1990 240 won't start..Already searched.

[240Ghost]

Ok so heres the story. Woke up around 7 in the morning and was out the door by 7:30. My car started right up and I let her warm up for about 10 minutes. I was heading to a friends soccer game about 45-50 min away. Was driving for about 20 min and decided to stop by waffle house to get some grub before the game. Came out after breakfast and she started right up. Got to the game a lil while later, watched it. Came back to the car with my friend after her game and tried starting the car. Turned the key and nothing...the engine didn't turn over, nothing, no sounds at all...Hmmm thats wierd...Tried again, and bam started right up...Got to her house and watched a few movies and "talked" came out about an hour or 2 later and the car wouldn't start at all. By then i was already annoyed by it not working earlier (sp)? So pushed in the clutch a couple of times..nothing (curses) Slam the clutch in, starts right up...Wtf! Went to the gas station to fill up and it wouldn't start, not slamming the clutch in or anything would get it to start. Its not the battery becuase its brand new and its not the starter or altenator becuase there new as-well. Had to call a tow truck to get her home! ...PLZ help!

*Sorry for the long post but i need this fixed ASAP PLZ HELP*

[Deftec]

If you're having to slam the clutch pedal in it may be that sensor connected to the pedal. The one that allows it to start when the pedal is pressed. You may need to adjust the pedal or replace that switch.

[240Ghost]

Do you know how or is there any write ups on how to adjust the pedal?

[Deftec]

Just look under your dash...I believe there's a nut on it somewhere that'll allow you to adjust it(I'm not 100% sure this is your problem, but it is a place to start at from your description)

[240Ghost]

Alright, I'll try it tonight if i can find a flash light (just moved) but if not i'll try it tomarrow morning thanks so much for you help if it works or not!

[Maverick7687]

Just to test it, MAKE SURE THE CAR IS IN NEUTRAL, push the button with your hand and turn the key. If it still doesn't start, its not the clutch switch. My '93 did this one time and it turned out to be the starter. Next time it does it, hit the starter with something, I uesd a small jack handle, just something to jar it a little, then try it.

[skydragoness]

Simple test to see if it's the starter: If the car doesn't start, try tapping the starter w/ a rubber mallet/hammer/whatever, if it starts only when you do that then your starter is bad.Sometimes they make a click noise when you try starting the car, or you may have noticed a clicking/rattling noise in those last few times the car started up with no problem.

For future reference the 240sx forum is here:zeroforum?id=44

[Maverick7687]

Simple test to see if it's the starter: If the car doesn't start, try tapping the starter w/ a rubber mallet/hammer/whatever, if it starts only when you do that then your starter is bad.Sometimes they make a click noise when you try starting the car, or you may have noticed a clicking/rattling noise in those last few times the car started up with no problem.

For future reference the 240sx forum is here:zeroforum?id=44

+1 for something rubber.. Hit it with metal in the wrong place and sparks go everywhere.. Been there, done that..

[nismo521]

There's supposed to be a piece of rubber on the clutch pedal that pushes the button for the clutch interlock switch. If it's missing, the button just goes right through the hole where the rubber should be and the car won't crank. Mine is missing and if I don't push the pedal in just right, I have to try again. That would be the first thing I'd look at.

[240Ghost]

Haha, I found the problem!!! The clutch sensor or button w/e you want to call it wasn't getting pushed in all the way becuase the rubber piece on the back of the clutch pedal had broken without me realizing it... But, all is well it starts right up when i push the button manually so i'll go buy a new rubber piece on monday and were good. I just wanted to say thanks for all your guys help dunno what i'd do without yall lol. Kinda funny becuase the same thing happend with my brake lights...They wouldn't shut off becuase the rubber peice broke. lol

[Maverick7687]

My clutch pedal doesn't even have a rubber thing. Just a metal plate-type thing sticking off the side of the pedal that hits the button. Glad you found the problem though.

[nismo521]

Just super glue a penny over the hole. A 1 cent fix!!!

[240Ghost]

I guess that would work but then i'd never have to push in the clutch to start the car...kinda wierd if you ask me...Although i'm debating doing that lol.

[Maverick7687]

No, super glue the penny over the hole on the pedal.

[240Ghost]

I'm not sure that would work because the rubber peice was pretty thick...Or have you done it?

[nismo521]

Haven't yet, need to. I know some folks who have though. Glue the penny to the back of the plate that the rubber piece was in and it should have no problems hitting the button. If I put enough force to the left when pushing the clutch pedal in, I can get it to move far enough for the side of the hole to hit the switch and start the car, hence why I haven't done anything about it yet. Isn't it nice when something turns out to be a lot cheaper to fix than you thought it would?

[240Ghost]

Yes definetly (sp)? I'll do that tomarrow before/after school! Gotta have the car working for halloween lol ParrrrtayyyyySSSS

[_Mack]

hmm well mine makes the same clicking sound regardless of holding the clutch in or not and we just replaced started and battery and my car wont start, where exactly is this botton?

[240Ghost]

Its near your clutch pedal...Get down and look at your clutch pedal and you'll see where it kind of goes off to the left and theres a peice of metal coming off of it, when you press down the clutch pedal it should push down the button connected to the switch. I'm not very good at explaining but i hope that helped!

[jfizzle001]

check your battery cables cause if they are not tight it could not start because of a bad connection.