WTF is wrong with this car.

[jimmytango00]

3 days ago i woke up and my car would not start.

OK... first thing i did was

1. Checked the battery (it was low so i got it recharged)

I threw the battery back on and still nothing. Fans turn on and lights turn on but i only get the relay click when i try and turn the car on.

2. I ran a direct wire to where the starter signal wire plugs in and ran it straight to the battery, still nothing, the starter did click, but the car did not start. So i pulled the starter and got it tested (passed) . I threw the starter back on and tried the hammer tap but car still wont start.

3. I tried push starting the car and it wouldnt start, so i pull the alternator and i get it tested . Alternator fails everything, so i buy a new one and throw it on. Still wont start, only getting the relay click.

So pretty much what im asking is what else can i check?

Tomorrow im checking the ECU, Continuity, ignitor, coil packs and grounds. Am i missing anything?

Could it be the relay on the wire that hooks up to the battery? i believe it runs to the fuse box.

Any help would be much appreciated. :hs:

[hassanbakar123]

direct wire from where to where? battery to starter?

[jimmytango00]

direct wire from where to where? battery to starter?


yes.

i hooked the wire up the little metal piece where the signal wire goes to then with the other end just touched the battery. Not sure if i did this right but from what i looked up that was how they explained it.

[lilrusty]

does the motor at least crank??

[mrmephistopheles]

How sure are you that the battery is good? Have you tried using a known good battery?

[xpertsnowcarver]

^^I wasn't hesitant to post that.

Sometimes the starter circuit making a click could mean your battery cannot put out enough amperes to crank granted the voltage may be high enough. It's happened to me and on several different cars.

[az_240]

I had the same problem a while back and it was my alternator.

What alternator did you get? I've seen brand new aftermarket alternators fail.

Also try using a known good battery.

[smoothcoupe]

if you tested your battery and starter and they both pass, and your car will not crank, then its either the clutch start relay, bad battery, or bad ground. THERE CAN NOT BE ANYTHING ELSE WRONG WITH YOUR CAR. try wiggling the ground to the intake manifold, and make sure you have good battery terminals that make good contact

[jrocslider]

The bad alternator drained the battery. Check it again. I've also had the same problem before. I had to replace my battery and have had the same optima since.

[fos240]

the solenoid could be bad. it will still click, but not actually engage the starter or allow it to spin. when they check it at a parts store, they don't check the solenoid, only the starter motor itself. i did a write up on this on another forum.

SR20 starter problems? - Carolinanissans.com (http://www.carolinanissans.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=24002)

frankie

[sidedrifts13]

I think its gonna be the battery, sometimes depending on the battery you have you have to use a agm battery charger, somebody correct me if I am wrong.

[racepar1]

Have you tried jumping the solenoid signal wire straight to power? A common cause of no-start issues on 240's is the ignition switch. If it starts when you jump the little signal wire straight to power then the switch is likely bad. They lose contact and can't relay enough amperage to actually kick the starter in. I had it happen to my car and a couple other 240's as well, both s-13 and s-14.

[clark]

see if the car starts if you have someone push you until rolling and pop the clutch.

[fliprayzin240sx]

+1 on battery. You can charge it all you want and get it up to 12V but if its dead cranking power wise, it wont start the car.

[ManoNegra]

Everything that's been said and check to make sure the fuel pump is coming on.

[ericcastro]

How sure are you that the battery is good? Have you tried using a known good battery?

^^I wasn't hesitant to post that.

Sometimes the starter circuit making a click could mean your battery cannot put out enough amperes to crank granted the voltage may be high enough. It's happened to me and on several different cars.

+1 on battery. You can charge it all you want and get it up to 12V but if its dead cranking power wise, it wont start the car.
msglength.........

[jimmytango00]

How sure are you that the battery is good? Have you tried using a known good battery?

the battery is an Oddessy pc625 Drycell battery and it tested at 13.8v and 368 CCA's so i know it has more than enough to start.

the solenoid could be bad. it will still click, but not actually engage the starter or allow it to spin. when they check it at a parts store, they don't check the solenoid, only the starter motor itself. i did a write up on this on another forum.

SR20 starter problems? - Carolinanissans.com (http://www.carolinanissans.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=24002)

frankie

I'm borrowing a starter today so i'll see if this was the case.


Have you tried jumping the solenoid signal wire straight to power? A common cause of no-start issues on 240's is the ignition switch. If it starts when you jump the little signal wire straight to power then the switch is likely bad. They lose contact and can't relay enough amperage to actually kick the starter in. I had it happen to my car and a couple other 240's as well, both s-13 and s-14.

