PatAck

To make a long story short... i have the chance to get a 84' rx-7... body is almost mint... no rust few minor scratch's and so on.

Well to my question, is there a way to see if the car starts w/o a key? Basicaly the cars in our tow lot at work and it was going to the junk yard today... but i told my boss i may be interested in it... so hes giving me a few days to decide. The car was abandond so its key less... i just want to see is the motor has a little umph in it before i pick it up for 50 bucks.

Or is it reletivly cheap to swap a new motor in and a new ignition?

Thanks

Midwest 7's

iTrader: (4)

for $50 buy it for sure.

mjg80918

take the car anyways. if its $50 then take it. part it out or swap it out. i just finished my 12a swap and i found a good motor and eveything under the hood for $300. including clutch and carb and wiring harness. EVERYTHING. so yeah if its that much then go for it. do you know how many miles are on it?

also i think if you touch the two bolts on the starter with a screw driver together then it should kick over. but i think that works on older cars only. sorry ask someone that knows how to break into cars. lol jk

Rx Seven

iTrader: (12)

$50 bucks thats a steal
If you get it and dont like it you can always part it out or sell it on the forum for a profit.

PatAck

hehe yea it has 90XXX miles on it...

The car was left in a building for 10+ years... so its in pretty good shape. int. is near perfect besides a few missing parts.

I really want to get the car... but i dont want to get in over my head fixing it up. Just looking for some input

TeemSlo

Well I agree with the other guys... No real way to get in over your head for 50$ even if you don't like the car you can part it out and make a good profit on it :-) It's worth your time... As for starting the car with out a key... Are you looking to do it without damage to the column on the car if no a 5lb sledge and a FlatBlade ScrewDriver is the univeral key

clean85owner

Is there enough room to push start it? Get a few of your buddies to push you up to a decent speed, push the clutch in, put it in 2nd, and popped the clutch. Be sure to push the clutch back in after it starts; you don't want your buddies falling on their faces, now do you?

If not, you can try to bust up the steering column and get it started that way.

But, ****, for $50, it's a steal, even if it doesn't run.

Kentetsu

I'm not sure, but you might be able to take the VIN# to the dealership and have a key made. There might even be a tag in the glove compartment that has a key # on it.

Rogue_Wulff

If all else fails, take a door lock to a locksmith. They can cut a key to fit it, hopefully, the ignition will still be the original....... General cost is $15 to $25 to have a key cut this way, well worth the money, even on a $50 car.

Paradox

iTrader: (1)

even if you can get it started, you'll have to deal with the locked steering wheel so push starting is out of the question. that wouldnt work anyways since the fuel pump wouldnt be on, nor would the ignition.

only cheapass way i can think of is to rip apart the column, disable the steering lock and figure which wire starts the car. the FSM (factory service manual) should show you which wire is which. you can download the FSM wiring diagrams from http://oregonstate.edu/~abelk/Manuals/

or just go to a junker and find another ignition with a key and swap that in

g'luck

RotaryAXer

iTrader: (4)

Seems like the best option.

They did it for my 84.

It was only like $8.

YapaKanichi

I think you could start it by touching the starter positive coil to the other I think. Someway my friend checked starter coils that way. BUT PICK IT UP! I'll take it if you don't want it lol. I'll give you 50 bucks to get it for me lol. J\K. Take it easy

drozhenbane

Dude buy the car regardless, $50 aint crap. Hell Ill give ya $50 for front valance, and another $50 for the quarter panels, and $25 for the metal piece in between the headlights. Ill give ya $10 for the speedometer cable, and another $40 for the inner door panels....... Okay so thats $175 right there. Engine rebuilders will give ya $175 for the engine core. Plus some poor guy in Los Angeles will give ya $100+ for the rats nest. The list goes on and on man. At worst case part the beast out take your profit, and haul the remainder to the salvage yard.

As for the starting thing, all you gotta do is put the car in neutral, take out the 2 lower spark plugs. Put a 19mm socket on the flywheel nut and rotate the engine. IF you have some psst....psst....psst.....psst.....Sounds you at least got a good starting point of whether the engine is good.

Regardless its a win-win situation for you........

Kentetsu

Hmm, how about this; car in nuetral>power wire from battery positive to coil positive>jump the connections on the starter. I think that should work alright, or would the fuel pump need power too?

Mechy

so splice the wires running to the fuel pump and run it directly to the battery. Thatll get the pump buzzin, then jump the coil.

Or take the previous suggestion and bang a screw driver into the ignition, thatll allow you to turn the wheel also and take it for a test drive. And its pretty cheap to replace

Rotaryhaven

iTrader: (17)

Easiest way to do this without getting crazy as some of the posts previously mentioned is.

If you want to start it and not drive it, take the steering lock cover off, opposite of the lock there is a screw holding the electricals. Take it off, insert a flat tip screwdriver and off you go.

If you want to drive it, it is easier to drop the steering column (I believe it's 12mm bolts), use a hammer and chisel (or strong flat tipped screwdriver) and hit lose the headless bolts for the ignition. Remove it and Voila!!!!!

jayroc

A locksmith should be able to come by and file down a key that will work on the doorlock for a very nominal fee... Bascially, he can custom make a key for it on the spot.. Call around.
It's the easiest and least time consuming way.. Probably $25-40. If it's been sitting for 10+ years, and you want it to last (assuming it is otherwise in good shape), you might just go ahead and tow it home with AAA, change the fluids (gas and oil, mainly, rad fluid wouldn't hurt) and maybe ignition stuff..
If it doesn't start just part it out online then tow it to a yard.. That's what I'd do, if I were you.

bliffle

Take the inside door panel off and remove the door lock, take it to a locksmith and get a key made. You might try the VIN at the Mazda dealer, too (call them on the phone and ask). And I think you may be able to turn the ignition with just a big screwdriver: some idiot did that on one of mine but he didn't know the dist cap was hidden away.

B

rotor vs. piston

Dood!!! WTF??? Don't you guys know that it's one key fits all for the first gens. I had the same issue, and I just on a whem decided to use the key to my '85 and wouldn't you know it worked. Also I've used the same key on my, RIP, '84 GSL-SE.

rotor vs. piston

BTW, change your locks ASAP when you get your car if it's your DD and don't park in a safe spot all the time.

PatAck

Getting the car towed monday or tuesday. Thanks for all your help... ill let you know how my project turns out. oh and ill get picks up as soon as i get the car home.

dirty86

PICS!!!! i would pay 50 dollers for a totalled 1st gen just for the parts