellent little car once I figure stuff out.

 

none of those wiring diagrams is good enough for knowing what you need to know. you really need the Factory wiring diagram because it includes pinouts of every single connector on the car. Since undertaking the engine and tranny swap in my car, which necessitated removing all the emission stuff and completely rewiring the entire ignitionn circuit (dual ignitor direct fire), there is no way I could have figured out how to replace things without those pinouts. The diagrams you find in the owners manual and every other RX-2 book I own are not broken down by system, nor do they include the pinouts.

 

ah

Well, time and money permitting I hope to in the near future:
- put in a manual gearbox
- redo the ignition to single distributor with MSD or direct fire
- remove all emissions junk

so it looks like I really should take you up on the factory diagrams, that would be extremely helpful. I can publish them online also in case others want to see them.

 

Yeah, buddy, I'd change out that front cover pronto. Nothing but problems with the dual distributor setup.
Unfortunately, I traded off my last good top-mount starter some time back. It was a Bosch unit, of all things.

 

Send me your name and address in a PM and I'll go to Kinkos and photocopy the manual for you. You can send me a few bucks in return for whatever the cost. From there, you could scan and host or whatever. I'd do that, but I don't have a scanner.

DAve

 

cool, will do... thanks!