91 Q45 Won't Turn over

[trw2k]

Hello,This seems like it should be easy but I wanted to double check with all of you before I pulled the starter out.

Ok so, the car was running fine and now has been sitting for 2 month and now won't start:

- Battery is charged- Battery wires on tight- The shift is in Park- There is a clicking sound coming from the relay by the fuses- There is NO clicking coming from the solenoid

I tried searching in the forum and found the articles on1 - Tapping on the solenoid method - no luck1 - Turning the key, while pulling on the steering wheel and jiggling the shifter - no luck

I have checked the wires to the solenoid and they are on tight and the connection solid

SO it sounds like the solenoid to me. but I wanted to get your thoughts on possible solutions before I remove the starter.

Thanks!Tim

[goody90q45]

......There is a clicking sound coming from the relay by the fuses.....

It sounds like the starter relay has gone bad. Can you pinpoint the noise to a blue relay close to the (black?) wiper amp in front of the ABS unit? It's about a $50 part but a lot cheaper to test and replace, or swap if another Q owner lives close, than a starter.

[trw2k]

Hi goody94q45,Thanks for answering! Yes the clicking sound is coming from one of 3 blue relays next to the fuses inside the car. I think it is coming from the top one. I can feel the clicking in the other two but it is strongest from the top.So this should not be clicking?Tim

[goody90q45]

I believe the starter relay is the one with a double plug but don't run down and buy it until someone who's replaced that relay chimes in. IIRC it shouldn't make noise when you turn the key.

[Infinitiguy19]

I have heard that at night you can see a little spark inside the relay cover whenthe relay is working (When your trying to start the car in this case).

[trw2k]

Thanks

I will check these out this weekend and let you know what I find.

I hope it is just a relay... working in the tight places of this car makes me feel like Quasimodo

[trw2k]

Ok, I replaced the Blue Ignition relay near the interior fuses and it still doesn't start.Maybe I will try the starter relay under the hood next...

Questions -

The theft warning system goes on (horn and lights) when I decided to jump/charge the battery. I have to pull the theft warning brown relay to get it to stop. This does not seem normal...any ideas?

Could the Theft warning system be keeping the car from starting?

Thanks

[Infinitiguy19]

Try putting the key in the drivers door to see if it goes off, then start the car.

[trw2k]

For crying out loud! It was the Theft warning system all along.I feel like dunce.

Plugged the theft relay back in, put the key in the door hopped inside and the damn thing started.( I am sitting here shaking my head)

So I guess the car doesn't start with the theft warning relay out.

Just for anyone looking at this in the future...when I first tried to start the car the battery was dead, when I tried to jump it the theft warning system was activated (horns and lights). I tried strsting it with all that going on and it wouldn't so I unplugged the theft warning relay to stop it all while I worked on the problem...thus creating the problem.

Live and learn~

Thanks!
Modified by trw2k at 7:31 PM 3/15/2009

[Q451990]

Good to know!

Heath