Yesterday I went to start my car...it was warm...I put the key in the ignition and turned the key to start to crank the engine and all I can hear is a wrrrrr...popped the hood and the only thing on was on was the choke I guess...cable runs over to a box on the drivers side to something with a motor...cable comes out of the carb...anyway



I took the cover off the steering column and found a little white box with a pop of cover on the back side of the column...has 2 wires running in that are supposed to be soldered to 2 pieces of copper with what appears to be magnets or something on the ends of em...I guess it touches when the car starts or something...I put the wires in so they could make contact...put the key in...and the car started right up



This morning I started my car...went to back out of the driveway and the car died...went to turn the key and nothing...I mean nothing at all...no whirrs...not clicks...only the noise of the lights in the dash coming on



perhaps its the starter in the column?...I dunno

I have had tons of trouble with all the little dipsticks on it

front wiper fluid has never worked...and the cruise on the column went out a while back



I also noticed what appeared to be oil or dot 3 on the ground where my car was...about a 1 and 1/2 foot circular area...looks like a spray...I'm guessing that its not a good thing



I'm half tempted to take 600 bucks down to the local rx-7 guy and get a 2bbl webber put on there instead of that stupid rejetted nikki...I have had nothing but trouble since I got the thing



then again...it could just be the column...anyone got any ideas?

 

it sounds like the eletrical part of the ignition switch



mike

 

so how exactly would I replace the ignition switch?...I have a 85 gsl parts car with a complete column minus the covers...I have the cover off mine but I can't see any way to get it off...its the thing that says start acc...that kinda stuff right?...where the key goes in?



My manual said I would have to pull the wheel and then remove anti theft screws...seems kinda like a pain in the butt

 

on the opposite side from where you put in the key, where all the wires are. thats the switch, there is one phillips screw, and it comes right out



mike

 

gee...thought it was on the other side

I should be able to have her up and running again in no time if thats whats wrong

Just hope the old one my 85 still works...and more importantly...I hope its still on the car

When we bought it most of the parts were stripped off it...carb and most pumps...that kinda stuff

but the body was perfect and it has a new transmission in it...by the way...do you have to pull the engine to swap out a transmission?

The story behind the car is the guy took it to the local mazda dealer around here sometime in the early 90's to get some work done on the engine. They drained the coolant...and "forgot" to put it back in...dude drove about a mile down the road and the engine blew up. From what I have been told he had just recently replaced the clutch and transmissions with either rebuilt or new...that may have been what he had done at the dealer...but I'm not really sure...either way...my 18 year old transmission is starting to grind...mostly 3rd gear...sometimes it refuses to enguage into reverse unless I shift around a lot.



I bought the car for 100 bucks because I needed a side mirror and the guy was going to get it crushed if I didn't take it. not a bad deal hu?



Thanks again...I'll post back and tell you if the switch fixes it...then perhaps I can go get a glass pack put on my car to replace that leaky noisy muffler...zoom zoom zoom

 

you can take the tranny out with out the motor, its about the same amount of effort as taking the whole thing out.



mike

 

Either way swaping either of the two is a pain in the ***.

 

bad news for me...my parts car didn't have the starter on the column...so I had to order one online

guess thats all I get for christmas this year...I just hope it works

 

how are your fusable links,,i had one go bad and could not start car..

 

Just replaced all 3 of them less than a year ago for good measure since you can't buy em locally



I also have spares in the glove box.