Intermittent no start, possible turbo timer related?

[Talyn]

I have an intermittent no start, where I try to crank the car, I hear the starter solenoid click once (as they often do when your battery is dead.) but then doesn't actually crank, and the battery isn't actually low. I wondered if maybe the clutch switch wasn't being pushed all the way in, but when I checked that out, it works the opposite way where you don't even have to push the clutch all the way for the switch to work.

I have observed several odd behaviours that may or may not be related; sometimes the turbo timer works and the car doesn't shut off right away, sometimes it doesn't and the car just shuts off like any other car.
Today when I was trying to figure out this issue, after it didn't start, but not while trying to start it, I heard random rapid clicking somewhere under the hood, sounded like a relay, I'm not sure where the starter relay is? I tried to find it to check it but it's not in the main relay box or the fuse box inside, and idk where else it would be? So could possibly be a jacked up relay too, or wiring to it maybe.
Lastly I noticed that when I first tried to start it I didn't have the god awful annoying door bong, while I was trying to figure out the issue it suddenly started bonging, I tried starting the car at that moment and it didn't, however it did finally decide to start shortly after that. I never paid much attention, but I think the door bong has been intermittent before. Hard to remember because the car has been sitting almost the entire time i've owned it.

 

[jcastello214]

The starter relay is under the radio in that golden looking box it also contains the fuel pump relay. With the rapid clicking it sounds like it might be failing. Try a known good one first and see if that resolves your issue.

EDIT: also keep in mind that 1.8L DSMs have a different relay box then 2.0L counterparts.

 

[Talyn]

Thanks, I actually figured out where the relay was, and the problem, after it combined with my other major issue left me stranded on the side of the road, never a dull moment with a DSM.
For posterity, what happened was the starter +cable came loose, then while on the side of the road from the other unrelated issue I am having, when attempting to start it and drive off again the intermittent no start turned into no power whatsoever, nary a door bong.
The starter cable came completely off, fortunately I managed to steal a nut from something else because none of the parts stores were open that late. I will have to go back and put a lock washer/nut on it however, I have poly bushings all through the front of the car(haven't had a chance to do the rear yet.) I suspect it's just shaking itself to pieces, and that there may be more lock washers/nuts in my future.

 

[1990TSIAWDTALON]

A dab of grey silicone on the threads helps a lot in keeping vibrations from loosening them. A trick I learned when I worked at Cobalt Boats. We put silicone on EVERYTHING because a boat vibrates kinda like a DSM with poly mounts. I use it everywhere on my car as it has had its share of shaking things loose.