So 2 days ago my car would click but wouldn't crank. Hooked up to jumper cables and that didn't do anything. After a couple try's it fired up like normal. Drove fine until last night. Went to get it inspected and drove there. Turned car off and went to start it to move it and nothing. Cables didn't help once again. We had to push start it to get it going. Terminals are new and tight. My radio and boost garage die when I try to start but my headlights and ELectric fan don't dim. Any ideas? It's a 1989 Gtu with a turbo swap. Has an Adaptronic ECU.

 

You might have an issue w/the interlock switch which prevents the car from being started w/the car in gear. The wire from the switch to the starter solenoid is Black/Red. If you place voltage to this wire and the starter activates each and every time then you need to focus on the interlock.

 

I already bypassed that which is why I'm kinda lost

 

There's a thick Black/Green wire at the starter cut relay (located next to the main relay and has 1 plug w/4 wires). The relay has 2 B/G wires so focus on the thicker of the two. Jumper voltage to the thick B/G wire and if the interlock is bypassed then the voltage should flow through to the starter solenoid. If jumpering voltage to this B/G wire does not activate the starter time after time then you need to look at the connections to the starter itself (you mentioned the terminals being good to go but you did not stipulate whether you were referring to the battery only or both the battery and the starter). And aging brushes on the starter might be problematic. The quick temporary fix to this is to hit the starter w/a mallet.

 

I have only checked battery terminals. I will try bypassing and check starter terminals tomorrow when I'm off work and out of school. I'll post up my results. Thanks satch!

 

i would replace starter. i had this same issue and i could test the starter out of the car and it wouuld pop out and spin, but it wasnt enough to turn the engine over. new starter, boom problem solved