1G This is an electrical short, right?

[Vegas Smith]

I trying to start my car for the first time( bought if from a guy with bad engine). Here are some observations

1) Brand new starter. Brand new battery fully charged.

2) Turbo timer reads 12.4v then dips to 8-9 when I turn the key to start

3) Oil pressure gauge maxs out when I put the key in

4) Starter will partially turn on and fully turn on but it's all completely random. It takes about 50 tries to get starter to engage but when it does the car fires up

5) starter and flywheel are both mechanically fine

6) fuel pump relay and ISC often go crazy when the battery is hooked up.

7) car basically clicks when I try and turn it on. Sometimes if will have a little more juice and rotate engine about 1/10 a revolution. Engine runs great as I have started it twice now. No mechanical problems with it.

Thoughts?

 

[92AWDHX40]

So your having a starting issue, could be a bad coil, ptu tranistor , coolant temp sensor, any codes. Check out the starting threads here lots of suggestions.

 

[pauleyman]

So your having a starting issue, could be a bad coil, ptu tranistor , coolant temp sensor, any codes. Check out the starting threads here lots of suggestions.

I'm guessing none of these are suspect as it doesn't seem to be a starting issue but rather a cranking ussue. IP did you at lea st check grounds?

 

[Vegas Smith]

Hi Paul, i have checked all grounds that I know of. The battery has been relocated to the trunk, but I cant find anything missing or shorting out. ECU looks good. I wonder if there is something under the dash that is shorting out. Also, previous owner created some rat's nest for the slim fans he put in. I'm not really sure where to start.

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[92AWDHX40]

Oh my looking at all the wires I could see a issue . I would begin to trace all those wires and clean some things up I see a few relays right and I'm assuming battery is in the trunk. You could zip tie some things and label some stuff for now.

 

[MoarAWD]

Wow, that wiring job looks really bad. I would trace it all, taking note of anywhere it splices into the main harness. From those places, trace the wires all the way through the harness.

If the fuel pump relay goes crazy when the battery is connected, I would start by checking the starter relay (center console, black and blue box), and then tracing from the ignition switch, through the turbo timer, ignition relay, MPI relay, and to connector.... A-36 I think? The one just under the fuse box in the engine bay. That path will definitely stop your car from cranking if there is a short.

 

[Vegas Smith]

Wow, that wiring job looks really bad. I would trace it all, taking note of anywhere it splices into the main harness. From those places, trace the wires all the way through the harness.

If the fuel pump relay goes crazy when the battery is connected, I would start by checking the starter relay (center console, black and blue box), and then tracing from the ignition switch, through the turbo timer, ignition relay, MPI relay, and to connector.... A-36 I think? The one just under the fuse box in the engine bay. That path will definitely stop your car from cranking if there is a short.

Yeah, I think that's a good game plan. Thanks.