1G 93 TSi was running 2 days ago, now will not crank.

[AdroitPostal]

Hi! I recently bought a 1993 Talon TSi AWD. Quick backstory behind the car, it was sitting for 8 years, it's in near stock condition, runs and drives. It lopes a bit on startup, especially when its cold. I believe I need to clean the throttle body and install a new gasket, it looks like its cracked and almost peeling back, however, when it warmed up, it ran and drove with no issues.

I recently drove it to work 2 days ago, as the conditions were bad and I didn't want to drive my FWD car. It was icy in the morning and very wet on the way home. I didn't touch it again until today, when I went to start it and all I got was power to the vehicle. I went to crank and the motor didn't even move. I can hear the fuel pump working, I've checked all the relays/fuses, but am a little stumped. I don't know what could've broken in the 2 days I didn't touch it.

The ignition control module I believe might be the issue, I had the same issue on my 1992 but I'm still open to any ideas or reassurances.

 

[We're on Boost]

checked s terminal on starter. it was still plugged in, tried jumping from the battery to the spade terminal on the starter solenoid. still no crank, i heard a slight kind of ticking for a few seconds every time we tried to start though, before and after the hardwire. could the solenoid itself be the issue?

Yes, if it still doesn't make the starter motor run when you jumper the spade terminal like that, then it pretty much has to be either:
The starter motor itself
The starter solenoid
The big fat ground cable that there should be going from the battery negative post to one of the 2 bolts that attach the starter to the bell housing.
The big fat positive cable that goes basically from the battery positive post to one of the electrical studs on the starter solenoid (the "B" terminal in post #12).

That's all I can think of. With those cables, it usually is corrosion on the end where they attach, rather than the cable itself.
The easiest ends to check are the ends that are right at the battery of course.

 

[AdroitPostal]

Yes, if it still doesn't make the starter motor run when you jumper the spade terminal like that, then it pretty much has to be either:
The starter motor itself
The starter solenoid
The big fat ground cable that there should be going from the battery negative post to one of the 2 bolts that attach the starter to the bell housing.
The big fat positive cable that goes basically from the battery positive post to one of the electrical studs on the starter solenoid (the "B" terminal in post #12).

That's all I can think of. With those cables, it usually is corrosion on the end where they attach, rather than the cable itself.
The easiest ends to check are the ends that are right at the battery of course.

going to double check the connections here and if theyre ok im going to order a new starter. thank you for the knowledge, learned a bunch off of you brother

 

[AdroitPostal]

Neither, I'm just explaining that unlike a 2G the 1G's turn on the fuel pump while the ignition switch is in the start position. As long as the ignition switch is generating that signal and the clutch safety switch is passing it, the MPI relay should turn of the pump. You say you can hear the pump running, which I don't doubt since I can hear mine, it would seem that the Ignition Switch is functioning, the MPI relay is working of the fuel pump side but the starter doesn't seem to be.

Have you checked to see if you're getting battery voltage at the starter solenoid S terminal when your cranking and at the starter B+ terminal all the time? (Edit: added picture since it wasn't clear)

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Although the starter should crank the engine without an ECU present, have you verified that the ECU turn the CEL on for 5 seconds when you turn the ignition on?

Do you have a set of the service manuals for your car?

I think I got it figured out. Wish I seen that diagram sooner haha. I tried jumping from positive terminal directly to the Spade terminal and got no start, I believe the starter solenoid or the starter itself is the issue.

I have decided to just replace the entire starter to ensure that I hopefully fix the problem. thanks for the help!

 

[1990TSIAWDTALON]

Wow I was pretty sick too, just for 24 hours on Friday.
I'm going to be not-on-line for about a week here.
Good luck with it you guys!

Chicken soup , Sprite, ZStack Vitimins (full of zink, c and d vitamins) and crackers . A bit of ibuprofen for the fever if you have that too.
REST!!!!

 

[TerminalTalon]

Have you made sure your battery is good?