So on Sept. 11th, I get gas, and after filling, the car won't start. Wound up pushing car home, tried starting the few days afterwards, engine doesn't even try to crank, lights dim slightly when I take car to Start. Since then I haven't been able to touch car due to poor weather (hurricanes and all) here.
Today, tried going back out and starting car. Started up just fine first time. I drove it around the neighborhood for about 10 minutes to let it warm up, came back home, let idle for a few minutes and turned it off. I immediately tried restarting the car and I have the same results. Nothing happens when I take the key to start. I tried cycling the key a few times, but my thought is an intermittent fault or loose connection in the ignition circuitry.
What do you guys think?

Tom

 

Had the same problem with my FC, your engine might be shot, but change your plugs, wire ect. then the coils , and if she still don't start your looking at a rebuild.

 

Okay, first of all, it's definitely NOT the engine. Like I said, a half hour ago it started up fine, and ran great. I'm thinking it's my starter solenoid. But anyways, I'm looking at all the starting circuitry to see what it could be. Some intermittent fault. As soon as my garage is repaired I plan on checking plugs, etc. For now though, I think it's either the ignition switch or maybe a corroded wire that shows an open from time to time.
Any other ideas?

 

Well my FC would start from time to time also, but when it wouldn't start it would always flood out due to low compression.


Yeah just check all the ignition stuff with a multimeter and find your problem

 

So are you agreeing that it's not an engine problem then?

 

Well Im not ruling out the engine totally , how many miles are on it, has it been rebuilt ect, ect.


But there are alot of smaller thing that could cause the car not to start

 

Never been rebuilt, completely stock. 58,000 miles. Has always run perfectly so far.

 

Well your about due for a rebuild...but just check all the other things first it might be one of them

 

Nick13B,
He says the engine doesn't turn over when this happens. Unless the engine is seized (which is not possible in this case), it cannot be the engine.


Tom,
Is your car an automatic?

 

No, it's a manual. What's your line of thought right now?

 

'93 automatics (like mine) have a problem with heat soak. The heat causes extra resistance and the engine won't turnover. All you will hear is the starter relay click.

 

I don't hear any click when I take the key from ON to START, but I hear a couple solenoids clicking when I take the key from ACC to ON. Is that the starter solenoid?

 

get a test light and see if there is power when you turn the ignition to start on the small clip on terminal on the starter. if there is power there the starter is bad if no power you need to check the ignition cylinder, starter wiring etc.. is the battery good? terminals tight? look at the power wire going to the starter is it mangled? dont over look the speed of the "wacking the starter with a hammer when you try to crank it diagnosis method!

 

Battery is great, terminals recently cleaned and retightened. Will check power to starter when it gets light out again.

 

Ignition could be shot. Also check the ground on your starter and make sure its not bad. Fuses all good?

 

Fuses are all good. Will check the starter in the morning.

 

So I walk out there this morning to check all this crap, and the car starts up great. WTF?!? So I left it running, cleaned out my garage and moved the car in there up on jackstands. I'm going to start checking everything the factory manual says for the starter now.
Any other suggestions? If anyone wants to talk in real time, here's my messengers.

AIM: ET2Marsland
MSN: tom AT tom-marsland DOT us
ICQ: 227-135-764

THanks!

 

No, that's the relays. The starter's intermittent operation means I'd take a close look at the starter motor and its connections first.

 

Awesome Kento. Thanks, I'll start checking all that then.

 

Okay, so the factory manual gives a bunch of terminals to check on the starter.. what's the easiest way to get at it? Trying to use the factory manual to help out, but having difficulty. HELP!

 

if you put the fron t of the car on ramps and light the back ont jacks, you'll see right inder the drivers side.

have you tried jump starting it? if it starts right up you know for sure it has to do with the ignition/starter/clutch relay.

 

That's not necessarily true. All that would really eliminate is my battery, which outputs great. But anyways, onto the next question. WHen I'm checking voltages at all those terminals on the starter, obviously the positive lead goes to the terminal, but I'm having difficulty finding a good ground to hook my black lead to. Any suggestions?

 

a bolt on the engine.. the neg batt terminal if you have the cable length

 

check or put more grounds and/or rebuild your starter

also check ignition switch

when rebuilding starter, unhook batter from car! that or have the rear of your car off the ground or you might run yourself over when working on the starter

 

Starter's good from what I can tell, just not getting voltage on the small terminal when I take the key to start, and the clutch switch is working fine. How do I check the ignition switch?