Changed cables, battery, and starter. What the hell!! Doesn't start, getting pissed

[sknydave]

I have a 1G, it has been driving perfect for months, then all of a sudden I get the car and it doesn't start, nothing, dead, just clicks a little. So, I changed the battery, nothing, changed the terminals, nothing, took the starter to Autozone to get checked, it was bad. Put the new starter in, nothing. Does anyone have any idea as to what the hell is going on!!

 

[Boostedexcel]

could be a bad crank angle sensor....or possibly a dead fuel pump

 

[sknydave]

I don't think so, the fuel pump is new and changed the timing belt 5 months ago, evrything was fine

 

[Boostedexcel]

okay then, how many miles are on the car? I would check fuel pressure, spark, and compression before I start throwing parts at it.

 

[sknydave]

what would be a good way to check for spark

 

[Opus69]

Can you confirm whether it's even cranking over at this point?

From your description it sounds like it's not even cranking at this point... All the stuff that Boosted is talking about are things to check AFTER it's cranking to see why it's not running... Let us know and we'll go from there.

 

[sknydave]

It doesn't crank at all, it pretty much dead. All the lights strong, it just clicks a bit.

 

[Boostedexcel]

i dunno, maybe it could be the alternator or a bad battery....have you tried jumping the car?

 

[sknydave]

battery is brand new. I'm completely stumped.

 

[luvmygst]

CHeck the ground wire to the chassis of the car and the one from the chassis to the motor. I had a similar problem and the wire from the motor to the body had come apart. Good luck.

 

[sknydave]

Thanks I'll give that a try, any other suggestions??

 

[Opus69]

There are two terminals on your starter... the + terminal and the S terminal.

Make sure that the car is in neutral or park in the case of an automatic... If you jump the S and + terminals with a heavy gauge wire and the starter starts turning the motor over then the problem is in the ignition switch, clutch safety switch, or your starter relay (under the dash to the left of the steering column.. middle relay).

 

[sknydave]

OK, just jumped the terminals like you said and the starter immediately started turning. Which of the 3 relays do you think it might be??

 

[femmeDSM]

Almost sounds like what happens when you try to start a car w/out engaging the clutch. Might want to check for a faulty clutch safety switch. I've heard of these getting "stuck" ....Simply unplugging it would be a good test to perform, just to be sure.

 

[Opus69]

The starter relay is the middle one under the dash to the left of the steering column.

Middle relay in this pic : http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=56047&stc=1

Clutch Safety switch is on the clutch pedal assembly... Pic here:
http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=58102&d=1133405351

Like Femme said... clutch safety switch would be a good place to start.

 

[steve]

+1 on checking the Clutch Safety Switch.
When you don't push the clutch in or the switch is bad the starter relay engages and disconnects the ignition switch from the starter solenoid. That may be the click you hear.

Steve

 

[sknydave]

OK. I don't think its the clutch safety switch since I don't have to press the clutch in when I turn on the car. I just changed the starter relay and nothing, looks like there is one thing left and that is the ignition switch. Is it possible just to put a relay on the black and yellow wire that goes from the ignition to the stater right before it clips to the starter. I think this will probably give me the voltage I am probably missing??
Also I would like to thank you guys, you have been an incredible help.

 

[Opus69]

If you have eliminated the 3 things we've listed so far then you have an open somewhere

I would enlist the help of a friend and a voltmeter or test light... Start working your way from the ignition through the harness up to the starter... You will eventually find the loose or open connection.

Good Luck and keep us posted

 

[Opus69]

Oh and one last thing...

I'm hoping you don't have an alarm with a starter kill feature that could be interfering?

 

[91gsxboosted]

why dont you push start it to make sure that it will start.

 

[sknydave]

No alarm. I'm going to replace the ignition switch tommorrow, hope that works.

 

[S_Ranger]

Have you pulled the cluch plug safety switch? That happened to me awhile back, took it apart and it started.

 

[femmeDSM]

why dont you push start it to make sure that it will start.

This is not a bad idea either. Always start with the simple things, and work your way up from there

 

[tsunari]

Any update on this? I have a similar problem with mine and have also swapped out the Starter, Starter Cables, and the battery is fresh. I'd LOVE to figure this thing out!!!

 

[wret]

There are two terminals on your starter... the + terminal and the S terminal.

Make sure that the car is in neutral or park in the case of an automatic... If you jump the S and + terminals with a heavy gauge wire and the starter starts turning the motor over then the problem is in the ignition switch, clutch safety switch, or your starter relay (under the dash to the left of the steering column.. middle relay).

Actually there are four terminals: S, B, M and Field Coil Wire.

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I'm having a starter issue myself. I installed a new starter and can't get it to run on the car. I'm questioning whether the field coil wire is on the right terminal. The orientation of the terminals is not the same as the starter I took off and there are no marks at the terminals.

Does anyone know how to test which terminal is "M" and wich is "B"?