I tried jumping the solenoid but all i get is a click from the starter, when i hook everything normally again, the starter doesn't click.

Everything that's been said and check to make sure the fuel pump is coming on.

Fuel pump comes on.


The only thing that worries me is that i cant even push start the car even with a new alternator.

If the ignition switch was bad or if the starter was bad i should still be able to push start correct?

Im checking voltage and continuity and the ECU today. If i have extra time im swapping starters.

[clark]

if you can't push start, then it's not your starter.

i'd now start checking to make sure everything has good clean contact such as your main ground cables and alternator cables and battery terminals...

i'm talking shiny metal clean with a file/wire wheel/sand paper.

check your big 75a fusible links.

[steve shadows]

3 days ago i woke up and my car would not start.

OK... first thing i did was

1. Checked the battery (it was low so i got it recharged)

I threw the battery back on and still nothing. Fans turn on and lights turn on but i only get the relay click when i try and turn the car on.

2. I ran a direct wire to where the starter signal wire plugs in and ran it straight to the battery, still nothing, the starter did click, but the car did not start. So i pulled the starter and got it tested (passed) . I threw the starter back on and tried the hammer tap but car still wont start.

3. I tried push starting the car and it wouldnt start, so i pull the alternator and i get it tested . Alternator fails everything, so i buy a new one and throw it on. Still wont start, only getting the relay click.

So pretty much what im asking is what else can i check?

Tomorrow im checking the ECU, Continuity, ignitor, coil packs and grounds. Am i missing anything?

Could it be the relay on the wire that hooks up to the battery? i believe it runs to the fuse box.

Any help would be much appreciated. :hs:

It just sounds like your battery died and now you dont have enough to fire over the starter.

Or the starter is dead.

[DALAZ_68]

It just sounds like your battery died and now you dont have enough to fire over the starter.

Or the starter is dead.


im aiming towards the starter as well...you changed alternator, charged battery...im assuming you checked ur 75A fuse and its good...?

[jimmytango00]

im aiming towards the starter as well...you changed alternator, charged battery...im assuming you checked ur 75A fuse and its good...?


yeah all that stuff was checked.

end result:

i went back out and before i tore this bitch into pieces, i went through all my wiring again and double checked and made sure everything was getting power, checked my grounds , etc.

So i decided to unplug the starter relay and clean it up a bit, threw it back on and boom, car fired up. :bash: s


thanks for all the replies guys, zilvia comes through again :ghey:

[DRIFTING_SIL_EIGHTY]

Though you did have the battery checked, I say check it yourself. Same thing happened to me with a short in the harness due to an accident (caused a drain). Took it to Kragen and everything checked out. But when trying to start the car, it would drop to 8-9 volts (static it was 12.4). Have another person check it with a multimeter while your trying to start it.

[jimmytango00]

Though you did have the battery checked, I say check it yourself. Same thing happened to me with a short in the harness due to an accident (caused a drain). Took it to Kragen and everything checked out. But when trying to start the car, it would drop to 8-9 volts (static it was 12.4). Have another person check it with a multimeter while your trying to start it.


read the post above you,


Car started already.

thanks for the info though = )

[Sterlz]

This happened to me. Is the car manual? If so, check the neutral position switch (that click you hear when you fully press the clutch pedal), if it's broken/missing, just put a bolt/screw so that there can be contact. I discovered that on accident

[DRIFTING_SIL_EIGHTY]

read the post above you,


Car started already.

thanks for the info though = )

Haha I had clicked on the thread and the last post was Dalaz. Good to hear you got it started.

[ericcastro]

This happened to me. Is the car manual? If so, check the neutral position switch (that click you hear when you fully press the clutch pedal), if it's broken/missing, just put a bolt/screw so that there can be contact. I discovered that on accident

Read the thread first before replying.

Car was started a few post back :love:

[DALAZ_68]

So i decided to unplug the starter relay and clean it up a bit, threw it back on and boom, car fired up. :bash: s




i swear...these cars...its always the small shit that gets you...good shit though...:fruit:

[jimmytango00]

i swear...these cars...its always the small shit that gets you...good shit though...:fruit:


seriously! $113.91 and 3 days later... and its just a fucking relay!

new alternator looks nice though and lifetime warranty FTW!

[fos240]

these little pita problems are more common in s13's more so than s14. yet another reason s14>s13. :D

frankie

[jimmytango00]

FUCK! so i went back out just to quadruple check and make sure the car turns on and BOOM! shits doing the same thing again.

