please help!

[pqsoccerboy17]

Car: 1992 240sx se coupe (stick with 135,000 miles)

ok, so for the past couple weeks my car has been giving me major problems here it goes, if you have any info on how to fix the problems that i'm having your help would be greatly appriciated:

about 2 weeks ago i notice that my car sometimes wont start (it would just turn and turn but it wouldnt kick over) and it usually wouldnt start after i've driven for awhile so if i leave it sit over night or for a couple hours it usually starts right up, but i have no clue what that means.... so i take it in and of course at the shop the car doesnt act up at all and they pretty much do nothing becuase they couldnt see a problem.
So i pick up my car and later that day i go to rotate and balance my tires for free at discount tire co. and after waiting 45 min they go to start my car and it wont even turn over, its just clicking over and over. So i figuer its the starter even tho i just got a new one last year and i rule out the battery b/c i just got a new one...so i call AAA and they come, right before were about to tow it i try it once more and it starts, so i drive it over to a shop to get a new starter put in since its still under warrenty, they do so the next day and i go pick it up and drive around all day and everything is fine. Towards the end of the day i go back to get my tires rotated and balanced since they never got my car on the lift the last time and again i wait in the parking lot for 45 min and they go to start my car to bring it onto the lift and it wont start, SAMETHING it just clicks and clicks...so i call AAA and they come about 30 min later just like last time and once again i try it one more time before i tow it and it starts....so i drive it back to the shop where i got the new starter put in and thats where its sitting right now


I have NO CLUE what is wrong with my car or what any of this means...if anyone has had similar problems and was able to fix them could you please fill me in b/c this is really annoying and i dont want to put more money into my car then i have to

thanks,
pqsoccerboy17

[idlafie]

From an old post I responded to a while back....

Before you go out & replace your starter, if your fuses and relay check out okay, you might want to check your ignition switch. A bad ignition switch could cause the same problems you are having - your car not starting. An intermittant electrical short in the START portion of the ignition switch will make you think that your starter's gone bad when in reality it hasn't.

Remove the steering column cover & test the switch using either a multimeter or a 12 volt test light, (http://www.dynolock.net/Test%20Light/testlght.htm)
On 95-98's you can replace the electrical portion of the switch, (a $28 dollar part), without having to replace the entire ignition switch. I'm not sure if this part is replaceable on a 89-94 S 13 - I haven't had to fix one on a 89-94 S13 yet.

Anyhow, hope this helps...good luck with the repair.

ID

[pqsoccerboy17]

thanks ID, hopefully your right

[S13_MANIAC]

Hey man i haven't been here for long but i have been working with nissans for a long time.. yes check the switch if you want but the problem with the tick tick is that : 1-you don't have a good ground(doesn't matter if have a new battery) 2-there is a thin wire that goes in to the starter wich is the signal from the switch check if is good(not brokeen or good conection) the best way to check that cable is really simple just grab a long pice of wire connect it to the starter and the with the ignition switch off connect the other end to the positive connector on the battery. If you still have problems after fixing the ground and checking this cable write me back. :x:

[Nismo240SX]

easy fix... remove KA, insert SR. ;)

[pqsoccerboy17]

easy fix... remove KA, insert SR. ;)

i wish i could, lol if you can find me an SR for $150 installed i'll be in!! (cost of ignition switch)

thanks guys...ID you were right it was the iginition switch, and lucky for me the shop that is doing all my work is giving back my $90 that i had to pay for a new starter and just putting it towards the iginition switch parts and labor so it wont be that much...thanks for your help