1995 240SX SE: Automatic transmission and ignition problems

[headstrong]

I've having a problem starting my car and think it may be related to my transmission. When I try and start the car I hear clicking from the A/T cont box inside the car(near the fuse box). Also when I press the gas slighty there is a faint humming sound as well as when I shift the car from Park to Neutral and from Neutral to Drive and D1 to D2. It also seems to be draining my battery every time I try to start the car.

I read an article on this forum (IIRC) a few years ago about the transmission solenoid going bad on the auto transmissions but not sure if this is causing my charging/starting issues. I've already used two batteries another starter and alternator but car doesn't start or turn at all. Any suggestions on what to check next? Could my ignition relay be bad too? Thanks.

James
Modified by headstrong at 7:58 PM 2/1/2010

[vancouverbc]

post up a wiring diagram of the starting system. your starter only needs 12v+ to start. for the auto s13, it goes through the inhibitor switch and maybe inhibitor relay. clicking means the power is getting to that point. use multimeter to find out how far 12v positive is getting as it travels from ignition to starter. or identify what is clicking.

[headstrong]

Definately tell it's coming from the A/T cont box inside the car next to the fuse box. Just curiuos if that part normally goes bad or either I need to replace the relay which might be a cheaper option. Also forgot to mention my ignition switch has been replaced 2.5 years ago.

James

[vancouverbc]

have you hit your starter? you need to do that and test to see if starter is getting power. clicking is a normal sound for a relay.

[headstrong]

I recently replaced the starter with a used one abiut 2 weeks ago. Car had same issue before I changed it out. What does hitting the starter do/diagnose? A bad starter or ground? Could the flexplate or gears coming from the transmission be an issue as well? Oh, thanks for the suggestions too.

[vancouverbc]

hitting starter determines if starter is healthy. you need a multimeter or test light to see how far the power is getting on its journey to starter . if something is clicking , it means power has got at least that far and probably past that point.

[vancouverbc]

the red line shows the path of power as it leaves ignition switch. check the small wiring coming into starter to see if it has power when you turn key to start. one probe on wire and one probe on engine ground. the theft warning relay is only if you have that feature from factory. the starter is grounded by its interface with engine so that is not a problem unless you have a lot of rust there.

[vancouverbc]

see point 21 in this article for location of inhibitor switch. i think this is s13. see if power gets past tthis.

[vancouverbc]

The fsm calls two things the inhibitor switch. The other inhibitor switch is right on the driver side of transmission. it sends info to the other inhibitor switch by the battery.the fsm explains how to adjust and test the inhibitor switch on the transmission.