7 replies to this topic

[JasonBergstrom]

I replaced the starter thinking it was the solenoid & still does the same thing. It just randomly, not all the time, wont start when you turn the key. Is there a relay somewhere possibly? I have checked all grounds & connections to the battery & chassis at all locations I can find. I hear a click & my display fades out & the engine doesn't turn over. After you toggle the key a few times it randomly fires up. Any ideas?

[JasonBergstrom]

I just measured only about 6 volts hitting the starter solenoid periodically?

[JasonBergstrom]

I took the ignition switch apart & I am getting a voltage drop down to 8 volts on the power side feeding the ignition & I checked the battery & there is no voltage drop there. Maybe I just find a good source of 12V & run it to the power side of the ignition switch? 

[davew]

Sounds like dirty connections somewhere between the battery and the starter.

 

Dave

[JasonBergstrom]

Well fixed the problem. Ended up running new 12v wire to ignition & works like a charm now.

[SaulSpeedwell]

Just in case you didn't actually fix it and it comes back ....

 

... when my 1.6 did this, it was the fat ground connection at the rear of the PPF.  It LOOKED fine, but inside the ring terminal's crimp, it was holding on by only a few strands - i.e. enough to key on and turn on lights and keep the engine running IF it started, but not enough to get you through 50-100+ amp surge of cranking current.

 

Worth checking. 

[Chad Martin]

This is a pretty common thing with RX-7s.  Even when we clean the connections, new ignition switch, does not matter, the whole system just gets to the point where there is too much resistance between corrosion, age, dirt, etc...   What we do to fix it is add a parallel new circuit and a relay.  So the new (fused) circuit runs straight from an empty fuse slot in the underhood fuse box down to the starter with a 30A relay.  Make sure the new circuit wire size and fuse is sufficiently sized.  I typically use a 30A fuse in an empty slot like the ABS slot and run 10ga wire...(probably overkill but it's a short run).  Then use the stock starter ignition circuit to pull the relay in (takes a lot less voltage to pull a relay in than the starter solenoid).

 

Might not be tot he letter of the SM rules but it will definitely permanently fix your problem.

 

EDIT:  I should add that the parallel circuit needs to run off the battery circuit, if that wasn't obvious...

[Brian129]

I had the same issue with my car,  but found it to be just a loose fuse in the box I had to relocate under the corner of the dash.(my cage would have gone through the middle of it)  

the relay is a yellow plug that is right above the column under the dash,  easy to get to when laying on your back in the footwell (not a fun position though.  

 

luckily pushing in the fuse, tightening the starter electrical stud, and giving the starter solenoid a wack got mine running and its been good since.