CAR WONT START UNLESS ITS ROLLING..

[NocturnalEVO]

Hey guys,

New here, my younger brother just picked up his first car a few days ago, a 93 240sx convertible (manual trans. conversion)

It's been sitting in the driveway the past 2-3 days till we got time to get it registered. We started it up a few times and drove it home from the sellers house, and it started up fine.

Tonight we started it up to go fill up gas, and on the way back we stopped in a big empty parking lot, so I can teach my bro how to drive stick. He got it the first few times, but the last time he ended up being on an uphill section of the parking lot. There he stalled twice, but after the second stall, the car just wouldn't start again. Wouldn't crank or anything, no noise whatsoever.

Then i decided to roll the car backwards while turning the wheel, and then pushed forward turning the opposite direction so that the car is now going downhill. When it started rolling downhill, we tried to start it and it started. From there we drove home and parked it. Started it up again, and it started no problem.

Lucky for us it was 2am in the morning, no cars on the road, and the parking lot happened to have a downhill slope. Definatley do NOT want to be stuck in that situation again..

Now what do you guys think could be the problem? the starter?

I feel bad for my bro, first car, and before he even gets to drive it, its giving issues heh. embarassed

So yea any idea's on what it could be?

Thanks in advance!

[S13Teddy]

It starts fine now?

[NocturnalEVO]

It starts fine now?

Yea right now it started up okay, but I dont wanna be in that situation again. I'd like to fix whatever the problem could have been, so I dont end up in that situation once more.

[NocturnalEVO]

bump for an answer!

[Florida240sx]

Starter going bad, Or maybe the switch on the pedal.

[leonelrr]

Low battery

[Tr0uble]

Starter going bad, Or maybe the switch on the pedal.

He said its a convertible with a auto to 5spd conversion so there's no switch at the pedal.

1. Check Battery Voltage. When the car wouldn't start and made no sound at all did you have power to the rest of the car?If battery voltage low, open the 2 covers on the battery and fill with distilled water if low.

2. If battery voltage is fine, get an ohm meter and ohm it from intake manifold to negative battery terminal. If greater than 1 ohm you have corroded grounds. Replace or make new ground wires.

3. Check condition of shift interlock bypass to assure its connected properly.

If there's an autozone or some kind of parts store in your area have the alternator checked.

Most likely its a bad battery since you said it didnt make a sound. Even with a bad starter you will hear a clicking sound.Most of the time simply refilling the battery with distilled water makes it like new again. The hill probably tilted the fluid in the battery away from the lead posts.

One time I had a bad ground and I couldn't start the car by rolling it. So if anyone ever tries to roll start their car and it doesn't work it may be a ground wire.

[Tr0uble]

I take it problem solved?

[NocturnalEVO]

I take it problem solved?

lol i'll be honest.. i've been SO busy with other things right now that I haven't touched the car since I posted this thread. I did go to autozone however, and they told me the battery was bad. So hopefully this week i'll swing over to Sears and pick up a new replacement battery. Then I shall post up again.

thanks for your input though! I'll look into the grounds as well.