starter solenoid

hey people ive owned my 2nd gen for about 3 months now and i love it but im having a problem with the starter solenoid. I know the rotary engoines run hot, but i replaced my starter solenoid 2 weeks ago because i couldnt get my car to turn over and i was tierd of tapping on it wherever i went. But after replacing it 2-3 weeks have gone by and now it is acting up again.

i konw i get on my car alot and have fun with it but there has to be an easier way so can someone help me out by suggesting some cost efective ways to solve this problem thanks.

how many miles are on your engine?

just rolled over 150,000

Did you replace the starter solenoid with a cheap replacment from an auto parts store? Its probably the starter itself that is causing the solenoid to go bad. In all my years with rotaries, I've never had a starter or a starter solenoid go bad.

that's why it won't start. it's way overdue for service. if you have 150,000 miles on your current engine, bad news. you need it rebuilt or replaced. rotaries need new apex seals about every 60-80,000 miles.

Not true. Its a 2nd gen N/A, so they hold up well, and its not a seal problem at all. My car is still running strong at 115k.

Originally posted by rxtacy
that's why it won't start. it's way overdue for service. if you have 150,000 miles on your current engine, bad news. you need it rebuilt or replaced. rotaries need new apex seals about every 60-80,000 miles.

Um, yeah (like from Office space)

Steel is totally Right.. I had a 1987 GXl with 217K miles... completely original drivetrain but a clutch, rear wheel bearings, replaced rear steer bearings and a TOS like 40K miles ago... it still ran up until i was rear-ended at a stop light by some jack ass in a jeep cheroke..

My 1985 Spec-7 GS(L) First gen finally died with its original engine at 186K while on track (at an autoX) being driven by a friend who would punch it everytime it was fuel starving from low fuel in the cell.... it popped a rear apex seal.. and I still drove it home...

The very first 10A's and 12A's (1969-1973)(you know the ones with the massive i think 4mm apex seals...) they needed an "overhaul" at the 60-80K mile mark.. Looking back at other cars from the era.. that wasn't so bad...
eg, austin healy, triumph, alpha,

very rarely would even an old american V8 from the era make it to even 100K with out needing an overhaul...

Technology has changed.

thanks for all the info
it was the starter though
replaced it and it runs great now :D
now i just have to wait until i get the money for my exaust system
then comes the 20b hehe

Originally posted by Steel
Not true. Its a 2nd gen N/A, so they hold up well, and its not a seal problem at all. My car is still running strong at 115k.
i should have cought that. i guess i was still thinking of a turbo rotary.

yeah unfortunately the 3rd gens usually need a rebuild rite around 60-80,000 miles.
the 2nd gen turboII can go over 100,000 in most cases i've seen.
when it comes to a non turbo the sky is the limit with how many miles you can put on it.
the highest mileage car i have ever driven was a 1983 rx7 gs with 226,000 miles on it, it ran ok but started to smoke when you hit high rpm's over 5 or 6 thousand.