89' 240sx - Couple problems. Please Help!

[ImportDrftr.]

Alright to make it straight to the point. I have two problems that im trying to fix.

1) Car wont start

2) I have multiple leaks (driver & pass window, taillight leak & possi windshield leak)

A. I've replaced the starter thinking it was the starter, but it wasnt. I've check fuses under the hood & driver side. Check everything at least possible.

Solution - Tapped into my ECU's orange wire straight to the solenoid clip. Had it running for a few days, then one day, again....not starting.

Problem - I can turn the key, but it does nothing. The engine doesnt turn or tries to start at all. Just nothing. Im runnin out of ideas. (and i get power)

--------------------------

B. I washed my car one day and noticed droplets on the car, but was in the inside. On both sides. When it rains, i get water in my spare tire well. Bought the car like that. Its comin through the tail lights.

Solution - I dont know what to do.

Figured i find a solution as many people are knowledgeable here.

Thanks a lot.

- ID.

[vancouverbc]

When you tapped into orange ecu wire, was this a few second connection to get car started? There are two positive wires going to starter. One from the battery is thick and supplies constant power. the smaller positive comes from the ignition and only supplies power while starter is turning. The fact that you can get starter to work by supplying 12v+ , means one of these wires is the problem. It is possible though that you burned starter out if your orange wire fix stopped working. Check the fuse for the orange wire in the driver kick panel(st. signal). All you were doing was supplying 12v+. The starter gets no input from ecu for turning over, so dont connect to orange wire. Get the positve from battery terminal.

zerothread/231424

Connect the small wire directly to the positive of battery to see if that starts car. PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL AS CAR STARTS WITHOUT TURNING KEY OR DEPRESSING CLUTCH WHEN YOU DO THIS.If that does not do the trick, check the thick wiring from positive terminal of battery goint to starter. check the battery connection.must be tight.

[vancouverbc]

zerothread/161947

LEAKING TRUNK

[ImportDrftr.]

Thanks for the prompt reply. First, the starter is brand new so i know i didnt burn it out. I test it by takin a wire and running from the positive straight to the solenoid clip and it tries to turn over, but nothing. I've check the fuse as well, and its good still.

When you say connect small wire to positive, which small wire from where?

[ImportDrftr.]

UPDATE:

When the wire i attached to the orange wire is tapped and then i wrap another piece of wire to it and then run it to the postitive terminal, touch solenoid & battery, it fires right up.

[alexh]

I did the taillight leak fix a year or so ago. It's not all that bad, you don't even need anything from the stealership.

First of all, there are no gaskets around the taillights (between light body and car body). They use a RTV type compound. Go to the autoparts store and get a black sealant - I think the correct one states for body component sealant use.

Then you remove the inside trim and the light units. I forget if you have to remove the center one and if it's sealed the same way but you'll find out.

When you have them removed, clean the old sealant with alchohol (body and lights). Then follow directions on sealant tube.

Good luck and don't wait too long or your car will start to smell like you wouldn't believe. There is a rubber plug under the spare to let out any standing water.

[vancouverbc]

The small , single wire goes to a connector close to starter. It might be black with yellow stripe. The wire is coming from the interlock relay. The wire is small relative to the other wires going to starter. Disconnect the connector and run a wire from it to positive of battery. Connect for a few seconds. HAVE CAR IN NEUTRAL. If your car starts, you then know the problem is the ignition switch, interlock switch, or interlock relay. The most common thing is the clutch interlock switch on the clutch pedal being broken.

This is the interlock relay. It will probably be ok. Near to battery.



Modified by vancouverbc at 10:20 AM 4/15/2007
Modified by vancouverbc at 5:30 PM 4/15/2007

[ImportDrftr.]

Oh okay, i'll try to look for that. Oh oh... are you talkin about the connector that connects to a end piece. The wire itself is relatively small? Its the wire thats from the starter solenoid part right?

And when you say run a wire, meaning what? Tap into it or....no.

And the clutch button sensor is pressed anytime i tried to start it before.

Oh yea, and I dont have that interlock relay either.

[vancouverbc]

Oh okay, i'll try to look for that. Oh oh... are you talkin about the connector that connects to a end piece. The wire itself is relatively small? Its the wire thats from the starter solenoid part right?

And when you say run a wire, meaning what? Tap into it or....no.

And the clutch button sensor is pressed anytime i tried to start it before.

Oh yea, and I dont have that interlock relay either.

You have to have the interlock relay(starter relay). It might be a different colour or shape but it will be close to the battery . The wire Im talking about is small only compared to the positive wire coming in from the battery. The wire is going to the starter. There should be a plug/connector close to starter that you can disconnect. If not, your car is different from mine.

[vancouverbc]

Is your starter humming? You did say it is getting power. Maybe I misunderstand. The solenoid operates an arm that connects starter to engine. If the solenoid does not work the starter does not engage engine.The starter (electric motor) will still be on. If this is the case you have a problem with the connection between starter and solenoid.

[donasmello]

Adding to this discussion:My car will not start either..starter works, changed interlock relay, and made sure battery was fine. Thought it was the clutch interlock switch so I unplugged the pig tail from the back of it and just put a wire through it to complete the circuit and still no start. I can start the car if I just put a switch that connects the positive terminal straight to the solenoid but I don't want to rig it like that. Checked all the fuses and they are not blown, and fusible links don't look like they're bad either. Was wondering if anyone knows what else it could be? There is something on the wiring diagram for starting system that shows one other thing E19:E204. That's the only other thing I would think it could be besides the ignition switch. Anyone know where to locate those two wires, e19:e204?

[vancouverbc]

ca

Adding to this discussion:My car will not start either..starter works, changed interlock relay, and made sure battery was fine. Thought it was the clutch interlock switch so I unplugged the pig tail from the back of it and just put a wire through it to complete the circuit and still no start. I can start the car if I just put a switch that connects the positive terminal straight to the solenoid but I don't want to rig it like that. Checked all the fuses and they are not blown, and fusible links don't look like they're bad either. Was wondering if anyone knows what else it could be? There is something on the wiring diagram for starting system that shows one other thing E19:E204. That's the only other thing I would think it could be besides the ignition switch. Anyone know where to locate those two wires, e19:e204?

n y

can you start car by connecting positive post of battery to the black/yellow wire??? it can be disconnected close to starter. im not sure what you are doing when you connect to solenoid. the solenoid gets its power from the starter. power goes to starter and then to solenoid. there is a connection between starter and solenoid. does the car start without turning the key when you use your switch? if so, you know the connection between starter and solenoid is good.

[donasmello]

yes the car starts without using the key when i just hook up the positive to the starter. the starter had been tested before and i even put a new one in there just to make sure it wasn't the starter.

[vancouverbc]

yes the car starts without using the key when i just hook up the positive to the starter. the starter had been tested before and i even put a new one in there just to make sure it wasn't the starter.

this means you have a problem with the ignition switch, interlock relay or interock switch or wiring. Bypass the interlock switch on clutch pedal because that is the most likely thing. double-check by doing what i said about black/yellow wire.

[donasmello]

yeah i bypassed the interlock switch, changed the interlock relay by the battery on the passenger side fender, and still no start. So i'm guessing the only thing left is the ignition switch. How much of a pain is that to replace?

[donasmello]

for anyone having a similar problem i took it to the shop and it ended up being the ignition switch. they said they had to change the starter relay(interlock relay) but when i tested that it was fine. Ignition switch was replaced and now it starts up great.