car wont start, weird wiring issue?

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I have a redtop in a s14, birds nest of wiring thing going on from PO.

yesterday I parked my car at work and it was running normally. When I tried to start it, it would not crank. Sometimes the fuel pump will kick on with the key turned to the on position, but no hint of starter noise. The dash lights stay on even when the key is out of the ignition and the airbag light flashes. Eventually they will go out at varying lengths of time. I tried to jump the battery, but I'm pretty sure the batt isn't dead. The car won't bump start either. I can't find any bare wires, but the wiring harness is a mess and looks like a small animal might be living in it. Any help? thanks

[Thrasher068]

Check the grounding of the battery and motor. Also there is a Brake switch gromet that brakes if there are a piece of plastic about the size i of a dime on the floor that is the cause. check the clutch pedel. follow it up and u will find a button up there it is a neutral safty switch push it in and turn the key ( same idea if the clutch was in but by hand u know the button is down. If no start still go under the hood make a wire that can plug into the signal wires place and then touch the positive side for a moment the engine should turn and once started remove the wire.

[Thrasher068]

Oh one more thing.... Check the fuse for the starter lol

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thanks, I didn't check the starter fuse or make a jumper for the starter motor, but I had already done everything else. The brake light goes out when the ebrake isn't engaged, like it should. All the other dash lights stay on even when the key is not in the ignition, is it haunted?

[Thrasher068]

thanks, The brake light goes out when the ebrake isn't engaged, like it should. All the other dash lights stay on even when the key is not in the ignition

When the E-Brake is down the Brake light should be out. Check the Brake master see if it is low on fluid that will make the light stay on also but nt without the key. Unhook the negitive battery and then hit the brake pedel for 5 sec this will use any remaining power in the ECU and then rehook the battery back up and see what happens.

There was a car in the shop the other day because the starter shorted out causing it to shut off and not start but u smelt burning wires check all fueses and see if there is a pinched wire somewere

Try the fuse first then the jumper wire. make sure the car is in neutral and the parking brake UP!!!!! or it will jump on you

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I figgured it out after hours of harness hell. The engine ground strap broke. Thanks for your help thrasher. It seems like this section of the forum is only good for questions about which turbo is more JDM tyte, or what color should I paint my valve cover.

[Thrasher068]

lol make some ground straps. Get copper ends, some battery wire, solder, and a mapgas torch. If you are looking to dress up the engine bay u can get colored speaker wire that is as thick. Cut the wire so that the cables are showing just enough so u can but the copper end and wire coating together so it will give a clean look and or use heat shrink. take the solder and fold it up as many times as u can then stick it into the copper cable end then heat it up with the torch. It will melt it inside of the end and then take the solder again and melt more into it it should fill about 1/2 way up then stick the cable end into it. The solder holds it in place and u will not have to hit it with a punch to have the wire stay in. then do the same to the other side. I have a few ground wires going to the engine and battery just for problems like this. If one fails theres alway a backup

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When I relocated the battery I reused the ground cable in the trunk. The starter demand must have worn out the last grounding strap. I bought a premade starter cable from AZ for $4 (cheaper than connector and cable) and hooked it to a bolt hole directly behind the starter and to the clutch soft line mount. Stealth, I try to keep things clean, like minimalistic but also hard to tell if its factory or not.