Car won't start, crank, turn over, rough idle

[thomasjamal]

UPDATED and modified to help anybody searching.

I thought I'd use my situation to help educate anybody who might have this problem in the future and come across this thread. Please read this post and my last post to learn about all the possible causes of your car not starting, all the things I did to troubleshoot it and the idiotically simple thing I did that fixed it

--original post--

KA24de won't start. It started and ran perfectly until yesterday afternoon. I tried to start it after flushing the coolant and letting the engine cool and nothing happened. I heard a click but the engine didn't turn over. The really odd thing is that when I tried to start it the speedometer would jump up to around 50 and then drop back down. (this should have clued me in to the fact that it was an electrical problem, as you will see)

Here's what I tried

1. Checked the battery with a multimeter and it was fine. Replaced the terminals, cleaned the posts and tried to jump it just to be safe. Nothing. Took the battery out of our van (only a couple months old and has enough juice to start our minivan) and tried it on the 240. Still nothing.
2. Replaced the starter with a known good one from my old motor. Nothing
3. Checked all the fuses both in the engine bay and behind the driver side kick panel. Found one blown 10amp and replaced it. Replaced the relays in the Passenger side engine bay box just to be safe, since I wasn't sure how to check them. Nothing.
4. Checked all the grounds (visually) to make sure they were clean and connected.
5. Checked every electrical connection I can find in the engine bay to make sure it was plugged in properly (since we recently swapped in this motor).
6. Bypassed the starter relay and tested.
7. Checked resistance and bypassed the ignition switch and tested.
8. Checked the spark plugs and wires just to be sure.
9. Checked for spark - there is none.
10. Checked the voltage to the starter and it doesn't seem to be getting any. But I can't figure out where it's dying!
11. All of the interior lights come on and the headlights work, plus it didn't start when I jumped it, so I don't think it's the alternator. I can also hear the fuel pump prime when I turn the key.
12. Had the starter bench tested and it passed. Still nothing. Tried to jump the starter by hooking the battery directly to the starter and it clicked but still didn't turn over.
13. Checked the clutch interlocker switch.
14. Checked the ignition switch for resistance and it was good. Tried to bypass it (aka hotwire the car) but it wouldn't start.
15. Push started it and got it to crank but the idle was rough. This made me think the starter was bad even though it passed the test, but I wasn't sure why the idle was rough...
16. Pulled the ECU and inspected for any signs of damage.
17. Checked for anything that could be obstructing movement of the flywheel.
18. Used a breaker bar to make sure the main crank would turn, just in case (this essentially checks to see if your motor is seized up. If it fails this you are screwed real bad)...

There was probably more, but I can't remember what all I did.

[thomasjamal]

See summary above.

[NismoS13Ks]

Sounds like its definitely a wiring issue. Id start pulling fuses.

[EnjoiNismo]

Is the wiring harness messed with?

[thomasjamal]

See summary above.

[snowyred180]

If your lights are on after the car is off check the wiring to your alternator. Seeing as it's the same wiring harness as the starter, I'd check there!

[EnjoiNismo]

Shouldn't jump starting the car turn it over if the problem was the starter or alternator?

[thomasjamal]

See summary above.

[thomasjamal]

See summary above.

[numbnuts240]

if it's not turning over, you won't get spark. the electrical signal isn't getting to your starter. it's something in the wiring headed in that direction, maybe even the ecu.

[thomasjamal]

See summary above.

[thomasjamal]

See summary above.

[zerepdivad]

It's unlikely that it's the ecu. The car i believe will still crank even if you have no ecu in there. I think i recall making that mistake before when i was swapping ecus.

[thomasjamal]

See summary above.

[thomasjamal]

See summary above.

[thomasjamal]

See summary above.

[thomasjamal]

See summary above.

[OutToWinPAHC]

Try replacing the relay, if nothing connect meter to solenoid coil (thin wire) and the other lead to ground, and see what it reads in the start position, Also check to see what the battery voltage is dropping to when you try to start it.

[thomasjamal]

Well I tried bypassing the relay to get an idea if that might be the problem and still nothing happened. A bad ignition switch is the only idea I have left.

[OutToWinPAHC]

There is a 5 wire connector on the ignition switch.

Looks like
- - B
- - -

B is the blank spot. One the switch side of the connector, check resistance from the top left pin to the bottom left pin with the key held in the start position should be less than .25ohms

To verify it is the switch on the opposite connector (harness side) jump those two pins together and see if the starter turn the engine.

[OutToWinPAHC]

Oh if that works. Get some CRC contact clean, clean those connectors and the switch. (spray into the switch and let drip out) Chance are its a dirty contact.....

How I know this, just did this yesterday to my car tumbler was dirty

[thomasjamal]

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[thomasjamal]

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[OutToWinPAHC]

So the starter turns? Or nothing?

If nothing replace the relay and try again, if still nothing pull the starter and battery and take them to get tested.

[thomasjamal]

See summary above.

[OutToWinPAHC]

solenoid

[thomasjamal]

See summary above.

[OutToWinPAHC]

One problem at the time. Even with voltage applied to the solenoid the starter is not spinning. I would pull the starter and battery and have them tested. My guess one or both are bad.

[thomasjamal]

See summary above.

[thomasjamal]

See summary above.