my \'7 won\'t start :mad:, shes decided to give me problems!!... it must be that certain time of the month =\'(
IN SHORT. She won\'t start, ignition flicks relays allover the engine bay but the engine doesn\'t turn. Can\'t hear the starter motor trying either... batterys fine...? =|
She will start with a push and dumping of the clutch by thats highly inpractical!!
FIRSTLY. She started hazarding randomely everytime I turn the steering wheel so I pulled up at a shell to get some v-power & check her out, and when I got back in she decided NOT to start... she just kept beeping (think it\'s the F100?) and it felt like the immobiliser wasn\'t deactivating to engage the starter motor.
I looked under the steering wheel and its a spaghetti of wires, more importantly I don\'t think anything popped out or was out of place.
SECONDLY. I called out a recovery service to take the \'7 home, I was so upset with seeing my baby being towed... The mechanic said we could try and fault find. She bypassed the immobiliser & \'7 still wouldn\'t start. She said it must be the STARTER MOTOR!
She said if thats the case we can role it & dump the clutch to start it which would at least get me home (as long as I don\'t stall!!) so thats what we did. She fired up...
Does this sound like a starter motor problem?
I\'ve spoken to a couple of people. Some say the starter motor doesn\'t just pack up like that and it\'s very wierd.
Some say it CAN\'T be the immobiliser or electrics because it wouldn\'t start at all!
Any ideas as to what it could be?
I\'m gona go ahead and buy Jit\'s starter motor (from the classifieds) later tonight and try swapping them around. I\'d just hate to think it was something more serious/specialist like electrics?!
DAMN... I\'m about 3 weeks in to owning an rx7 & I\'m begining to understand the \'7 owners pain!! I\'ve been dumping cash into her since I got her!! Wouldn\'t have her any other way though :King Absolutely fantastic car.
I\'d love some advice! Thanks in advance.
Seth.
Well, the ultimate test is to get a multimetre on the wires going to the starter motor and get someone to turn the ignition.
If you see +ve voltage then the wiring is OK and the starter motor is fubar\'d, if not then it\'s immobiliser / relays / wiring etc...
Can you hear a relay clicking constantly while turning the key? Also try connecting jumper cables from another car to yours and she if it turns over - could be a dodgy battery, starter motor, or alternator even (although the battery light should come on then)
Could also be a sh*tty main earth strap too
Update guys, I tried the ignition when I got home today, I can hear a faint buzz when I turn the ignition key. I think it sounds like the starter motor is trying to start but not...!
I did the multimeter test Remark, there was a + 11.8-12.2 so theres def power going to it.
tera, theres a relay click but its not constantly clicking... it clicks everytime i turn the key...
Can a starter motor just go like that? Aren\'t there any giveaway signs leading up to it sieizing?!
I\'d have been buggered if I\'d stalled doing a 3 point turn! :eek:
Thanks for the advice! :wiggle
Have you tried a booster pack, might be 1 cell has died in battery and not enough ampage to crank
Yes they can go just like that :) :) :)
Try hitting the top part of starter whilst someone cranks it for you :)
Jeez! i already miss driving her, any tips on how to get at it from the top?
I thought the only way was to undo the bolts and drop it out the bottom?
I think the battery is OK, will try swapping it out though.
Cheers. :)
whilst it is still fitted on the engine :)
Quote from: Mobilemickwhilst it is still fitted on the engine :)
huh? the engines so packed i can\'t see it! where should i be looking? :(:Thumbs-up
The First thing is unless you are at least a DIY mechanic please do not attempt what I am going to tell you, call somebody in to work on your car as I do not want you injured unless you are competent with cars.
First you need to know you have a fully charged battery.
Then with the car jacked up high enough with axle stands and the car in neutral, no key in the car and the hand brake on.
Slide under the car with a torch and a short piece of electrical wire, bared at each end.
The starter is located on the lower passenger side of the bellhousing (if you have to ask what the bellhousing is don\'t attempt this)
You will find a big wire and a small wire, pull off the small wire and hold one end of your bared wire onto it tight.
With the other end just touch it onto the big wire and this way if the engine turns over then the starter is fine, if not the starter is dead.
If it is turning over like this then its the starter relay, the switch or a wiring fault.
I cannot stress enough though, if you have not done this sort of thing before then DON\'T ATTEMPT THE ABOVE.
One of the easiest ways to narrow down a starting problem like this is to simply switch on your headlights and try and start the car.
1 : If the lights don\'t come on at all , or very dim, your batteries flat. No surprise there !!
2: If the lights come on and dim noticably when you try and start the car , the solenoid is switching but the starter is jammed.
3. The lights do not dim at all , then there is a wiring/ solenoid issue. While attempting to start the car you should clearly hear the solenoid click, if not its an ignition switch / wiring problem. If it does click your solenoid is history.
FYI. The solenoid is just a very large switch that is operated by the ignition start cct to switch the large amout of current ( 100amps ish ! )to the starter motor.
Try that first
Bob
Quote from: buckman67If it does click your solenoid is history.
Bob
Or rarley but possibly your starter brushes or windings are shot. Forgot that bit.
Years ago I had the same thing happen from your description. Dash board lights came on, relays etc clicking when the ignition was turned on, but the engine would not even turn. Absolutely nothing. Turned out to be a corroded electrical connection - possibly to the starter motor, I can\' remember now. The garage cleaned up the contacts, and the car started first time very time thereafter.
Of course, your problem may be something else, but if you have not already done it, check all the electrical conections/earths etc for good contact.
Update! Cheers for your help guys, I went under the \'7 for the first time & swapped the starter motor with the one I got from Jit & she fired up first time! The grin\'s back on my face!!
Thanks a bunch guys :wiggle:Thumbs-up:)
Quote from: cliveThe First thing is unless you are at least a DIY mechanic please do not attempt what I am going to tell you, call somebody in to work on your car as I do not want you injured unless you are competent with cars.
First you need to know you have a fully charged battery.
Then with the car jacked up high enough with axle stands and the car in neutral, no key in the car and the hand brake on.
Slide under the car with a torch and a short piece of electrical wire, bared at each end.
The starter is located on the lower passenger side of the bellhousing (if you have to ask what the bellhousing is don\'t attempt this)
You will find a big wire and a small wire, pull off the small wire and hold one end of your bared wire onto it tight.
With the other end just touch it onto the big wire and this way if the engine turns over then the starter is fine, if not the starter is dead.
If it is turning over like this then its the starter relay, the switch or a wiring fault.
I cannot stress enough though, if you have not done this sort of thing before then DON\'T ATTEMPT THE ABOVE.
:eek Clive that IS scary! Yes I probably would have killed myself in the process...! :Laugh:yes
Heheheh... Cheers! :cheers:):Thumbs-up
sweet! :) Told u itd be a piece of cake...
Nicely done! Always good to hear :D
And the starter motor on these is soooo easy to get to! Try the same on a transverse engine ;)
Quote from: S3THUpdate! Cheers for your help guys, I went under the \'7 for the first time & swapped the starter motor with the one I got from Jit & she fired up first time! The grin\'s back on my face!!
Thanks a bunch guys :wiggle:Thumbs-up:)
:eek Clive that IS scary! Yes I probably would have killed myself in the process...! :Laugh:yes
Heheheh... Cheers! :cheers:):Thumbs-up
Well done, pleased your sorted n back on the road:cool
lol thanks for the support guys! :Thumbs-up