1993 240SX : starter relay (inhibitor relay)

[Angela12345]

1993 Nissan 240SX SE : starter relay / inhibitor relay

I am trying to find the part number for the starter relay. If you don't know the part number, do you know the exact part name ? My car is manual transmission.

Problem I am having ... Car will not start

We tried bypassing the starter relay and it started with no problem so I think there is no problem with the starter celenoid / solenoid (?).

Thanks for your help !
Modified by Angela12345 at 1:30 PM 10/13/2006

[vancouverbc]

It's called the "interlock relay". Your problem could also be the clutch interlock switch. When you depress the clutch , you send ground to the interlock relay(via the clutch interlock switch) which causes the relay to close and send power to starter motor. So, bypass the clutch interlock switch and see if that is your problem.

[Angela12345]

So by bypassing the "interlock relay" (Thanks!), it would cause me to be able to start it even if the problem was actually the clutch interlock switch ? It starts now with the interlock relay bypassed ... havent done anything to the clutch interlock switch yet, so am I wrong in thinking thats where my problem is ?

Just in case, do you know the part number for both parts ?

For anyone else that has this problem in the future (cause I know I have searched a while trying to find it) ... The interlock relay is blue, with 2 sets of 2 pins to plug in, when pulled out it is about 1" x 1-1/3" x 2", when plugged in about 1" x 1-1/3" x 1-1/3". (mine was still the original Nissan part) When you are standing at the engine at the front bumper facing the car, it is on the left of the battery on the passenger side. It is super simple to unplug & plug in ... like unplugging a hairdryer from the wall ! By the way (for others like me in the future) ... you are NOT supposed to just leave the interlock relay bypassed and use that as the fix ... pulls too much amperage for the starter for this to be a permanent "fix".

edit: I have found the part number for the interlock relay ... the Nissan part number is 25230-89981. If you go to Advance Auto, this does not come up as a part for the 93 240 under their system, but I got this number off the stock part on my car. When they enter it in to cross-reference it, they had the part in stock listed as a starter relay. It just does not show it as a part for my car, hence why I was having so much trouble !

NISTECH, thanks for the idea (below) I will check that out as well.


Modified by Angela12345 at 10:39 AM 10/13/2006

[NISTECH]

Check to see if the little plastic/rubber button is on the clutch pedal that pushes the clutch switch. They fall off.

[vancouverbc]

"So by bypassing the "interlock relay" (Thanks!), it would cause me to be able to start it even if the problem was actually the clutch interlock switch ?"

yes

[pr240sx]

Any drawbacks if I leave the inhibitor relay jumped?

Is this circuit " hot" only on cranking?

[vancouverbc]

Any drawbacks if I leave the inhibitor relay jumped?

Is this circuit " hot" only on cranking?

Replace the relay asap for safety. If starter is not turning, how could it be hot? How about a short circuit? We as humans always underestimate risk/uncertainty.

[Angela12345]

Update on my car ... the car started with the interlock relay bypassed, but when we put the new part in, it did not work. They did something to "fix" it without ordering another part, so I assume it might have been the little plastic/rubber button is on the clutch pedal that pushes the clutch switch that Nistech was talking about. I looked under there and could not figure out what/where he was talking about, but whatever it was, it's fixed now. YAY !!!

[vancouverbc]

Good job:) Thanks for reporting back. It is very helpful when people report back on the final outcome.

[pr240sx]

I have mine bypassed the relay since this past saturday.No problem since.I bypassed the relay, not the clutch switch.

[RPS13.5]

I had mine bypass as well, but my wirings around that area got heated up and melt the wires. Luckily it dint ended up ashes, and thankfully the car stop running before it lit up of fire. Because I had a non relay engine start button mounted into the cigarete lighter, and the passenger actually pressing it down all the time with her elbow leaning onto that button, so that means the B/Y, B/W, B/G, and W/R wires are connected and start mode all the time causing HOT WIRE. Just sharing my experience...So I fix my wiring and install that relay back again. Now I have a new engine start button with relay from pivot, and mounted on the radio tray just for shure that it wont happen again =) ....

[pr240sx]

after opening the relay and cleaning the carbon deposits from the contacts, the relat is working perfectly.I even wire up a aux jumper just in case.