92 s13 starting issues

[SamshadowZ31]

Hello everyone my s13 coupe is having trouble starting. I know this is super common problem with these. The car does not crank currently. Well it does when it feels like it which is like 1 in 100. I tried a different relay for the clutch safety switch. Still just did the same thing. I bypassed the pedal switch and it seemed to get a better signal and make the relay more noisy like it was working. But still it is not starting consistently enough. So now maybe its the starter? cables all appear to be tight. Brand new alternator and battery is newer showing 12 volts. PO claims starter is rebuilt SR20DET motor

[Ilya]

Hello everyone my s13 coupe is having trouble starting. I know this is super common problem with these. The car does not crank currently. Well it does when it feels like it which is like 1 in 100. I tried a different relay for the clutch safety switch. Still just did the same thing. I bypassed the pedal switch and it seemed to get a better signal and make the relay more noisy like it was working. But still it is not starting consistently enough. So now maybe its the starter? cables all appear to be tight.

Hit the starter with a wrench a few times and see if that changes the symptoms. Old school, but will help you narrow down the issue.

[SamshadowZ31]

URGH!! This thing is pissing me off. Yesterday tried to go cruise with my buddy and it wouldn't even start. Today I just went out and it started three times in a row!? WTF?

[Jefro240]

URGH!! This thing is pissing me off. Yesterday tried to go cruise with my buddy and it wouldn't even start. Today I just went out and it started three times in a row!? WTF?

Could be the ignition switch itself...

My 92 Hatch developed an issue last year that once in a blue moon when I go to turn the key = nothing. I back it off, turn it again but a little harder & hold it for a second & she turns. So I assume the contact points or something in the ignition itself are going bad. Knock on wood, hasn't happened once this year since I pulled it out of the garage.

[SamshadowZ31]

Now for some reason it is starting on the 2nd turn of the key every time consistently. I should I grab an ignition switch for safekeeping lol

[S14kouki805]

http://zilvia.net/f/showthread.php?t=627625

I wound up taking mine into a local shop and they put a relay where the AT switch is under the hood at the fuse box. I was getting voltage drop at the starter signal. That sounds like what you are experiencing. Diagnosing this issue is a royal bitch. I assume you have an auto to manual conversion?

[SamshadowZ31]

Not sure my car came with the SR swap

[SamshadowZ31]

Ok looked up my vin and my car was manual from the factory

[cerealwars]

I chased a sometimes-start condition that kept getting worse and worse in my higher-mileage '93 s13. Tested the starter, jumped the relays and switches and everything checked out good. Finally I said fuck it and took apart my steering column cover to look at the ignition switch. Turns out the little brown plastic board where the wires are soldered on to the switch was seperating from the switch itself. Sometimes the board would make contact, sometimes it wouldn't.

I realized it was the switch when my buddy smacked the column while turning the key and boom, it started. So perhaps try out some violence, it just may be the answer.

[Trap Star]

Is it just turning over forever and not starting or literally doing nothing? When it doesn't start do you hear any clicking from the starter or any of the relays on the starting circuit? You should also check all of your grounds for corrosion or loose wires. You may also want to take a good look at the wire harness to make sure whoever did the conversion didn't use some crimp-on bullshit or do a bad soldering job that has started to come loose.

[SamshadowZ31]

Totally thanks guys!