RX7Aggie

Okay, so if it's not one starting problem, its another. So I get in my car and it's been since Sunday evening that I drove my car. I try to start it and it rolls over extremely slow. I stop and try again, still nothing. So I open the hood and use my multimeter to check the voltage and i'm getting like 9.8 volts or so.



The only thing i did differently last time i turned it off was to make sure the stock security system came on (I figured since it's there, why not use it). Normally when the timer shuts off and the car is locked up, the alarm does not arm. So this time, i left the key in until the timer shut off. Then i got out and locked up. The light blinked as i got out, made the beep when i pushed lock, and remained on when i shut the door. Is it supposed to remain constantly lit? Could this have drained my battery?



I have no idea how old the battery is, and i know the car sat for 3 months with a blown engine before i bought it and had it rebuilt. I could be my crappy sony xplode radio, which has a tendency to stay on after i turn the car off (did in my last rx7, doing it again in this one once).



any suggestions? i going to get it jumped tonight and drive to walmart. i could buy a new battery while i'm there. the electrodes on this one look fine, so it might be good. i need my car by tomorrow for some mad halloween parties, and i need to get some stuff for my costume at walmart.

Rob x-7

The light is supposed to blink, not stay on constantly. You sure it stayed on the whole time becuase I believe it stays on then it goes to blink mode after 30 seconds or so? Not sure because I dont remember the last time I stared at it. Get a jump and try not using the alarm, if it works then dont use the alarm anymore.

As for the stereo, if its wired properly there is no reason it should stay on. Did you wire all the power leads to a constant power? Only the memory should be on a constant, the others on a light switchm, if the radio has a seperate lead for when you turn the lights on,and a turn on lead.

RX7Aggie

i wired it correctly, red = ignition, yellow = memory, orange = illumination = not necessary. like i said, that only happened once in the past two months; usually it makes the beeping sound after turning off the ignition. i guess it could have come on over the 3 days it sat there. it turned it off, so it would have just showed the time.



i'll have the check out the blinking part of the security system at walmart. how long do you think it will take to charge driving down the road. if its not charged, i'm going to have to buy a new battery there or get someone to jump it.

1988RedT2

I would say a thirty minute drive should pretty much charge a healthy battery. Drive it someplace that sells batteries and then shut it off and try to start it. If the battery looks like it could be four years old or so, I'd plan on getting a new one. This isn't the time of year to have a weak battery.



Costco sells Schumacher battery chargers for less than fifty bucks. I don't use mine very often, but it's a good thing to have one if you have a car that doesn't get driven much. And if you use it once or twice a year, you'll be glad you have it.

Rob x-7

Sears DieHard Gold all the way, 3 year replacement and at least a 100month warranty, 900+ cranking amps, probably outlast the car, lol

RX7Aggie

it's times like these that i am sooo glad i'm a mechanical engineer. I HATE ELECTRONICS. :twisted: sure, that's what the information age is all about, but still, it's so hard to find these grimlins. yes, i realize i must co-exist with my enemy and learn to understand it, but i just dont have that kind of time and equipment right now. especially considering this is my daily driver. no time to problem solve, i've got a design project to work on. arg!

SoniX

hmm, sounds to me like your security system is working perfectly.... they can't steal your car if it won't start, can they?

RX7Aggie

hah, that's a good one. seriously, so i push-started it with a friend backwards, got it going, drove around, and went to walmart. again, i armed the security system, and locked it up. the light blinks before i shut the door, the stays on for like 20 sec. then i blinks super-fast like a strobe light for 5 sec, then it goes off. is this normal? i'm doing another test, i didn not arm the alarm tonight, and i will see what happens. bed time.

Rob x-7

Thats normal for the security system

RX7Aggie

lets see, i did spend $40 on a car deck warrenty from best buy, and have yet to ever receive any benefits from it. The deck is 2 yrs old, and the warrenty is for 4 yrs. I might just tack it back and see if i can get a new one, maybe also blame my dead battery on it, get some sympathy and a new deck.