Problems with my S13, any help is appreciated.

[shinski]

I think I might've ran into electrical problems with my s13.
I had bought the car not running, thinking it could be a quick fix.
Power ran throughout the car (front and rear lights worked, dash lit up, everything,) but the car itself wouldn't start.
Every now and then it would try to turn over but now it doesn't even do that.
I'm new to 240's, but to start with, I assumed it was either my spark plugs, spark plug wires, alternator, distributor or my starter.

I wasn't getting any spark while testing it with a screwdriver so I changed my old ass spark plugs and changed the spark plug wires as well. Still nothing . . . so I bypassed those 2, as well as my battery. I had a friend come test it with a volt meter. Moved onto the starter, switched it out for a new one and it still wouldn't turn over unless I directly connected it to the battery but yet the engine did not start. All fuses are still good too!

Does anyone have an suggestions before I decide to send it off to the shop???

Thank you!

[ayorenz]

Sounds like your starter

[shinski]

Sounds like your starter

I just swapped it out for a new one though.

[ayorenz]

I just swapped it out for a new one though.

Do you hear it click/engage?

[Dan3312]

I know you said none of your fuses are blown but it kind of sounds like something might have shorted your battery terminals and done damage to one of the main fuses. Take out all of your big fuses and have a good look at them.

[Frank_Jaeger]

Sounds like your ignition switch.

Do me a favor, when you're starting your car, jiggle the key rapidly to try and get it to start. If it works, it's definitely your switch, and you need a new one. If it doesn't work, it's still probably your switch, but it's too far gone to even work intermittently.

http://zilvia.net/f/tech-talk/87963-ignition-switch-going-bad.html

[MamangSorbetero]

Is it a manual transmission?

One quick thing you should check is the clutch pedal bushing. There's a clutch switch that is depressed when you depress the clutch pedal during the start-up procedure. They tend to rot and disintegrate, leaving a hole where it once covered, preventing the start-up procedure.

Pulled my hair out once this way until I taped a quarter to the pedal flange and called it a day.

[shinski]

I'm going to proceed with checking the thing's y'all have listed and be back with the results or information that will further help diagnose the problem. Thank you for the suggestions!

[shinski]

Is it a manual transmission?

One quick thing you should check is the clutch pedal bushing. There's a clutch switch that is depressed when you depress the clutch pedal during the start-up procedure. They tend to rot and disintegrate, leaving a hole where it once covered, preventing the start-up procedure.

Pulled my hair out once this way until I taped a quarter to the pedal flange and called it a day.

I just checked today . . . my clutch pedal bushing IS MISSING. Feeling very hopeful that this was the problem, upon trying to start up my car, I realized that my battery was completely dead lol... Someone left my door cracked open a bit leaving the lights on. Once I get my new battery this weekend, I'm going to tape a quarter to it and hopefully call it a day too. :bite:

[S13CoupeLover]

If that is your problem, you can always snip the wires and crimp them together.

[Trinidrift3]

just something to check; on the positive cable that connects to your battery, the stater cable bolts down onto it. you can trace it from the starter. if the bolt is loose the starter won't get the power to crank. so check that its tight and not corroded.

my car wouldn't start once. seemed like a bad starter. changed it. ended up the bolt for the cable was loose by the battery. tightened it down and it cranked right up. i was livid, but relieved.

[Dousan_PG]

Last two cars the relays under/near fender were bad. The blue one I believe it is. Not in the fuse box but it's bolted near headlight area on passenger side
I replaced that. Boom first try I was cruising with the moonroof open to the gas station

[shinski]

If that is your problem, you can always snip the wires and crimp them together.

just something to check; on the positive cable that connects to your battery, the stater cable bolts down onto it. you can trace it from the starter. if the bolt is loose the starter won't get the power to crank. so check that its tight and not corroded.

my car wouldn't start once. seemed like a bad starter. changed it. ended up the bolt for the cable was loose by the battery. tightened it down and it cranked right up. i was livid, but relieved.

Last two cars the relays under/near fender were bad. The blue one I believe it is. Not in the fuse box but it's bolted near headlight area on passenger side
I replaced that. Boom first try I was cruising with the moonroof open to the gas station

It's been a while since I've been back on here lol. Unfortunately the bushing on the clutch pedal wasn't the problem. The S13 is still sitting in the garage. I will proceed to checking the relay's and the bolt leading to the starter. On the bright side, I've been saving to take it to the shop but still want to see if I can fix this problem myself before the shop taxes the hell out of me. I appreciate the help guys!