Couldn't seem to resurrect my old thread, so here goes:

Have an '03 Si that just cleared 40k. Warranty ended at 36k.
For the past 2 months, it has been starting intermittently. Some days it fires right up. Others it won't start at all.
When I turn the key, lights/radio come on but it doesn't turn over, doesn't do anything. Sometimes I try 3 or 4 times and it starts, sometimes it won't start at all and I have to push-start it.

I had the battery tested and it turned out fine. Been thinking it's a bad starter or short in the starter or something weird like that.

So all this time (didn't want to take it to stealership as I just passed 40k miles and warranty ended at 36k) I've been parking backwards in case I needed to push start it.
Been really thinking it's my starter and trying to figure out how I can pay for that, get it fixed, etc.

So the other day I try to start it and let out the clutch pedal just a bit (just on accident) - behold, the car starts fine.
If I push the clutch pedal in all the way, sometimes it won't start, sometimes it will. If I push the clutch in, then depress it just a little, it starts fine.
So I'm thinking it's just the cable. How do I tighten/loosen that thing? Am I thinking correctly or way off base?

 

do you hear a clicking noise when you turn it over, it sounds like your starter could be bad. or maby the clutch switch that lets you start it, if you know how you should take the starter off and let them test it at autozone.

 

Check your battery terminals, be sure they are clean, dry, and tight. If they are loose or slightly corroded, there will not be enough contact to carry the amps it takes to start the car, but interior lights and the radio might work... low amp draw items by comparison. Also check the wires at the starter... if they are loose you will have the same symptoms. Check all fuses too... one may be loose, or partially burned through in that circuit. The starter solenoid could be bad... acting as you mentioned... but elimination of the easy and cheap "problems" should point you in the right direction, or even solve your issue.

I had a similar problem in my Lude... the battery terminals were as tight as they could be... i ended up having to replace both terminals, as the old ones had stretched through use, and would no longer maintain firm contact on the battery posts. The car never gave me a problem after that... and it only cost me 10$ to fix.

 

crank position sensor?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Droppedatbirth! &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">do you hear a clicking noise when you turn it over, it sounds like your starter could be bad. or maby the clutch switch that lets you start it, if you know how you should take the starter off and let them test it at autozone.</TD></TR></TABLE>

No - no real clicking noise. I sort of hear an electrical "whine" but it might just be my imagination. Otherwise no real sounds.
Someone else suggested that it's the clutch switch - can I test that myself?
I thought about removing the starter a while back but after looking under there and not really seeing it I figured might be better off not doing that, heh. I'm starting to believe it's not the starter as it now starts 100% of the time if I just mess with the clutch pedal a bit.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Ba82Ep3 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Check your battery terminals, be sure they are clean, dry, and tight...
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Good suggestion, someone else mentioned that to me (and the other wires) and I checked the battery cables, they are okay. Now that it starts I'm thinking it's not a short/electrical problem per se and more something to do with that switch or sensor or something.

E-Money, you'll have to give me some more info on that sensor, where would I look for it/how else would I know it's bad/what's it do? Why would the play on the clutch pedal affect that sensor (I'm just curious, when it comes to starting motors I'm pretty clueless)?

Thanks for all the suggestions.

 

Maybe it's the switch on the clutch pedal, telling the car when you've got the pedal down.

Probably similar in concept to the brake light switch that went out on our old Plymouth back home. Brake lights wouldn't come on at all, and it turned out that the activation switch just went bad.

 

most cars have a clutch interlock switch. it prevents you from starting the car and lurching it forward (because it's in gear), hitting something in front of or behind the car. it sounds like it may be a little out of adjustment.

i've never looked at clutch interlock switch on the EP3, but have on my miata. this may not be applicable, but here it goes:

you're going to have to get in the footwell of the car to look at the top of the clutch pedal, where it pivots. you will need to manipulate the clutch pedal in and out to look for a swith that might move with it (again usually it is up near the pivot). sometimes it is a little plunger switch that can be adjusted in and out. it may be slipping off the clutch pedal because it's damaged or misaligned or whatever.

it is possible to jumper the switch, but i don't know the specifics with this car. i jumpered the one on the miata because i use a REALLY heavy clutch and pressure plate. bypassing this switch allows me to start the car, but not putting the stress and pressure on the throwout bearing or main bearings on the crankshaft (which can be a problem with the clutch i am using).

good luck!