Car clicks, doesn't start!

[rsamson78]

Could someone please please help me figure out the starting problem on my 91? When I turn the key, the starter clicks, but that is all. I replaced the starter this morning and it worked, then I did some other maintanance (rotated tires, replaced fuel filter, changed oil), and it was no longer working. I checked the starter and the solenoid had cracked. I put on another starter, and now I am back to just the clicking. The car pop-starts and runs great. I don't know if I keep getting crappy starters or if there is a problem somewhere else. There is no voltage decline from the battery to the starter, and the battery itself is in good shape. I have seen references to checking the interlock relay switch, clutch interlock switch and starter relay, but I don't know how to identify those or test them.If anyone could help me I would be extremely grateful!Ryan

1991 240SX SE Hatchback~120000 milesLocated in Los Angeles, CARecently: changed oil, oil filter, fuel filter, rotated tires. have had problems starting for several months though, now is totally dead.

[DAEDALUS]

Are you certain the battery is good? Try jump-starting it.

[rsamson78]

Yeah, I tried jump starting it before, and nothing happened, still just click click. I also took the battery out and had it tested about a month ago, after the problem started and it was fine. I also checked it w/ voltmeter today and got 12.5. Also, all accesseries, lights, radio work fine when car is off.

[NISTECH]

button on your clutch pedal at the bottom of its travel. put your car in neutral and press that switch down with your finger and try to start it. if it starts you need to adjust that switch. If it still doesnt start get a paper clip and jump the 2 pins in the connector to that switch. and try to start it. if it starts you need a switch if it doesnt now you need to check the blue relay in the black relay box under the hood. It will label which relay is your clutch/interlock relay.

[rsamson78]

Well, I checked the clutch interlock switch, it was fine, I checked the clutch relay, it was also fine. I was out of things to do, but had read something random about taking apart the steering column, taking off the part behind the cylinder for the key, sticking a screwdriver in the T shaped slot, and turning. This sounded ridiculous, but I had nothing left to do, and it sounded like fun, so I did it. The strange thing is my car started. Since this is physically the same thing as turning the key, I strongly suspect the two things were unrelated. Since I put everything back together, my car has worked fine. Is there any posible relation, or did the problem just hide itself for awhile?

[NISTECH]

its a good possibility the electric switch had/has a problem internally and you just temporarily fixed it.

[95_Nissan 240sx]

This sounds exactly like what happened to my car. I dont know if the same thing but all I did was take of the distributor cap and clean the connections where the spark plug wires connect. Then i got new spark plugs and boom it started right up without hesitation. Hope that helps and hopefully works for you too.

[NISTECH]

his car wouldnt even crank so the cap would have nothing to do with it.

[Big Red]

Sounds like the starter solonoid is shot!

Is it a fast clicking, kind of slows a little and then just stops?

I had one go bad on me in a Nissan pickup truck, I managed to get it started by tapping the solonoid with a 2 X 4 so I could drive to Kragens and get a new one and it solved the problem.

[rsamson78]

Not surprisingly, the problem did come back.

It could be starter related, but probably not, since I just put on a brand new starter. Usually, it clicks just once each time I turn the key, and that's it. I tried tapping on the starter solenoid, but it didn't help. I also tried tapping on the clutch interlock relay and pressing in the connections, but that didn't help either.

Here is another strange symptom: often, if it won't start, I can roll it a little and drop the clutch, just enough to get the engine to turn over once but not start. The car will then start on the next try.

Also, in the last couple of days, the idle crapped out completely. It will drop down to where it almost dies, then rev up to around 1200, then drop down again, over and over.

I'll be spending some (more) quality time with my manual today, hopefully I'll find something...

[rsamson78]

AAAARGH

Well, right after my last post I went to mess around with my car. Instead of the single loud click I had been hearing, there was a barely audible series of fast clicks (like what you had been describing Big Red?). Unfortunately, banging on the solenoid some more still didn't help.

Then I realized that the LEDs in the dash weren't as bright as they normally are. So I checked my battery, and, it was almost dead. So overnight, my battery has drained itself.

So now, I have a car that won't start with a good battery, a bad battery, screwed up idle, and an antenna that won't go down.

I'm going nuts, I might just have to go to a mechanic, but my wallet is holding me back for now...

[rsamson78]

Went to Autozone, battery tested 'okay' but was dropping charge. I got a new one, and now the car is starting irregularly again with the loud click. Interestingly, the idle is also fine again now.Thought about getting a new ignition switch, but it was >$100, might also look for a new relay.

[NISTECH]

sounds like you have a connection problem somewhere along the battery cables or the main feed off the postive battery cable.

[Magnes]

Here is another strange symptom: often, if it won't start, I can roll it a little and drop the clutch, just enough to get the engine to turn over once but not start. The car will then start on the next try.

I've seen this happen when the starter pinion gets stuck in the crown wheel before it has fully engaged. The loud click you hear is the gear getting itself wedged in place. Bumping the car back and forth in gear will release the gear and allow you to try again.

If you can consistenly re-start the car after bumping the engine a bit, this is likely your problem. It occurs as a result of a misalignement between the starter and the crown wheel. It may also account for your battery being drained if the stuck pinion gear is forcing the circuit to remain closed through the starter.

[Big Red]

I also had the same kind of problem on my Camaro, turned out to be the positive battery cable had corroded at the battery post.

The solonoid thing only happens when there is low voltage or the solonoid is on it's way out.

Magnes may have just nailed it!

[sleepyeyes]

so whats the proble rsamson78...did you ever figure our what it was

[rsamson78]

I believe Magnes was correct. Just last week I finally had to make time to work on it again, since the starter and the battery were dead (couldn't get away with the push start anymore).

I got a new starter (thanks to autozone for lifetime warranty parts - that was number 4 or 5), charged the battery, and this time when I put on the starter I made sure it was lined up perfectly as it went in, I never left it hanging (ie I supported it the entire time I was tightening the bolts), and I made sure to tighten the bolts evenly and not too tightly. I have had no problems since!

The idle problem was simply due to fouled spark plugs.

THANK YOU to everyone who helped me figure this out!!! I cannot tell you how great it is to have a car that finally starts everytime!

[Q45tech]

Why didn't you say you were using AutoZ junk..........you said a "new starter" not the lowest cost partial cleanup/rehabing in the World.

Some times you need to go thru 10 or 20 to get a decent one.Alternators are worse!