I have a buddy that does not have internet access, so I told him I would post a thread for him. His starting problem has been intermittent for the past year. I went over to his place today and used my Fluke meter to check continuity on all of his wires. THey all are well below 2 ohm's resistence. We went to check the starter relay but I do know know where it is. THe battery is fine and the connections are tight, to include all grounds. Sometimes his car starts and sometimes it doesn't. It always starts if he waits long enough but everything checks out okay. Any ideas? THanks.

Quid

 

We need more info. Does it always turn over? If it does, and once it is running it is fine, it could be something as simple as a fuel pump relay.

 

My bad. No, to me it looks like the starter solenoid because it will click when he turns the key. He has to wait a while and after a while of turning a clicking it will start. Once it is started it is all good. He took the starter off and took it to the parts store. They tested it and said it was good to go. I still want to blame the starter solenoid, but I was hoping that someone out there had the same problem and could give me a clue. Has anyone had a neutral saftey switch go out? I wonder if the NSS was going to ****, if it would still allow the starter solenoid to click or if the clicking noise in is in fact the NSS? What do you think?

 

if it is a 5 spd, then it is the clutch switch.

 

Does he have full power during start up or do the lights dim and then die?

 

Yeah, it is a five speed. Do you know for sure? I want to make sure before I dop that bitch down. Can I reach it from the top? If I pull the shifter cover off, can I access the neutral safety switch.

 

Clutch switch is under the clutch. This is a common problem with 5 spd starters though. Mine's done this for over 7 years, I just keep turning the key on and off till it catches! You can test the clutch switch if the car has cruise. If you set the cruise on the hiway and push in the clutch, if the cruise control doesn't disengage then the spring probably broke in the clutch switch. Otherwise it's the starter or solenoid.
Art

 

If you hear a click then it's probably not the clutch switch. Sounds like the starter solenoid to me.

 

long time paw!

 

I agree.

 

Thanks for posting it for me Quid, and thanks everyone for helping out so far. I had the starter and solenoid tested at Autozone and they said they were both good. I'm don't know what else to look for.

 

Next time it just clicks tap the starter solenoid with a hammer tap it not hit it. If it starts after that then there is your problem.