cranks intermittently

[govproperty]

OK, my car is not cranking all the time. When it does it starts and runs "ok" considering the lack of fiav and isc. The engine does turn over sometimes, it seems to crank more often after the car is warmed up. The battery is in the rear of the car with a cut off switch and circuit breaker. I have checked all the power connections and grounds and they appear fine. I have tested and replaced (just to make sure) the starter. The connection to the solenoid was repaired as well. It looked a little bird caged. The dash lights do dim when being cranked and I can hear the MPI relay click, but if I don't have the clutch depressed it doesn't do anything, like it should. I am pretty sure it has something to do with the wiring since it is an intermittent problem, but I don't really know where else to look without pulling the dash wiring harness to inspect. The previous owner may have tried to install something. Just to clarify it goes from not turning over at all to starting fine after trying it for a while. Any ideas will be appreciated.

 

[stars]

Sounds like you have more than just one problem. Was their an aftermarket or factory alarm system installed? Have you checked under the dash and seats for any kind of alarm module or relays. I think you are correct that you suspect it is in the wiring harness, if that is the case then you have no other choice but to start tracking down the starting circuit and the charging circuit. Since it does crank and start you know most of that circuit is O.K. it is just something that is interfering with the starting circuit intermittently.

The reason I say check the starting/charging circuit is that they are both related to one another they often share some common components and often get overlooked when troubleshooting. Intermittent problems are often a pain to troubleshoot because they occur so randomly but, trial and error you will begin to familiarize yourself with those circuits. Since you know something has been previously installed you must find that problem first, then go from there. Start looking for in-line fuse holders, relays, and wires to see if you see something that just looks like it does not belong there. Not any easy answers but this should keep you busy trying since you have ruled out the starter itself, the starter solenoid and the starter relay. I have also seen where the ecu will not ground the MPI relay circuit so it can get current sent to it (MPI relay) to activate the starting circuit.

I don't know your level of electrical knowledge so I'm trying to keep this simple for you to comprehend. Just keep searching the forums and posting all that you have done up to this point and sure someone will see this post and offer more suggestions that I may have left out. I have seen this problem before and it ended up being a botched aftermarket alarm installation that caused this problem.

 

[govproperty]

The previous owner did have a push button start switch installed poorly. I removed it a long time ago but I think I might have to go over that area again. I will also check for the reminisce of an alarm system. If their is one in there it would explain why the pc680 batteries would drain so fast on me. I tried to chase the a battery drain before but all I found was the normal amps needed for the ecu. It could have been an intermittent drain. I appreciate the suggestions.

 

[govproperty]

I tried to find the problem today but I couldn't duplicate the gripe. I recheck most of the wiring harness and I didn't notice anything that stood out. I took the old starter get tested at advance auto since a friend was working tonight. The plunger shot out but it did not spin. It is possible that I have two bad starters. Which would explain the dash lights diming during the attempts to start versus the reaction when the clutch pedal was no pressed down. I am going to try and rebuild the known bad one that I have and go from there.

 

[stars]

Well if the bendix drive gear does not spin and only pops out, then you found your problem. May I suggest you just go get a new starter with a lifetime warranty and be done. I bet also that your battery going dead was because the starter was draining your battery due to an internal short. Make sure you take the rebuilt starter back to AutoZone and have it tested once again before you install it. Sometimes you have to check the starter like 4-7 times to make sure it is going to work like it is supposed too. Glad you found the problem.