Car is not cranking! I think Electrical! Help Please!

[meliketoball]

Hey guys I have a 1997 2g turbo FWD and I was going for the clutch interlock switch mod where you don't have to step the clutch to turn on the car.

I got the switch and I cut the wires instead of unplugging them. There are 2 wires and they are a green and black connecting to a white connector.

I cut both wires at the same time and with the battery connected to it! I butt connected them both and changed the starter relay in the console area where the radio housing is located in. The relay is blue and black with 4 pins that make a "T"

I checked all fuses relating to the cars ignition system. I checked the 2 starter relays the bottom of the dash, the starter relay in the radio console area, and the fusible links in the engine bay.

I checked the power connector to the starter motor and re-grounded the ground to the body of the transmission. I have power for everything such as lights, power windows, all dome lights, the heater and AC and the beeping noise when I have the key in the ignition.

So it must be an electrical problem somewhere right? If I cut, 2 wires at the same time, I can short circuit something right or maybe blow a relay or fuse?

Right now I am about to take off the air bag off the steering wheel and check the ignition wires there.

So please anyone direct me to some more fuses or relays I can check out! This is my 4th post on the same topic I can't seem to solve. I need your guys help!

Thanks a bunch for reading and please don't give me an infraction, I just looking for some help.

 

[meliketoball]

anyone???

 

[talonalex92]

get a new battery maybe? check the alternator maxi fuse. i highly doubt its an ignition wire, you probably just fried something.

 

[forcefed 95]

when you check for power at the starter did you get any power. Did you have a meter and and have some one turn the key to see if you were getting power to it when trying t start?

 

[t25fury]

was your car working before you did this mod ? if so then try rewiring the switch back and see if it will turn on.

 

[meliketoball]

talonalex92: I charged my battery and tried a battery from another car. It did the same thing; I got power to everything but won't crank. Even if the battery was low, wouldn't it still crank but turn the starter motor very weak?

forcefed 95:I didn't check for power at the starter. How do I do that? Do I hook up a voltmeter to the starter motor then have some one crank the car?

t25fury: The car very well did work before I did this mod. But, on some days, the car would have this problem I have present but after slamming the clutch all the way down to the floorboard, it fixed my problem.

Can it be the clutch interlock switch bad? I cut the wire to that and maybe so the connector is bad?

 

[talonalex92]

yeah, your right it would crank a little. as for the connector, did you wire it back up right? try just disconnecting that stupid thing al together..

 

[meliketoball]

yeah, your right it would crank a little. as for the connector, did you wire it back up right? try just disconnecting that stupid thing al together..

i connected everything I pulled apart. Would a killswitch be the problem to this?

 

[talonalex92]

well im a 1g guy, and as far as i know there is no killswitch of any sort.
i think you fried something, double check every single fuse and relay under your hood and in the fuse block in cabin.. good luck and keep us informed

 

[meliketoball]

Alright, here I go again. I'm going to re butt connect the wires back and 4x check the fuses and relays again. I'll let you guys know.

 

[boostnbuds]

why would cutting and splicing wires seem like a better idea to you then unplugging it....you know it may be a coincidence but ever consider your starter may have died? had that happen with a few cars in the shop before, shit does happen you know.

 

[meliketoball]

why would cutting and splicing wires seem like a better idea to you then unplugging it....you know it may be a coincidence but ever consider your starter may have died? had that happen with a few cars in the shop before, shit does happen you know.

I was going for unplugging the connector but I just saw a different way of cutting it instead; which was a mistake. I have considered my starter on going out but, I would like to check the other more reasonable possibilities then going to the starter because like how I said before, the car did work before I cut the wires and I don't think those 2 wires would blow a starter.

 

[talonalex92]

its worth a shot?
especially if you want your car to run, consider all possibilities. mine once didnt run for about a month becuase of a coolant temperature thing. it was 3 dollars from autozone.

 

[meliketoball]

its worth a shot?
especially if you want your car to run, consider all possibilities. mine once didnt run for about a month becuase of a coolant temperature thing. it was 3 dollars from autozone.

I guess mang. Thanks for a the reply everyone!

 

[meliketoball]

Update! Ok, I am pretty sure that this re-connection is a sure one and when I went to re-connect my battery with my ignition switch on, my starter made a clicking ticking noise. My father said that the battery is low. I tried to jump start it with another car again and with a battery booster. Still the same.

So what is what?

 

[boostnbuds]

if its clicking it means 2 things your battery is to low and will no longer hold any type of charge or like i said before could just be the starter, buy a new battery (because you should always have a strong battery) and if it doesnt start i would investigate that starter.

 

[meliketoball]

if its clicking it means 2 things your battery is to low and will no longer hold any type of charge or like i said before could just be the starter, buy a new battery (because you should always have a strong battery) and if it doesnt start i would investigate that starter.

Yeah I think the starter should be next because:

-I changed the starter relays under the dash(2 square ones)

-I changed the blue/black 4-pin relay twice!( the one in the radio console area; when you take the radio out, you should see a blue/black relay)

-I re-wired/re-connected all the wires I took off( clutch interlock switch connector and cruise control connector @ the clutch pedal) and lastly checked the all the fuses in the engine bay and under the dash.

Can a starter short out like this? ( I just want to know before I pull it.)

 

[meliketoball]

Update! I went to autozone today and got my starter bench tested. It works excellent. So I checked all my fuses again in my engine bay and under the dash. What can it be?

 

[Nors]

I think it is something with the clutch switch still. The odds of it being something else are low. Especially if you turn the key and get nothing (like trying to start the car with the clutch engaged). A bad battery would get you something, solenoid clicking, unless its totally shot. And since you said you swapped batteries thats ruled out.


I say re-check the wiring you did, and then test any suspect fuses with an ohmmeter because sometimes they will be blown but look okay if you don't check it out real good.


The car does nothing with the key in the cranking position right? Just checking so I can think of some more things (but I am sure it will be related to the interlock switch or a fuse). The starting system is a very simple circuit so you just need to break it down piece by piece and see if the starter solenoid is getting voltage while cranking.

 

[boostnbuds]

why didnt you have the battery tested first

 

[talonalex92]

hm, try pushing the clutch switch thing in with your hand while cranking?
check and see if that thing is getting a signal voltage of any sort and that can further pinpoint..

 

[meliketoball]

hm, try pushing the clutch switch thing in with your hand while cranking?
check and see if that thing is getting a signal voltage of any sort and that can further pinpoint..

I already tried that.

And as for Nors: I connected the interlock switch connector back together with but connectors and tried to push the bottom with my hand and trying to start the car. I tried the relays and I know of and the 2 relays at the bottom dash click when I turn it to the "on" position. Are there any other fuses or relays related to the interlock or ignition system other then the under dash one and the one in the engine bay?