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Starter won't crank--problem with clutch switch

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Old 03-23-09, 01:09 PM
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Starter won't crank--problem with clutch switch

Hey guys this is giving me a little problem figuring out. My car was running fine and then one day it wouldn't crank everytime you turn the key. I thought it the ground switch above the clutch pedal so I disconnected the switch and spliced the two wires together. It started fine. I havn't drove the car in a few months, and now the car won't crank once again. I made sure the wires were still spliced and everything and that the battery has plenty of power. Can someone please help me?

Thanks,

Chris
Old 03-23-09, 02:46 PM
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Can you push start it?
Old 03-23-09, 06:24 PM
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Check the battery connections, connections to the starter, main fuse, etc, etc



LAter
Old 03-23-09, 08:03 PM
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dose it click when u try to crank it?
if so its ur solinoid on ur starter.
Old 03-23-09, 08:22 PM
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if it just clicks but won't turn over and your batter is good, install a few extra grounds somewhere.

i had this problem a couple months back and it took me a while to figure it out.

you should prolly install some extra grounds anyway.
Old 03-23-09, 08:38 PM
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When my starter died, it went suddenly. It never clicked either. It just wouldn't start. Tested the battery, clutch switch, the ignition switch and everything else. Finally just replaced the starter with a known good one (thanks Goodfella) and it started right up.
Old 03-24-09, 01:32 AM
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there are so many threads about starter issues, and click click threads. the 2 most common problems are the clutch switch and the security relay. try by passing the security relay. it's in the driver side kick panel and its very simple to do. the next solution if the solenoid is receiving voltage is to add a relay and direct power to the starter solenoid. petite sells a starter booster that can be purchased for $50 or copied for around $15 or less.

security relay


Old 03-24-09, 04:19 AM
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I had the click start problem and ignored it for a while, until it got so bad I couldnt ignore it anymore. These are the possibilities: Bad ignition switch (there is a thread here on the forum on how to clean it), problem with security relay, bad starter, maby your not getting enough power to the starter because of old grounds, which the Pettit Starter booster kit will fix very easily.

To try and solve the problem I had my starter rebuilt, and installed the pettit starter booster kit and they did not solve the problem, however whenever my car did decide to start, it would crank over MUCH faster. For me it was the security relay causing the click start, but anything could be the problem just start diagnosing and let us know
Old 03-29-09, 11:05 AM
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I've had this issue for years, and it's one of the few problems I've never gotten around to fixing. time to add it to the pre-Deal's Gap checklist
Old 04-20-09, 11:11 AM
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Guys, please help me out.

I read SO many threads about "car wont crank", i also ordered the security relay and i read that it must be on the drivers side kick panel.
But where is this place exactly?

I put the cover under the steering wheel away to see all cables and relays, i also repaired the clutch switch sensor but i cant find that damn security relay.

I have to tell you that i have an JDM right side drive FD3s.

Maybe some of you could give me a good explanation where it exactly hides.

thx a lot
Andi
Old 04-20-09, 01:29 PM
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look at post #7 I have a picture of it. Driver side US cars (left side)
Old 04-22-09, 01:21 PM
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Ok, i searched and searched again, i didnt found the relais.

I will show you a few pictures of my FD, maybe you can repost the picture where the relais should be with an arrow marked?



Drivers side, right side here!
Because there stood that the relais is behind the kick panel ( which i think is the black plastic part left of the cluth pedal ), i put it off, looked behind, up of the kick pedal, left of it and EVERYWHERE...



Better view of it...



Passengers side ( left at my car ). On the left side, you can see the ECU, right of it is the only relais i found, where the security relais would fit. BUT this relais is bigger and has 6 connectors, so i guess its not the searched one.



Again, passengers side, bigger view!



Drivers side, right side. You can see the fuse box.

So could you help me out with the exact place of the security relais, please!!!!!

Thx a lot
Andi
Old 04-22-09, 01:50 PM
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Ah, i just searched the repair manual, body electric and i read something about the starter cut relais, which i guess is the security relais.

I mean on my last picture, you can see a black relais right of the fuse box. I put that out and when i put my nose to the relais, it smelled burnt. But the H302 67 740 would not fit in there. Since my car is built in 1992, could a different relais between US FD3S and 92 JDM FD3S be installed from mazda?
Old 04-22-09, 01:53 PM
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I'm replying from my phone right now so i can't really see your pics or put any pics up but it sounds like everything is reversed in the j-spec cars so in your car the security relay should be behind the farthest right panel. Opposite side of the ecu. I will try to take a pic of the exact area on my car later on. It shouldn't be that hard to find, maybe the j-spec cars don't have the relay? Does your car have the security light in the center console area?
Old 04-22-09, 01:59 PM
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Are you able to pull the harness out a bit like in the pic i posted? If the relay you think is burned is in fact the security relay you will see 2 fairly heavy gauge wires on the harness. You should be able to jump those wires to bypass the relay as shown in my pic
Old 04-22-09, 02:07 PM
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Thx so much for helping me out of my misery.

About the Security light, i could not tell you at the moment.
I can remember that the "add coolant" light will turn on at ignition, it will beep beep a few times, i have a "heat cat" light. The best thing will be, i will look at it tomorrow after work.

You wrote that on my JDM, everything must be on the other side. I guess you are correct. I will take a digicam and will get a better picture tomorrow, because on the top right side, i only found the one relais which i wrote about, which smells burnt.

Thx, dude..., for your help!!!!
Old 04-22-09, 02:14 PM
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Hmm, when i look at your picture, the connector of this picture looks similar. Only thing is, its connected to another cable, which i dont know at this time where it goes.
But now the picture:



I mean the cable right of the fuse box, with the white and blue cable to the connector, connected to the 2nd cable.
Old 04-22-09, 04:58 PM
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in all your pics you're looking more up, what is right behind the side panel on the far right closer to the floor? to explain further, the same area as where the ecu sits except on the opposite side.
Old 04-23-09, 02:36 PM
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Ok, new pictures:

complete right side:


little bit above the last picture:



left side of the car, where the ecu has been dismounted



Hope for your photos, i hope on your help, because i didnt got any other help.
Old 04-26-09, 08:02 AM
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A german guy told me, that its quite possible that JDM´s dont have such a security relais. He wrote that he couldnt remember one on his FD3S.

I will check the starter again.
Andi
Old 04-26-09, 03:35 PM
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I had a problem with this, and when I got the voltmeter the car would start. Caught it once and only had 6 volts to solinoid. Put a booster relay on the starter and it's been good over a year now.
Old 05-04-09, 07:07 AM
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Thx a lot, i will check this out.
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