90 240sx won't start

[freeandam]

My 240 started up fine last time I used it. Now It won't start at all. The motor doesn't even try to spin over. no clicks or anything. good connection on the battery. If i turn the key my interior lights and gauges will light up. head lights come on etc. If i try to start it the lights on my dash and such dim even though the motor does not turn over. Jumping the car doesn't work. Had to push start it to get home. any ideas as to what the problem could be? I can hear the fuel pump come on, and its a SOHC KA24E.

[aqua74]

Could be the ignition switch or a worn key. Try jiggling the key and the steering wheel back and forth. Sometimes parking your car with the steering wheel turned all the way will put a lot of pressure on the steering, which then will lock the ignition switch......just my two cents!

[freeandam]

Thanks. I checked that but ti wasn't it. After spending the entire day messing with it I found the problem. It's the starter. The inside piece of the starter (the giant round copper piece) was scorched and could not touch the contacts. I cleaned it and it works for the time being until I can get a new starter. The starter is a Hitachi made in Tokyo. I believe it to be the original starter. All of the parts on this car that I've changed since I acquired it in mid 2013 (which is a decent bit) were all original parts. Apparently the car was purchased by an older lady and sat up, then sold to the owner before me who bought it for his son who didn't care to learn how to drive a manual. so it sat up for 10 years in the guys garage lol.