Help! - My S13 won't start

[Sqwibbs]

I've had my S13 for about 5 years. It has been utterly reliable until now. I drove it home from work without a problem. Went out to go to dinner and it won't start.

The car won't even try to start. It doesn't click. The starter doesn't turn. I thought it must be the clutch switch, because it is acting just like I forgot to push the clutch in when you turn the key, but I hotwired the clutch switch and the car still won't start.

I don't think it’s the starter; the car only has 90k miles on it and I can't hear it clicking.

I don't think it has anything to do with the fuel system, because I'm not even getting to the point where it could be.

Here is what I know:
The battery is fine; radio, power windows, headlights all work.
I checked the fuses under the hood and they are all fine.
It's not the clutch switch (there isn't one anymore)

I'm frustrated as hell. Any suggestions? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[vancouverbc]

How did you hotwire the clutch switch? It sends ground to interlock relay . see starter in tutorials.

[Sqwibbs]

To hotwire the clutch switch, I removed cut the wires heading to the switch and then twisted the wires together. Supposedly, this is how you hotwire the clutch switch when you are installing a remote start, but I could be following bunk advice.

Thanks for the tutorial tip, I am going to hit my starter solenoid as soon as I get home from work. Unfortunately I do not have a mutlimeter. Sounds like I will need to go get one.

Do you have any other advice?

[Sqwibbs]

I just saw your other tutorial on the clutch switch/relay. It looks like I followed bad advice and twisted the wires that go into the switch, and not the ones that go into the relay. I will try that when i get home tonight.

[vancouverbc]

I just saw your other tutorial on the clutch switch/relay. It looks like I followed bad advice and twisted the wires that go into the switch, and not the ones that go into the relay. I will try that when i get home tonight.

definitely get a multimeter. just connect the wire to ground so that relay is constantly getting ground. we dont have the clutch switch in canada. if your relay is not clicking, i assume your problem is not the starter, at least until you confirm if you are getting power to relay and starter.

[Sqwibbs]

just connect the wire to ground so that relay is constantly getting ground.

I don't understand what you are saying here. Which wire do I connect to ground? Can I just connect it to the chassis?

I really appreciate your help.

[vancouverbc]

just connect the wire to ground so that relay is constantly getting ground.

I don't understand what you are saying here. Which wire do I connect to ground? Can I just connect it to the chassis?

I really appreciate your help.

yeah, you could connect to chassis. the wire going to interlock relay.

[Sqwibbs]

The black/yellow one?

I just bought a multi meter. =]

[Sqwibbs]

OK, I got it started by connecting the B/W and B/Y wires together.

Thank you for your help!!!

[vancouverbc]

OK, I got it started by connecting the B/W and B/Y wires together.

Thank you for your help!!!

Good stuff. Sounds like you bypassed the interlock relay entirely. I have not read that clutch switch tutorial . Just copied and pasted it. I better put a warning that doing that eliminates a safety feature even though my canadian car never had it.