Problem with ignition
 

Hi,

I'm new to the boards. I purchased an 88 gsl from a guy who replaced the engine and that was where he left off. It seems it will be a project to get it to a daily driver status.

He also replaced the igniton with a used one. If you try to crank the car, even with the clutch pressed it will kinda make a click and thats it.

He had created a bypass and wired a line directy to the starter and the car turns over when you tap it to the battery with the key turned to on. This was only a temporary solution untill he could figure out what was going on.

Does anyone know where I can start looking. Is there a clutch sensor for the ignition, any certain fuses to check in either box?

Take a wire and give the magnetic switch terminal on the starter a bit of juice to see if the starter works, for starters (lollercoaster).

Yes, there is a clutch sensor. I think if you hear a click, the sensor is probably fine... (maybe not... it might still click with the clutch out). Look under the dash when and push the clutch in with your hand, and watch the switches to make sure they move as far as they should. I've heard of them sometimes being where it would only work if you mash it to the floor, so maybe it needs to be adjusted.

I'd check for ANY connectors that aren't connected... you'd be surprised what people forget to hook back up (myself included).

The starter will also click if it has a bad connection to the battery, even if it's technically touching the terminals. If they're dirty or corroded, clean them.

Then I'd check to see whether the magnetic switch is getting any juice when you try to start it. If not, check out the ignition switch (the leads and such... it's not hard to get to it), and anything else down the line.

A digital multimeter helps too.

Welcome to the forum.

The key switch contacts may need cleaning. The switch is mounted to the back of the lock with one screw.

The clutch pedal has two switches. The starter interlock is nearest the firewall.
I just jumpered mine.

Replace the starter.
If it "clicks", it has nothing to do with the ignition switch.
The starter is bad.


-Ted

Ok,

Never had to do this to the starter. So if i use his direct starter wire to the battery terminal, and the car turns right over, does this mean the starter could still be bad? I appoligize if I don't understand how the starter works but i am trying to troubleshoot it before i rip somthing i don't understand out.

Thanks for the other comments. I will try to clean and locate the other switches as well.

If the starter works when you give the magnetic switch terminal (the thin, flat one in the middle) power, it means something is blocking the switch from getting juice when you try to start it.

You're still correct.
It is not the starter motor itself; it's the starter solenoid that's bad.
But most people count the starter as consisting of the starter motor and the starter solenoid.
Most auto parts places will not swap / sell just the starter solenoid; you need to replace the starter motor and the starter solenoid.


-Ted

Thanks,

I will try to jumper the switch tommorow to make sure thats not it. I have cleaned the contacts, but I have also verified that when you turn the key to try to start, there is voltage on that contact.

Last thing I can think of after that is putting the car on ramps to crawl under and check where the previous owner has it jumpered and make sure that it is to the middle blade contact on the magnetic switch is jumpered. I notice a black wire dangling when i crawl under the car though, that makes me nervous as he disconnected somthing to do this. That woudl mean I am wasting my time troubleshooting untill i reconnect this.

Does anyone know what color the wire is that connects to the starter solenoid for the magnetic switch?

OK, :wallbash:

The problem ended up being a missing starter cut relay

I found the plug with no cap, since it has a security system this part is missing. I put a jumper wire between the Magnetic Switch Wire (White/Black) and the one to the Interlock Switch (the larger black/green). :fawk:

I am now going to see if I can find that relay from someone in the classifieds.