Since the car started i know the starter is fine, grounds are good, battery is good and relays are good. I dont need to have the clutch pushed to turn my car on so i know that little clip behind the clutch is not broken.

only thing left is that my ignition switch is failing.


Any other ideas guys?

[theslows13]

relays can still click but be bad. the click sound indicates the solenoid inside is moving, BUT that does not mean that their isnt a burn on one of the actual power contacts, preventing good contact. people are WAY too quick to assume "it clicks, its good". not always the case.

i vote that its a ground issue? check battery to chassis, chassis to engine, and your POSITIVE lead from the starter to the battery positive.

also, take a multimeter and see that you ARE getting 12v to the starter wire from the IGN switch.

[jimmytango00]

Im not sure how accurate this is , but from what i read online yesterday, if you try and start the car and the lights do not dim it means the ignition switch is bad.


Every time i try and turn the car on the lights dont dim. I checked all my grounds and cleaned them with sandpaper. I'll check the starter signal wire to make sure its getting 12v's , thank you.

[Teddy]

Maybe you're not using the right key.

[jimmytango00]

Maybe you're not using the right key.

come over, we can stick your penis in there, maybe that'll work.


love you teddy. :love:

[iambape]

edit*

read the posting lol.

change the ignition switch.

my car had the same problem. after changing that it started up fine.

[jimmytango00]

edit*

read the posting lol.

change the ignition switch.

my car had the same problem. after changing that it started up fine.


haha all good, yeah im changing it out tmrw. Just trying to decide wether to get an OEM or a Vatozone one.

Any difference? i would assume the OEM one is better but who knows.

[IHasLongTorso]

junkyard oem over vatozone. last time i went there i broke out in Spanish, blacked out and when i came too i was driving an impala in dickies and a wifebeater with a bandanna on my head. fetchin weird. haven't gone back sence. lol you got this. don't worry.

[jimmytango00]

ok, so today i hooked the battery up and gave it another shot. Wiggled the key around a bit, crossed my fingers, made her a promise i wouldnt try and sell her anymore, and bam! the car turned on.


Im going to just say its the ignition switch since everything runs when it wants to.

This car is talking to me, i know it. lol

So who agrees with me that its the ign switch before i go spend $60 bucks.

[theslows13]

oem switch!

[laoxguy]

ok, so today i hooked the battery up and gave it another shot. Wiggled the key around a bit, crossed my fingers, made her a promise i wouldnt try and sell her anymore, and bam! the car turned on.



hahaha made her a promise u wouldnt sell her anymore. She still wants more from you

[jimmytango00]

hahaha made her a promise u wouldnt sell her anymore. She still wants more from you


seriously! haha


OK. so the car is starting up fine today, but... the ebrake light keeps coming on and off even if the e brake is all the way down.


i still think i have a bad ignition switch, wich is why the cluster lights are acting up.

can anyone confirm this?

[Teddy]

I can confirm that you are indeed using the correct key.

[clark]

tangoo i had the ebrake light come on.

for me, the problem was a loose connection at the alternator on the positive screw terminal, not the plug thingy.

i understand you got a new alternator and everything, but get under your car and check it. my problem was the alternator was grounding the positive terminal because the material that isolated the positive terminal from the alternator housing got all crusty and started corroding.

just something to check on.

also the problem you are having with your key (jiggling it makes her fire up) happens to me in hot weather. i just kinda take the key out put it back in and put pressure on it and it usually starts. does not happen in winter.

[jimmytango00]

i'll give the alt. a double check later today.


I've heard that when the ign. switch starts to go bad the cluster warning lights start to act up... i'm not to sure on this.

I'm still going to replace the ign. switch to be on the safe side. it never hurts to have new parts on the car.

[Ilya]

Your ebrake light will come on and off if your brake fluid is low, it will turn on especially if you are making a tight turn or brake hard. Check the fluid and top it off

[CAR_sileighty]

Any new test results?
Im experience the same symptoms in my s13, and am completely lost in this :/

[jimmytango00]

So far the car has been turning on fine. I honestly still think it is the ignition switch going bad though.

[SoSideways]

So far the car has been turning on fine. I honestly still think it is the ignition switch going bad though.

It could be.

Or it could be the promise you made.

Now she's not mad at you, she's being a good girl :keke:

[Devil Man]

still sounds like the starter is getting ready to poop on you. Mine is doing the same thing i have had this same issue in the past with my KA altima and rep'd the starter and bam perfect never had the same issue again. I now have this problem on my s13. If you take for instance a braker bar and tap the side of the starter next time this happens to you you'll see that doing that it will let it jump over. lol