89sohc kae24e not starting anymore.switch start doesnt work anymore.diag??

[zrowkewl]

hey guys,i bought this 240 off my friend for 850 bucks.he really wanted to get rid of it..he's in the reserves and is never around to drive it. so i bought it and the only problem was that the person he bought it off of (im third owner) got lazy and didnt want to figure out the problem with why it didnt start anymore,so he hooked up a switch:one wire going to battery,one going to starter.now before i bought it i took it for a drive.switch worked fine..and now its been sitting in my driveway cuz its not registered yet.i start it sometimes just to get the oil flowin and warm it up..now it wont start at all...i dont know whats going on...car just clicks when i connect the wire to the button start.at first it sloooowly turns(vruuum ...vruuum ...vruum..)now its just "chk!" im thinking did they give the 240sx a factory alarm in 89 when they came out? and something went wrong with the alarm,and he didnt know that and thats why he did the switch??? any input is greatly appreciated.ive tried many things as far as a diagnostic test.ie:spark,fuel...etc.

heres the switch.



^that wires from the engine to inside through the firewall.

[zrowkewl]

i would also like to add(hoping that this helps any of you out)that i have not checked any of the relays or fuel pump.i dont have a test light,and my pos multi meter broke.(dropped it)fuel pump does turn on though when i turn key past accessories.so ive basically narrowed it down to it being either a relay..or something with a bad alarm(if there is one) orrrrrrr im just never going to start it and its going to rot in my driveway.damn that would suck.

[gumby74]

Sounds like the battery is drained.Could be the battery is just old and in need of replacement, or the alternator is not fully charging it when you do run the car. Check all the connections for tightness or corrosion buildup before you attempt to mess with the switch.Once that issue is resolved, assuming the steering column is intact and the key cylinder is still functioning, replace the ignition switch. It costs under $40 and should not take more than 15 minutes to replace.Lastly, if you leave the car parked for days at a time, disconnect the battery.

[xekushnr]

Charge the battery. As gumby said, if the car is just sitting, disconnect the battery. You should get the alternator tested as well, but its probably fine. I think the battery just died from sitting there.

[zrowkewl]

thanks guys.yeh i have been disconnecting the battery every time after i let it run,because since i havent been driving it..the alt. isnt turning.so therefore the battery will not charge.i forgot to mention that even after i used a jump..it wouldnt start..and i had it on the cables for a while.the ign switch idea sounds like it would do the job to get rid of that little button.thanks again i appreciate the 2cnts

[dnlx5]

gotta be the wiringcheck all the connections between the starter and the battery. the solenoid id getting singal so ironically that homade start switch must not be the problem. the starter just isnt getting enough amprage. so charge the battery get a wire brush and clean all the connections between the battery and the starter 9only on the think wires) and itl probably start good luck

[gumby74]

Depending on the age and the brand, some can not recover from multiple drain/recharge cycles. Sif it is a parts store special and 3 years or older, you may want to look into a new one.

[zrowkewl]

gotta be the wiringcheck all the connections between the starter and the battery. the solenoid id getting singal so ironically that homade start switch must not be the problem. the starter just isnt getting enough amprage. so charge the battery get a wire brush and clean all the connections between the battery and the starter 9only on the think wires) and itl probably start good luck

thank you.in the beginning i had already changed my batt. terminals.because the factory ones were so rotted to **** and dirty.so i stripped the wire a little further back..screwed on the new ones..and after i did that before the winter,the car started fine.its just a big ****in mystery..but now its been worse then ever.i actualy put like 3 gal. of gas in just to start it..and jumped it too..and still didnt start.not even close.

im gunna go with the ignition switch idea.is there a relay for that i can check?? before i go out and buy a new switch.maybe its just a bad relay?

thank you again guys.i really do appreciate your help.i feel as if im getting closer to fixing this problem already.

[dnlx5]

well i was having starting problems for a while and i push started it not sure this would help but u might be able to get it started that way as far as a relay goes im not to sure

[TokayanaWayIsHome]

try tapping the solenoid of the started to get it going if thats not the problem then it sounds like the starter is shot. wow 240's have a lot of common problems! >.<

[zrowkewl]

haha yes they do.all part of the fun though.id honestly rather have mechanical issues instead of a messed up frame or body.so what you are saying is that if i tap the starter solenoid,and it starts,then the starter is whats wrong?

[TokayanaWayIsHome]

well it would mean that the solenoid plunger was stuck =P if that doesn't help take the starter out and have it tested and by the way hitachi or mitsubishi starter doesn't matter i went from hitachi to mitsubishi in my '90. One of the guys at the wrecker i bought it from said they are interchangable

[zrowkewl]

well it would mean that the solenoid plunger was stuck =P if that doesn't help take the starter out and have it tested and by the way hitachi or mitsubishi starter doesn't matter i went from hitachi to mitsubishi in my '90. One of the guys at the wrecker i bought it from said they are interchangable

thank you for clearing that up.yeh i really think its just something simple,because like i said it just sits,so if i was able to start it and leave it running..and now a few months later it wont do squat but just "clunk"..idk..i gotta get a new multimeter.my old one broke.correct me if im wrong on this: i need to check-ground,battery voltage,fuel pump relay,ignition switch(how would i check the ign.switch..like testing it..

[dnlx5]

fairly certin that if ur starter goes chkt your ignition switch is not the problem but do check battery voltage at the starter terminal while trying to start it then the same at the battery and if there different than you have bad connections/weak wires between the 2

[zrowkewl]

ok.ill let everyone know the verdict when i get my multi meter.thanks again.