Please give me your opinion with this starting issue!

[_97tsiawd_]

Ok, so I have had an intermittent starting problem the last few weeks. It will start just fine one minute and then the next act just like it does when you try and start a car without depressing the clutch. My first thought was to unplug the clutch switch under the dash and at it seemed to work, then the problem arose again. My next thought was that is was the starter its self so I had it tested, and it works just fine. Could this be a wiring issue running between the battery and the starter? Or something else entirely? Thanks for any input!

 

[97eclipseNT]

I've seen this issue with a few cars that were not DSMs. I tested for voltage at the B+ terminal, the M terminal while cranking, and I believe at the S terminal. Everything tested out OK. Sometimes the solenoid on the starter will be faulty and cause intermittent starting issues. If thats the case you would just have to replace the starter.

 

[car46999]

There are a few components that it could be. Starter/solenoid, ignition switch, clutch switch, starter relay, anti-theft (if equipped), wiring.
I'd lean more towards relay or anti-theft.
You need to get it in the state of not working, then start probing for power/ ground at the relay.
If a ground is present on pin one of the relay it is opening the starter circuit (1991 diagram).

Good luck.

 

[motorswapman]

Next time it happens unplug the starter solenoid wire plug the + of a tester to it and negititve to the ground on the battery and try to start the car. You should see about 12v if you do its the starter if you dont then check if the IG switch is sending out voltage. Check the wire marked ST on the back of the IG switch it should supply 12v when you try to start the car. If there is no voltage the IG switch is bad if there is voltage then you have some wiring issues to take care of.

 

[_97tsiawd_]

Thanks for the input guys, I had my wife try and start the car while I listened to the starter. It sounded as though I was getting power, I could hear the starter whining but not turning the engine, I figure its the starter that is going bad and just being finicky with not wanting to die completely just yet (hence why sometimes it works and sometimes not). I tracked one down for $20 so I'm going to stick that in today. My philosophy is to start with the simple solution first and though the process of elimination find the problem. Although I expect that replacing the starter should fix the problem.

 

[black_gst]

i recently had a similar problem mine turned out to be the ign switch @ the key so i wired up a push button starter, and bam problem solved

 

[joegamma1]

i recently had a similar problem mine turned out to be the ign switch @ the key so i wired up a push button starter, and bam problem solved

Hows about a "wiring for dummies" diagram of how you did that. what wires you used and where you found them.

 

[black_gst]

ok just dont laugh at my awesome paint skills

i ran my power wire inline with the factory wireing because i have remote start so i can actually use the ignition the push button and the remote start. because the factory wire going to the starter is on a relay you can hurt anything this way as long as you do start the car with the key and push button at the same time. if you want to disable the key from being able to start the car (anti theft) then cut the stock wire going to the starter and hook it up stright to the wire comming off the momentary switch.

i got the switch from kragen for about $5

i did this because the ignition switch in my car was going out