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Not starting, starter has power from batt none from ignition
Hey there, so I recently picked up an '04 RX8 for cheap. P.O. had put the wrong battery in, fried some wires, blew some fuses. I've since replaced the battery and the wire harness that was fried (the one that goes between the battery, fuse box, and starter), I've got power, but nothing between the ignition and starter. Checked the starter to make sure the motor and solenoid worked and everything checked out fine. I'm getting power from the battery to the starter, but the other wire that clips to the little tab on the starter is getting no power. I've checked my fuses and they all look good. The relays have been beat up from someone trying to get them out without the right tool, but I have two of the three that are the same (headlight, starter, ignition) in good condition, so I'm really at a loss here.
So basically the starter solenoid isn't getting power when in the start position?
It could be an ECU issue... could be an immobilizer issue.... or still some relay or fuse issue.
When you turn on the key does the immobilizer light flash and go out...or does it stay on?
Do you have any CEL?
Have you looked at a wiring diagram so you can see which relays and fuses are involved?
I'm not sure what the immobilizer is, I do have a CEL on. I've gone through the fuse box and other than the relays I need (I have two that are good, so I've been swapping them between starter and ignition) everything else looks good. I'll have to check later tonight (early AM) for the dash lights.
The immobilizer is the antitheft system built into the ECU. To start the car it needs to sense a properly coded key in the properly coded ignition key barrel. Frying a bunch of wires is a good way to fry the ECU, unfortunately.
The advice above is good, see if the security light in the dash blinks rapidly and get those CEL codes read.
Right on, I've been thinking it was the ECU, there were a hand full of blown main fuses in the trunk and the wire harness I swapped was pretty toasted. The car-shaped light with the key in the middle does come on (it flashes regularly when the car is off, which is normal right?), I'll have to check it out when I put the key in, I work late so that will have to wait a while. Thanks for the advice, I'll also check those codes as soon as I can.
I've tested the starter and both the solenoid and motor are good. I've replaced the relays since the PCM has been off for repair, but did not check for power at them while trying to start. I'm still waiting on the PCM, so I guess I'll have to wait.
I had no idea about the clutch switch, I'll check that when I get home from work tonight. As for testing the starter, I had it out of the car and ran jumper cables from my battery to the starter/solenoid.
The clutch switch is a good one, Mine is my car is really picky and sometimes I'll have to press the clutch 2 or 3 times before it thinks is engaged. It's just a little push switch on the clutch petal
Okay, so it seems to be the clutch safety switch, as it is just hanging there. Could someone post some pictures of it in its right place? Because I have no idea where this thing goes...
04-10-2019, 06:34 PM
