Car Wont Start. Starter maybe? Help Me Troubleshoot?

[Gnnr]

My car wont start. I don't hear the CLICK sound when I turn the key. I hear nothing except the fuel pump starting. I don't believe its the battery, when I turn the key the lights don't dim at all. I checked all the fuses under the the steering column and in the engine bay.

How would I know if its the starter? Ho do I check if its getting the signal? If I take it out, can they test it at the autoparts store? :confused:

Edit: Car is auto 95 S14 with stock KA.

Thanks in advance.

[allntrlundrgrnd]

give your starter a nice whack with hammer/wrench and try starting it.

[Camo]

Make sure your battery terminals are tight. Check the connections on the back of the starter. I know the little spade terminal connector has come off on me before and had me stumped. Get something wood/rubber that is hard and bang on the starter while you have someone crank the car. If it starts, the starter is going bad. If it doesn't, double check everything or pull it off and take to autoparts store.

[xDsKuba]

you can try taking the starter out and test it or go to your nearest auto store to get it tested. maybe your battery dosent have enough amp to give your starter a good kick. my car had the same problem where the car lights and everything was working.

problems with my car was that when i tried starting it all the power would just go out. so if youre having the same problem check out the battery and starter. goodluck

[japslapsilvia]

check the clutch pedal and make sure that the "button" is there, it is for the clutch interlock relay, when u push the clutch all the way down it is suppose to engage a switch usually they get old and break, if thats the case use a M6 1.0 (aka 10mm bolt) and matching nut and that will fix it.

[Gnnr]

give your starter a nice whack with hammer/wrench and try starting it.

I'll go and give it a try...if it ever stops raining. Grrr.

Make sure your battery terminals are tight. Check the connections on the back of the starter. I know the little spade terminal connector has come off on me before and had me stumped. Get something wood/rubber that is hard and bang on the starter while you have someone crank the car. If it starts, the starter is going bad. If it doesn't, double check everything or pull it off and take to autoparts store.

The terminals are as tight as can be. I'll double check the starter's connections.

you can try taking the starter out and test it or go to your nearest auto store to get it tested. maybe your battery dosent have enough amp to give your starter a good kick. my car had the same problem where the car lights and everything was working.

problems with my car was that when i tried starting it all the power would just go out. so if youre having the same problem check out the battery and starter. goodluck

The lights don't turn off when I try and start it. Yeah, if all else fails I'll take both the battery and starter to the autoparts.

check the clutch pedal and make sure that the "button" is there, it is for the clutch interlock relay, when u push the clutch all the way down it is suppose to engage a switch usually they get old and break, if thats the case use a M6 1.0 (aka 10mm bolt) and matching nut and that will fix it.

Forgot to mention its Auto. Thanks though.


Thanks for the help guys! If anyone has more suggestions please post!

[SidewayZ-s14]

Use jumper cables, and put one end of the + side on the starter, and another end on the + side of the battery and it should crank over if you're started is in fact still good.

I had the same problem as you're having, and it turned out to by my ignition switch. I would put the key in, but it wouldn't make a good contact and when i turned the key nothing would happen.

I took apart the back side of the ignition switch (where all the wires are) and i found my problem. Try taking a look at your ignition switch and see if it's warped or abused too much.

[s13 @ fullboost]

give your starter a nice whack with hammer/wrench and try starting it.

Yeah that is a good way to do it because sometimes the cylinoid is messed up and gets stuck.

[xDsKuba]

was there anything you did before you had this problem?

[surreybc]

take the hit it and the jump start suggestions. if its not that then test the ignition wire at the starter: is there 12volts when you turn key to start. or have a friend listen to see if starter makes any noise when key turned to start.

[ZipTied]

I had the same problem. I cleaned the battery terminals, got new terminals on the wires, (one was broke) and checked all connections and fuses. Nothing worked. I took my starter down to the autostore and it tested good. Fired up first try when I put it back on. I'm thinking it was just siezed or something and there tester broke it free. But whatever it was it's fixed now. I'd say do that first.

[surreybc]

I had the same problem. I cleaned the battery terminals, got new terminals on the wires, (one was broke) and checked all connections and fuses. Nothing worked. I took my starter down to the autostore and it tested good. Fired up first try when I put it back on. I'm thinking it was just siezed or something and there tester broke it free. But whatever it was it's fixed now. I'd say do that first.

you have a defective starter . replace it.

[Codrifter]

Well the first thing that you should do is not listen to the people that are telling you to hit the starter cause there retarded:stupid:. Second do you have a digital multi meter. If you do you should do a voltage drop test in you starting circuit cause if you cables are dirty or corroeded or old you may have high resistance to the point were you arent getting any voltage to the starter. Or not enought to activate the sylinoid which in turn isnt create a magnetic field in the starter, or you may have a short some were. The way you can find that out real quick is by just checking and seeing if you have power at the starter, cause you wouldnt want to go thought the hasel of removing the starter just for autozone to tell you that it is good. Please dont use jumper cables to ur starter that a great way to get the sh*t shock out of you find out what wrong the right way, not the read neck way. P.S im not tryn to insult anyones suggestions im just trying to give him the right way to find out whats wrong

[surreybc]

well the first thing that you should do is not listen to the people that are telling you to hit the starter cause there retarded:stupid:, second do you have a digital multi meter if you do you should do a voltage drop test in you starting circuit cause if you cables are dirty or corroeded or old you may have high resistance to the point were you arent getting any voltage to the starter or not enought to activate the sylinoid which in turn wont create a magnetic field in the starter, or you may have a short some were the way you can find that out real quick is by just checking and seeing if you have power at the starter, cause you wouldnt want to go thought the hasel of removing the starter just for autozone to tell you that it is good. o and please dont use jumper cables to ur starter that a great way to get the sh*t shock out of you find out what wrong the rght way, not the read neck way. P.S im not tryn to insult anyones suggestions im just trying to give him the right way to find out whats wrong

I have never read a more illiterate and wrongheaded post in my life. surely, this is a troll???

[ZipTied]

you have a defective starter . replace it.


I'm positive it's bad but that was at least a month ago and it starts every time ever since.

[Codrifter]

I have never read a more illiterate and wrongheaded post in my life. surely, this is a troll???


hey i was just about to leave for work and i wanted to help out so you dont have to be a :mrmeph:. my bad for making a mistake mr. perfect.

[surreybc]

I'm positive it's bad but that was at least a month ago and it starts every time ever since.

its on its last legs.