first off I have searched this issue quite a bit, but I do not see a similar starting issue mentioned. I started my car yesterday after replacing the fuel filter (damn that sucked) and replacing my oil return gasket on my turbo. Anyhow I noticed the turbo gasket was still pissing oil so I shut the car off. After tightening the bolts on the return flange I went to restart the car. Turned the key heard a small pop, and nothing happened. I tried a couple more times but nothing, not even click. I know for a fact the car is not flooded!!!

I thought it might be a fuse but I checked all of the ones in the engine bay and they are fine, plus I checked all fuses on drivers side inside the car-- they all look good too.

I read there is a connection to the clutch pedal that might contribute to this issue. Or something to do with the stock alarm cutting power to starter components disabling the car.

Any ideas, getting pretty desperate???? Starting to get pressure from the fiance to sell it.

 

if your not even hearing a click . den check your ignition switch. (have to take off the 2 plastic covers around the steering wheel shaft. and there is one screw holding it in. check that. also make sure your wires on your started is conected good and not coroded

 

does something like this usually crap out at the drop of hat? I would suspect their would be some indication prior to failure. The car has started like a champ everytime no issues or hint of issues until now. That is why I suspected a bad fuse. I guess when I get home I will make 100% sure none of the fuses are bad.
also, the motor is a freshly rebuilt, single conversion, only 2400 miles on it. Not sure if this makes any difference just wanted to add some background info.

 

1. The "pop" may be something that shorted, or a fuse that fried (but you said you checked them).

2. The clutch switch can cause this - and it can go w/o warning.

Another common cause of non-starts is an ignition switch problem - the contacts sometimes have problems.

 

check out the alternator.

 

I am headed home from work, and will check out the clutch switch, alternator, and ignition switch. thanks everyone I will keep you posted.

 

My track car does this and after replacing about every damn thing on the car I'll probably end up just running a remote push button start however if I disconnect the battery and reconnect it the car will start. Happens about every 20 or 30 starts.

Also I was just wondering how the alternator could cause this problem. That's something I haven't replaced yet LOL.

Good luck

 

don't forget to check all the obvious things before you go digging in there, i had a problem not to long ago where the negative battery terminal kept blowing the wire right off...but if your not even hearing the click the powers not even getting to the sel, or the sel has blown, if you have a meter the problem should be relativly easy to locate,if you dont, best of luck to you!

 

huh,I stopped to take a short break from the bastard before I go nuts. I checked all of my fuses and everything is in order with them. All I can tell you is the alternator is hooked up , not real sure what i should be checking for with this as the damn thing doesn't have any power---.
I was going to check the clutch switch next.
You guys make a valid point with the battery terminals, that is one thing I have not messed with yet. I will check this out next, as I did remove the negative terminal while monkeying with the fuel filter.
The way this night is going...., I will remove the terminals clean them and the bastard will fire up!
damn I love this car--

 

I will let you know how it turns out!

oh, and if you hear about sports car on fire, being ghost drivin into the columbia river..... You will know i didn't solve the issue. So check out your 11pm news!

 

just jack the car up and hotwire the starter. if it cranks, you just eliminated that as a possibility.

 

well, I fiddle farted around with the damn thing and now it starts. Can't say for sure what exactly I did to fix it though. I cleaned the battery terminals, messed with some fuses, wiggled the clutch switch, ate dinner, checked out some more fuses and TADA the car started.

Now all that is left, is to replace master cylinder, slave cylinder and put on my new dashpot so I can shift mad quick and have a consistent idle. By the way special thanks to fritz for always carrying the hard to find parts I need. (dashpot)

 

main fuse.

you probably grounded out the alternator to the intake manifold or other part of the car with a wrench or long ratchet. Instantly connects positive to negative and usually the main fuse goes first.

 

Since you cleaned the cables, and it now starts, I'll bet the "pop" you heard was an arc at the battery cables from dirtbetween the cable and the post.

 

Question related to this. My starter works just fine when we manually apply voltage to it (the car fires right up), but otherwise its not recieving voltage via ignition when I turn the key. Do others experience gradual death of the igintion switch, as in having to crank the car once or twice to start?

 

LOL it was probably eating dinner that did the trick. You gotta love these things. you know what it might have been the fire and ohio river thing that really got it going. Glad it's working again ! ! !

 

Usually when you hear an electrical pop like that it's because there was very little contact area making the connection, and when you put the amout of current across it that's required to start the car it ark's (the pop) and in some cases burns the only contact area you had and essetially opens the connection. More than likely it was the battery connection.

 

just thinkin ..was it the Negative you pulled off the battery?..or was it the POSITIVE.. REASON for askin..THE NEGATIVE HAS THE YELLOW STRIPE!..SOOoo...if you pulled the other cable off(unmarked)..which is actually the positive,you popped either the main fuse or a fusible link(touched the cable to the body)..when you put the cable back on you may get power to little stuff but try and start the engine,it won't even click...THAT IS WHAT I THINK YOU DID!..double check that ...

 

check the ignition switch and check the ignition wire dat sends the signal to the starter i have had both crap out before . my buddy even got a brand new switch and sometimes still have to turn the key a few times to get it going. (ohh he has a brand new starter also.)

 

I am pretty sure the negative battery cable was not making sufficient contact with the terminal. I can't say for sure what fixed it because I monkied around with a bunch of things between starts. But the good news is it started!!!! woooo whooo.

 

MINE DID THAT!!!! I think it was a stater relay or some crap I forgot, but rotary preformance fixed it for me... he was like there was a prob with your started when it wont engage so I repaced, what I think he said was a relay, it was a cheap fix, I think he did it for free for me...well that and I spent like 1500 that day there on the damn car....

 

Actually, I'm going to give it a quick check myself with what Trini has stated, and also give them a call for a second opinion.