300zx will not start, trouble shooting enclosed

[induetime]

Car info:1991 300zxTT*Jim Wolf Pop Charger*Jim Wolf Street Clutch (Twin Turbo)*Unorthodox Racing Crank Pully*CZP Brake Kit: Front & Rear Cross-Drilled/Slotted Brembo Rotors,Stainless Steal Brake Lines, Metal Master pads.*Specialty-Z: SS Cat-Back Exhaust, X-Pipes w/o Resonators*Specialty-Z SS Test Pipes w/o Resonators*Specialty-Z SS Super Split Pipe Down Pipes w/ Wastegate Separators*Koyo Radiator*Stillen Lower Radiator Hose*SPL Tension Rods w/ Brake Deflectors*Energy Suspension Master Kit*60K Maintance done @ 57,xxx mi*Now at 74,xxxmi

A few weeks ago my daily driven Z started having intermittent starting issues. It would occasionally start only after the second, third, forth try. Other times it would start right up. After about three or four days of that (working 80-100 hours weeks at the time) I could not start it one morning. I could hear the relay click. On the first turn of the key I could hear the starter spin but not lung forward to meet with the flywheel. Meter the battery, 12.3V. Order up a new starter and starter relay. I installed both of the new parts and same thing. OK, so I will go a little deeper into troubleshooting. I have the battery load tested at AutoZone, tests perfect. I sand and clean both batter posts and clamps, then spray them with electrical contact cleaner, then apply a little dielectric grease and snug them down. I grab my fluke meter and check every fuse in the 2 boxes (by the battery and the drivers front side). I take any fuse and relay in either of those boxes out spray them with the same electrical contact cleaner, then apply a little dielectric grease. I try to start it again, same thing as before. Now get back under the car to pull the new starter to bring it into the light for further examination. When I try to loosen the nut on the backside of the starter, the bolt snaps off. So I take the new starter out and part out the old starter to make one whole one. I use the magnetic switch assembly from the old one in the new one. Reinstall the new/old starter and same thing, no big surprise there. However now on the second, third, forth attempts turning the key on and off I can only hear it spin the first time and not the others.

I make a trip back to AutoZone to get some jumper cables. I get back and e-tape off the black legs, attach the red leg to the battery and "jump" the starter bypassing everything involved. The starter spins, but does not lung forward into the flywheel still.

Now I try swooping the theft-warning relay with the fog lamp relay (they appear to be the same). No change still change.

I did find something about a clutch switch/relay, or something similar. Any "switch" that comes in contact with the clutch in or out appear to be fine. But I could not find it in the FSM. It would make sense that it would not start it the car thought the clutch was not in. Dose anyone know more about this?

I had left my keys in the ignition of the nights for about a week killing my Duralast battery. Now I have an Optima Red top that meters 12.3 Volts with out load.

I have been up late during the nights trying to figure this out. But I am out of ideas and I have tried just about all the ideas that I found through searching. Does anyone have any thoughts? Thanks.

[elwesso]

Ok so the problem we are dealing with is the starter not engaging fully, right?

Where did you get a new starter? When did this start happening? Please provide history on when the problem started.

My intial thought is if possibly somehow you got an N/A flywheel?

[ryannel3]

Hello induetime, I own a 1993 300ZX and I seem to be having the same trouble you had in your posting. Did you ever get the issue resolved, and what was the solution?

I have had intermittent starting problems in the past, but it would always start after a few turns of the key. Now when I try to start the vehicle, everything comes on electrically but the engine won't ever crank. I can hear a relay clicking. I thought the faint buzzing I heard was the fuel pump, but your post made me think maybe it was the starter turning but not engaging with the flywheel. Any help you may have would be appreciated!!

-Ryan

[Re037]

i have the exact same problem, word for word.

after i took out the battery to clean it off, the starter works perfectly fine.

but now i have a new problem... the engine cranks but wont fire at all

why does my life suck so bad

[jrnicl3]

How did you solve your problem with your starter?

[aj300zx]

hi i have a 300zx but i have a problem with getting it started... the problem is that it wont crank all what i can hear is my starter turning but it wont crank. If anybody know whats the problem please help me......

[sx moneypit]

Is the engine turning over and not starting?

[d_maijor9]

I'ma having a starting starting issue with my car as well it's a 1992 300zx I put a new battery and spark plugs in but still won't start it turns but won't start.it had starting problems before where it would need a jump to start then nothing even with New battery and spark plugs