Runs while cranking; dies when you let go of the key
 

Ok. I am stuck. I have an '84 ignition system with electronic pickups. The engine fires and runs while I am cranking on the starter, but once I let go of the key it dies. Any thoughts? There are no points, so no ballast resistor. Could it be a bad ignition switch?

Thanks!

Is your compression OK?

Check to make sure that you have coil power on the run circuit (key on, no start). I ran into the same type of problem going from 1st Gen to 2nd Gen electronics. There was a difference in those as well. The first gen (79 RX7) ignition had power to the start, but no power thereafter and another wire carried power during both start and key on. The 2nd Gen (87 RX7) had power on one wire except during start and another wire that had both. If you have the coils hooked to the wrong wire, it could cause this problem. Best bet is to break out the multimeter and see which wires have power when.

Yup! Compression is fine. Ya... I'm going to look through my diagrams some more and get out there with my meter to see what happens.

id bet its ignition switch.

Any luck Krivman?

this happened to me twice once in my 79 it was the inside fuse it died at a light and i had to turn key and get it accross the road uner stsrter power and than 2nd time on my 80ls it was the back side of the ignition the tabs worked loose and the rear part was loose . micht check that.

bad grounds