No start, no crank! Battery is new! HELP!!

[Spoolin4Ever]

The car is a 1990 AUTO, non turbo. Picked it up recently.

3rd time the car has done this. When you turn the key to on, all accesoris and dash lights work, starter does not click or anything when you try to start.

Starter was tested last time this happened, it is good.

New battery and alternator. New connections on battery posts.

Before when this happened, I just wiggled every wire and sensor on the engine, wiggled wires in fuse box, eventually it would start, never isolated it though.

This time the "wiggle method" is not working.

Where is my starter relay on this? The one relay on the fusebox in the car seems to be for blower fan.

HELP! Car won't start! No click, no nothin!

All suggestions and feedback sincerely appreciated!

 

[dsmbob]

Spoolin4ever,

Hey I got the same problem you do except my car does crank a few times, let's work together to get both of our cars running What do you say man? My car is mentioned in Got problems-need sugestions thread. Read it and you will get caught up on what to try and what I have done to redemy my situation!

By the way what is your milage, and give more description about your car, so I can point you in the right direction.

 

[Tsi_User]

wow it's like a fruity 1GNT family in here

Spoolin4Ever have you checked the ECU for leaking caps?
Also, since "wiggling" worked for you once my guess is it's a wire that came loose under the hood. Grab your manual and start going over the ignition/starter wires and make sure they're all properly connected.

 

[dsmbob]

Your starter could be stuck from sitting or cranking too hard. Tap on it with a hammer, if you have AWD or FWD, rock the car back and forth in gear, Sometimes it will loosen the starter gear to get the car to fire or at least trun over. Try this first since it is so simple to overlook.
Get back to me A.S.A.P.

 

[Spoolin4Ever]

Well it's an auto so the gear don't turn it as much i think. But yeah i tried that some. Let it roll a bit then but in gear to try and push the flywheel, starter.

No fish smell for ECU, so I think it's good. Will check though.

How can I bypass the starter relay, or hook up the starter direct to battery? Car is at the mall, so I need to do something to try and save the $150 towing bill, to get it home at least to work on it.

Where is the neutral switch or whatever it's called in an Auto car? Maybe that is doing it..?

 

[Spoolin4Ever]

By the way, the only noise i hear is the relay (?) somwhere near the fusebox click once each attempt.

 

[Spoolin4Ever]

I replaced both the red power lead and the negative cables on the battery and starter.

NO DICE

And no changes in what happens when I turn the key.

 

[Spoolin4Ever]

I want to do a quick cheap push button or toggle switch starter. How can i do it?

 

[boostnbuds]

well if the battery is new the starter is good (you had it tested) you can hear the relay working, so it has to be the wiring somewhere between your starter solenoid and your relay thats all there is to it. im sure thats not what you wanna hear but from your description thats all i can come up with. it really sucks that its in a parking lot. if it was 5spd id say push start it to get it home

 

[jay_rod24]

Actually, just for trying, you don't need a switch. I have done this on my old beater truck but not on my dsm but it's pretty much the same idea. There should be a wire coming from your starter solonoid to your battery positive. You need to remove that one and replace with your own wire. Once you have it connected on the starter, it should fire when you touch it to the battery positive. (Make sure you have the key on) If it starts and you need to install the switch for a perminent fix, lemme know and I'll go further.

Just remember, as long as you are touching that wire to bat. power your starter will be engaged so don't burn up your starter by leaving it on too long.

Good luck and let me know what happens.

 

[Spoolin4Ever]

OK,

Thank you everyone for your help, first of all.

Yes Jay, you are to a certain degree correct. There is a wire that connects to the silanoid, it comes from the ignition, or related, it connects via a clip thingy from the ignition, or fuse panel (I don't know exactly where it comes from, the dash somewhere??). It sends power to the starter selanoid.

However, if you leave it disconnected or replace with your own wire (without leaving the original wire connected), it will crank but not start..

I went and bought a little push button starter thing. It's just a cheap little under the hood model. Connected it TO THAT WIRE. Leaving that wire still connected also from the "dash" or wherever. The other wire on the button clips to the positive terminal on your battery.

It started right up.

If you don't also connect the original wire from the ignition to the starter silanoid, the car does not get fuel. Not sure why. Maybe it feeds back to the ECU?

I don't know much about wiring as you can see. It's a learn as you go process.

I don't know why I can't just use the key to start it, but if I try, no power gets sent to my starter silanoid.

 

[Spoolin4Ever]

http://www.etoolcart.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=4457

 

[jay_rod24]

OK,

Thank you everyone for your help, first of all.

Yes Jay, you are to a certain degree correct. There is a wire that connects to the silanoid, it comes from the ignition, or related, it connects via a clip thingy from the ignition, or fuse panel (I don't know exactly where it comes from, the dash somewhere??). It sends power to the starter selanoid.

However, if you leave it disconnected or replace with your own wire (without leaving the original wire connected), it will crank but not start..

I went and bought a little push button starter thing. It's just a cheap little under the hood model. Connected it TO THAT WIRE. Leaving that wire still connected also from the "dash" or wherever. The other wire on the button clips to the positive terminal on your battery.

It started right up.

If you don't also connect the original wire from the ignition to the starter silanoid, the car does not get fuel. Not sure why. Maybe it feeds back to the ECU?

I don't know much about wiring as you can see. It's a learn as you go process.

I don't know why I can't just use the key to start it, but if I try, no power gets sent to my starter silanoid.

Glad to hear you got it going. Yeah, I figured it would be a little more complicated than my truck being it is 20 years old. . Anyway you got the general idea and glad we could help ya out.

 

[Spoolin4Ever]

Turns out it is the ECU.