Starter getting no POWER... HELP!

[usajdm]

I'll keep it short.
Just got back from my girls work.
She had called and told me her S13 wont start.

Got there, first noticed all normal electrics are working.
Interior lamp, door chime, dash lights etc. all working in good order.
So I go ahead and give the key a turn............ nothing.
No click, no sound, nothing.
Staters not even "clicking".

She tells me it did this about a week ago, but after reengaging the clutch pedal, it fired right up.
So I popped the wire connector off the clutch safety switch(assuming it was the switch) and jumped the two wires together.
Still nothing.
I tested the both wires with a test-light and nether was showing power.
Is the switch by chance a "ground" switch and not for the power wire?
That would explain the lack of a power reading.

Could there be a fuse or relay to check?

So thats where I'm at.
I ran back home to see if you guys had any advice so as not to waste time in her works parking-lot.

Please help me out............

[veeates36]

Did this car ever have an alarm..? If so, take a look at the wires coming out from the key cylinder. Good Luck

[usajdm]

Did this car ever have an alarm..? If so, take a look at the wires coming out from the key cylinder. Good Luck

Yes it did....
But Ive already removed it and eliminated the relay for the ignition kill.
Good thinking though.
I'll check those connections to be sure.
Thanks.

Any other ideas?????????

[carcrossy]

yeah, the clutch switch is ground.

[ixfxi]

starter solenoid..







check it.. see if it receives voltage when you attempt to start.

[weissguy]

Check the ground on the lower harness too. If that isnt fully grounded you will get nada.

[s13tilldeath*]

i had the same problem on my car.

Wish i could tell you i fixed it but i sold it before i fixed it haha.

I think it was either the clutch relay or a ground.

Hope you figure it out GL.

[usajdm]

First off, thankyou for everyone chiming in and trying to help.

Ok............ update.
Went back to the car and took a second to brainstorm(have a smoke).
Meanwhile, my girl decides to hook some jumper cables between the S13 and my cousins 96SS.

Boom, with out even revin' up the Imp, she fires up.
Drives home about 7 miles with no stalling, no dimming of lights, nothing.
I even told her to go ahead and run the stereo(nothing monsterous, but still a drain on the electrical).
She says it ran perfectly.
Got home, finished another smoke and turned the key.
Fired right up.

So....... what now?

[teamsprock]

There are a few things you can check.

First jump the power wire on the starter (The 2/0 gauge wire from the battery) making sure the car is in nuetral to the starter solenoid, to the small single pin clip on the engine side of the starter. Just use some wire and tap the solenoid side, this should cause the starter to spin? Also check that clip, they are know to get loose as they get older. I cut them off and use a new female spare clip

I'm not 100% sure if S13's have a relay for the signal going to the starter solenoid, I know on S14's many people jump these which makes so the Clutch switch isn't used anymore because these relays go out all the time. I'd trace back to the fuse box from the solenoid signal wire if it does use a relay.

I'd start there and report back, I'm still waking up but I went through this myself a few months back and I tested everything. In my case it ended up the ignition switch was worn out and turning the key the contact points didn't make a good connection. Using jumper cables my car started because it had power the arc between the points even though they barely touched. I replaced the switch but not before testing and learning how this system works. When I wake up I'll make some more suggestions.

[ixfxi]

s13 starter signal goes through the ignition switch, no relay if i remember correctly.

[drift freaq]

Wow all this and no one has pointed out a quite common problem I have ran into on S13's. For some reason the cable end going to the starter on KA's can get covered in a film of oil from old leaking KA's. It makes it hard for the electrical signal to connect to the starter. Believe it or not, I had this happen on my car before I pulled the engine. I could click the ignition switch 10-20 times and eventually it would fire up, this went on for almost a year.

I thought it was the starter solenoid and popped it out and put in another. Same issue happened. Saw it happen on another car I had, cleaned the connection problem disappeared. I thought it was the solenoid I thought it was the ignition switch it was neither. It was the connection.

I suggest checking the connection to the starter and cleaning it. while your there clean all your connections on the body harness its just good maintenance.

[usajdm]

So, new day.
But no luck.
Car wont start.
Quik jump and its all good.
Fires right up.

Im gonna be checking everything mentioned, but Id like to undrstand why would jumping the car be the remedy for any of these problems mentioned?

[projectRDM]

Bypass/remove the starter relay. It may not solve the problem but it's one piece in the link that will eventually piss on you. Get rid of it now.

Sounds like the battery just isn't strong enough to turn the starter.

[carcrossy]

So, new day.
But no luck.
Car wont start.
Quik jump and its all good.
Fires right up.

Im gonna be checking everything mentioned, but Id like to undrstand why would jumping the car be the remedy for any of these problems mentioned?

a strong boost can overcome a weak connection. its your battery so get it tested.

[godsmack]

I was thinking the battery also. Get a volt meter check the battery b4 u go to bed and then check it again in the morning. Also check the connections. Might just might be bad connections there but usually if it's a bad connection there you won't have any power at all. But all problems i've ever seen with low power batteries it would usually atleast engage the solenoid

[zenki.life]

could also be battery leads. my leads got loose and when i would get in my s13 everything would seen fine....till i turned the key, nothing! i swapped em out and haven't had problems. the reason the jump helps i think is because the contacts are soft and the pressure they need to have comes actually from the aligator clamp