1989 240sx electrial idiot here... please help

[rocknjury]

I just bought a 1989 240 SX with 169K miles... this car was running when it was parked (7 years ago)... I pulled the fuel pump from the trunk & pumped all the old gas out... I added fuel treatment and filled it up... I put a new battery in the car... now for the issues... the brake lights are on full time... cant cut them off at all... stomped the pedal several times... but the main issue is... the ignition switch does nothing but click the acc/oil diff relay... the fuel pump does nothing & the starter does nothing... A jumper from the battery (switch on) to the starter solenoid & the engine turns over & the coil is firing... But... What keeps the car from starting with the ignition switch?... is it the clutch safety switch? & how do I bypass it?... All ideas are welcome & thanks....

[Hijacker]

Welcome to NICO!

Your issue with the brake lights is probably the plastic bumper on the pedal assembly. Over time, they tend to rot away and leave a hole lined up with the stop lamp switch. As for the starting issue, it could be a similar predicament. The clutch interlock relay uses a switch on the clutch pedal bracket with a plastic stopper on the pedal assembly. If the plastic bit is still there and the switch is engaging properly, you can test the relay by putting a jumper across the Black/White and Black/Yellow wires of the interlock relay. If the car starts with the key, then the relay's probably shot.

If it still fails to start after you've verified the switch, checked the relay, etc, get a multimeter and make sure you have battery voltage from the Black/White wire when you have the key turned to start. If you don't, then either the ignition switch has gone south, or there's a short in the harness somewhere.

[rocknjury]

Thanks Bart... I will look for these switches... I hope it works... Fingers crossed

[Hijacker]

Here's some reference photos for you.


-The brake pedal assembly switches. One controls the cruise control cutoff, the other is the stop lamp. When the pedal is in the resting position, the switch is kept in an open state. When you push the pedal in, the switch closes, completing the circuit. Normally it rests against a plastic stopper, and when that fails, the switch acts like you have the pedal depressed all the time since nothing is pushing against it.


-Clutch interlock switch.

[rocknjury]

Awesome... Thanks... I hoped somebody on here would have some ideas... But I never expected pictures too... This is officially the best car site online...
David

[the converted]

And the fuel pump not pumping could be an issue with it being seized. One of my cars sat forever and did that, had to replace it.

[rocknjury]

Good news... The clutch switch was ok... It looks like there was supposed to be a rubber piece (or something) to press the button on the clutch switch... There was just a hole on the lever & it was going over the button without pressing it... I taped a penny to the lever & the car turned over with the key... I have ordered a new brake light control ($6 on ebay)... the car started with starting fluid but it does look like I need a new fuel pump...
Thanks for all your help & I will let you know when I get this thing on the road
David