Hi, this is my first post here, and I registered because I am desperate with this problem.

Well, here it is:

The starter works. It spins when I turn the ignition, but it doesn't turn the engine. I installed a new starter after even testing the old one, which the magnetic switch and everything worked on the work bench with jumper cables from the battery, but I bought a new one anyway.

From what I can tell, if the starter is good, and it spins when the ignition is turned, there is no way that the wiring or switches to the starter are causing the problem... is that right?

I'm really hoping someone knows what this is, please help. Stuck and frustrated and have to move it soon!


Som history:

I let my 1987 NA RX-7 sit in the cold for about a month without starting it. When I went to start it, the starter just spun - whurring away when I turned the ignition to start, but the engine was not turning over. I was running, driving and starting great before this and the last drive was nothing special and there was no trauma to any part of the car. (It has been about 3 months now.)

I moved the car with it in 1st gear and reverse to turn the engine etc. I tried to start after these moves, but no luck. I then heater the starter with hair dryers and finally a warm garage, but that didn't help. Oh yeah, I've had the battery on a tender and also tried jumping it to start, no luck. So I jacked it up on stands and pulled the starter. The ring gear teeth look fine from the starter hole. I tested the starter - negative jumper cable to the body of the starter, positive to the empty terminal then screw driver jump to the small terminal. Everything worked. I tested just the magnet pull-out alone as well. It's all fine. Anyway, I bought a new starter and put it in and it does the same thing. It sounds like a power drill or something spinning. The new one is a few watts more powerful, but it doesn't matter.

I've been looking at the wiring diagrams trying to figure out if the starter cut relay or the security system could be the culprit, I'm even starting to wonder if a pull-in is triggered instead of a pull-out... anyway, regardless, I'm not a professional and I need some help.

 

That's an odd problem.

Try hooking the starter up to the car like normal, but DO NOT bolt it to the transmission... Instead hook the body of the starter to the jumper cables like you're trying to test it... The other end of the cables to either the car's body or the negative terminal...

Have someone crank the key while you watch the starter...

If the gear jumps out and then start's spinning, I'd say that's good.

Sometimes there's a stack of washers between the starter and transmission bell housing that help align the starter pinion gear to the flywheel ring gear. See if aligning the starter helps.

 

my first thought would be starter solenoid. but since u got a new starter and it's doing the same thing, that's odd. but then again, i've bought bad starters before.

 

Pele - I'll try hooking it up and see what it's doing underneath the car. I'll look into the alignment; all I can find is a spacer for the flywheel play or something. I've never had a car engine that far apart. Sort of hoping someone would say " You duma$$, just do this easy thing..." heh

rxtasy3 - Even the old starter is working fine after testing, I shouldn't have bought the new one I guess. But it's all greasy now etc.

 

I would double check to see that the Parts Guy didn't give you the wrong starter.
there are TWO ..one for n/a and one for a TII.

 

I will try to unbolt it and leave the wires attached to test it as soon as I can find another person.

Well, it's the right one for NA. There is also no washers where the starter mounts. I am seriously puzzled, it's like the ring gear is spinning without turning the engine or something...

 

I would say you have a bum solenoid if the starting gear is turning but not popping out to engage the flywheel it is usually the first thing to change. If it is engaging the flywheel then you have a whole different set of problems. Just to clarify the "ring" gear you are talking about is the one on the flywheel not on the starter right?

 

Right. I can't figure it out. The solenoid works on the old one, and I'll double check the electrcal underneath...

 

It's very possible the connection is crappy/corroded on the bottom side. I have seen it quite a few times especially since it worked before you parked it. This is why I like remote solenoids that are bolted to the firewall.

 

Hi ...its a simple fix remove trans and replace the key (shear pin)on the e shaft rear between the shaft and flywheel, the engine is either siezed or carbon locked after replacing the ,pin turn the engine backwards Starter out and have some one watch the front pulley.. to see that it also turns ps you most likely have a collant leak( internal rotor housing) and have used water and quite possibly froze jamming the rotor which sheared off the rear crank pin when you tried to start it let me know if it works.....Fred, I also ran into that when I installed a used rotary engine into a Roots Sunbeam sports car way, back in 1980good luck

 

Wait a minute he's talking about the starter not engaging and you think the motor is seized and he broke the keyway on the e-shaft?

 

^i seriously hope not. that can't happen. have looked at the ring gear when u had the starter off? there's also an inspection plate on top. ring gear is accessible taking that off. u'll be able to see it's condition and if it's still welded to the flywheel. also have u made sure the engine turns freely by trying it by hand?

 

I couldn't get anyone to turn the ignition today, so I wound up making this... It works for a response:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbdEd2keQ40

 

ok bro simple fix wrong starter... it looks like u got a tII starter and ur car is NA or vice versa two different starters the gear isnt reaching the flywheel to spin it .... its either that or the teeth are not intact there.... if u are absolutely certain you have the correct starter then put a socket on the main pulley bolt and rotate the motor a little by hand then attempt to engage the starter.... its just not reaching the flywheel....

 

I put it in first and pushed the car then tried to start it but no luck. Then I tried reverse and so on. I did this several times. The engine was putting out pop noises through the exhaust...

Also, if you look close, both starters have less grease where it seems to contact the gears.

 

Wait!!! if the engine turns when it is in gear and the car is pushed, does that mean that the fly wheel is still connected? (In other words, does that mean that it's not spinning freely because the shear pin is broken?)

I can't tell from my diagrams. I also don't see any inspection plates, except on the turbo, where there looks like one is on the bottom... but I this car is NA.

Engine turns when car is pushed = flywheel and ring gear ok? ?

 

the shear pin is not broken. is it possible that they gave u a starter for an automatic? there's a way to measure to see if the "nose" of the starter is reaching in far enough.

 

But the old one works fine too! I didn't even need a new one... the old one was doing this too.

 

re-read ur original post and if the starter was working fine before it sat, and now it's doing what it's doing now, i all out of ideas.

 

i'm out of ideas too. :confus ed:


(i re-read it, I had some confusion over the circuit.)

 

..when the starter is mounted on the Engine..where is the Solenoid located ON the starter,,the TOP or the bottom of the Starter?..
As I said,,the TII and N/A starters are different,,and the Flywheels are Different ..so if you put a TII starter ON an N/A then it will NOT hit the Ringgear on the Flywheel.Therefore it does not turn the engine over,,the starter will just spin,.
I hope that is a Correct Statement..I know thet ONE flywheel is 225 mm and the other one is 215mm..It is just I cannot remember which one!(brain fart).
If it is What I am thinking you have the Wrong starter.

 

The solenoid is on top. If you look at the picture in the first few seconds of the video it shows the old and new starters. They're identical. They both make the same noise and have the same problem when installed and started.

 

I still don't get it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The engine turns when the car is pushed in 1st gear...

I turned the ring gear easily with a screw driver through the starter hole, so I thought the shear pin must be broken like 959595rotor says above, but wth?!!

 

dont trust most mechanics, they(most of the time) dont know **** bout rotory engines

 

Ok, well, I give up!

Anyone want an '87 RX-7 NA Coupe Light Blue real cheap? Leave email for pictures. LOTS of new parts.

(I'm serious. I can't find user classifieds here either.)