ok...so this morning i go outside and get into my car to go to work. I go to start it and nothing happens. There is power to everything, and my system was working fine so i know the battery wasn't dead. I pushed started it and it started but it wont start by turning the key.

When i try to turn the key and push the clutch nothing happens at all, could this be the starter?
When the starter went on my 2nd gen it started slowly going bad and made a weird noise so i am not sure if its the starter....any ideas? My cars a 98 5spd

Thanks!

 

So nothing happens at all?

Sounds more like the safety interlock switch on the clutch pedal. I'd check it to be sure it was being tripped by the pedal correctly, might have gotten moved. Or the switch could be bad.

When my starters have gone bad (been through 2 now) they have made a terrible racket but not turned the engine over fast enough to start it.

 

It does seem like the safety interlock switch on the clutch pedal is not being pushed, that was actually one of the first things i checked. I pushed the button that the clutch hits but still nothing happens so maybe its bad?

And your right when the starter on my 2nd gen was going it made a terrible sound just like you described...

any ideas on how i would be able to confirm if its that button the clutch hits?

 

Check the clutch interlock relay, it's in a box near the battery. You should feel/hear it engaging when the clutch is depressed with the ignition switch in the start position. Also check the condition of the clutch interlock relay and the theft warning relay. Just pull them out and check the condition of the relays and the relay sockets (no burn marks or corrosion).

 

The clutch interlock switch works just like your brake light switch, the switch actually closes when you depress the pedal.

 

A faulty ignition switch can also cause this problem. I would check all those things before I go for the starter.

 

check the male spade plug that is on the starter. Sometimes the female lead gets loose and then your starter will not work.

When my 2 starters failed, there was no notice. It sounded like it was dragging but it was not really noticable. Removing it is not that big of a job. check on the motorvate.ca website for instruction on how to r&r your starter. If you decide to go that route, get the old one bench tested before deciding to purchase a new unit. if you want to save some money, try having that unit rebuilt. It can be done locally and usually way cheaper. Hope that helps.

 

There are points on the electrical system that you can check the voltage at and see if you have a faulty ignition or clutch interlock switch. It's all in the FSM.

If there is voltage on fuse number 33 in the fuse panel when putting the ignition in the start position, then the ignition switch is fine. If there's no voltage at the solenoid switch n the starter then it's probably the clutch interlock. If there's voltage all the way to the solenoid switch then you have a bad starter.

 

. Those are good suggestions. If you have the FSM, know how to read wiring diagrams, have a voltmeter and know how to use it finding the cause of the problem is much easier.

 

thanks alot for your quick replies..im going to give it all a try tomorrow afternoon

 

When my starter went, it gave no notice. It turned over slowly for a few days and then died. It took me an hour to replace it, so it is a pretty easy job. $119 plus $42 core at Auto Zone. If you can wait a few days, DB Electrical on e-bay sells them for $80 plus shipping.

 

If it isn't the clutch interlock, try taking a screwdriver handle, or a hammer and tapping the solenoid on the starter...if it works after that...you need a new solenoid or starter.

S

 

I did that and the starter started turning over but it sounded like it was choking, so i went ahead on bought a rebuilt starter. Dads friend got it for me for $60+ my old one. I install the starter and the car starts right up afterwards. When i was done installing it, it was about 1am so i went to sleep afterwards. Woke up yesterday morning for work, get in the car and it dosn't want to start. I played around with the power wire that bolts to the starter and it started to turn over but it still wont start the car....idk wats wrong. It started right up after in installed it.....any ideas?

 

How are the cables on the battery itself, are they clean?

 

Did you check the relays as I suggested in post #4? Check connection of ground wire from starter at the chassis. You may consider adding a ground wire fropm starter to trans as other have done.

 

check that male spade plug lead off the starter. That has prevented my car from starting on more than one occassion.

 

clean them off if they are dirty.thats the first and easiest thing to start off with.

 

i cleaned up the battery terminals and the wire going to the started...and it worked!!!
I hope it stays this way lol

Thanks for your help guys!