Help! car wont start

[doctah-jay]

Hey guys,

My cars a 1990 240sx with a 1992 ka24de motor. for the past month it has been having problems starting, i would need to turn the key maybe 3 times before it turned over. When i was working for a local mechanic i asked him if this means i needed a starter and he said yes. I had it sitting for about 2 weeks and it was dead. Tested the battery and battery was at 7.4 volts. figure might as well get a starter and battery and do it in one go. So got a jump, got everything and went to work. Got everything done and went to turn the key and there is one loud click. All the lights are on and everything is tight. Iv been searching and the 2 things that seem to come up, is the ground cable under the battery could have corroded and needs to be put in a new spot, or that the ignition switch is bad and that i need to buy a new one. I tested the plug that goes into the starter (the one with the really skinny wire not the thicker gauge that bolts on) and when my friend turned the key it said 11.4v. Im not sure if that means there is resistance or if maybe i tested something wrong.

Please help!!

[PapaSmurf2k3]

If you "bump" the key quickly a few times, does the car start then? If so, that points to either the starter relay, or your ignition switch itself.

[doctah-jay]

It seems to turn on when i crank it like 2-3 times, it would probably be smart to mention it use to be an automatic but the previous owner converted it to dual cam/manual.

[themadscientist]

Only when cold, like first startup of the day or when it's been sitting for a couple of hours and it it starts ok when warmed up?

[doctah-jay]

it seems to have the problem intermittently, when it was cold i started it twice in a row no problem, went to the store ad when i was in the parking lot trying to head home had to crank it 3 times until it started.

[themadscientist]

Not compression then.

[doctah-jay]

I think i might buy an ignition coil to try it, but i wish someone could confirm that they had the same problem and it fixed it. i cant keep driving it around and cranking on the starter, i don't want to burn this one out.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

yeah almost sounds like distributor/crank angle sensor or coil.

[doctah-jay]

finally got around to getting the ignition switch for the 240sx. As i was starting it to bring it into the garage to work on it i saw that the battery sparks at the positive terminal. this seem to only happen when it wont crank over but once it does it doesnt spark. anyone have any idea what that could be? i do have a sub in the car so there is a power cable going to it. could that be the problem? maybe a bad connection or adding more resistance?

[centralcoaster33]

Process of elimination... disconnect your amp power wires. And maybe make sure power and ground wires are tight to battery, chassis and engine.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Sparking at the battery? Are your terminals loose?

[doctah-jay]

i suspecting it has to do with the fact that my ground wire is attached to the battery terminal tray but the tray iis extremely rusted. im hopping thats the cause and that it can be an easy fix. i want to start driving my car again instead of worry if itll turn on after i stop.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Should be easy. You can always add more grounds.

[doctah-jay]

keep you guys up to date in case someone else has the problem but i changed the grounds, got one going straight to the motor and to the frame and so far it hasn't had problems turning on. Im actually surprised that the ground could cause all that trouble.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Good deal.