Starter/Starting Problem
 

I've had this problem for a while now, I try to start my 93 FD and I get a single click and that's it. I've replaced the starter and have a brand new battery, both verified as good.

I'm following the shop manual to figure it out and this is where I'm at:

Section G-4
Troubleshooting: Will not crank - Starter motor does not operate

Step 1: Does engine crank with fully charged battery? NO - Next step
Step 2: Is VB (battery voltage) at terminal B (on starter)? YES - Next step
Step 3: Is VB present at terminal S (on starter) with ignition switch in START postion? NO (only 4+ volts) - Follow Actions

Actions:
1) check Inhibitor switch - don't have one (auto trans only) but I did verify clutch switch works fine.
2) check ignition switch (section Z4-6) - also works fine except couldn't seem to find this one part (see ? in attached image). It shows two sets of terminals, but there is only one set on the actual ignition switch. No idea where the other one is.
3) check wiring harness - Where the heck should I be checking???

Any suggestions? I'm pretty much stuck at this point. Any help/suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!

Ron

you have a bad connection at the starter or the ground from the body to the engine

Still can't figure this out. Ground to body & engine are good. Also did the recommended ignition switch cleaning from an older thread, but that didn't help.

I should be able to check voltage before and after each component to see where the voltage loss is happening, right? I'm showing Ignition switch, Starter cut relay, Clutch switch, and Starter as the only components in the circuit. Am I approaching this correctly? I'm obviously lacking in electrical knowledge. haha

Any other suggestions?

Thanks,

Ron

try to bypass the starter to the battery, get a 10 gauge wire with alligator clip on it so you could clip it to the starter then goto the battery and touch the + side of the terminal, if it cranks, you have a bad ignition switch. hope that helps.

Battery and starter have been tested as good at local auto parts store, so I'm certian it's not either of those.

Guess I'll check the voltage out of the ignition switch first! =o)

Figured it out!!! The clutch switch wasn't pushing in enough. Held the switch in with my hands and it started right up. I adjusted the arm that pushes against the switch inward a bit and now it starts every time. Woot!

It's so nice for a change to read posts that have a happy ending, rather than the average sobbing scene of "blah and blah and my engine needs a rebuild"

Next time try to use a Ohm meter to determine how much to adjust the clutch switch. Push on it until the meter reads zero Ohms, then mark it with a permanent marker. (zero Ohms means there is current flowing through)

Then adjust the clutch switch.

My problem was deeper, it won't start because of a defective alarm cut off senser. Had to by pass it, the anti-theft system still works.

Good to hear you got that beast back on the road