i have a 91 si hatch that won't start. the fuel pump comes on and all the lights come on but when i turn the key to start there is nothing. it has a new starter but it doesn't even try to turn over. it runs but only if i roll start it could it maybe be a bad ignition switch?

 

No gaurantee but It very well could be an ignition switch, mine is going bad as well. also check your grounds. was the new starter bench tested before installed?? you could have a bad starter, seen it happen.

 

Does the starter crank the engine?

If it is not cranking, your new starter is probably bad. Where did you get the new starter, and why did you get it?

 

i got the starter from Shuck's auto supply so it shouldn't be bad and it probably needed to be replaced soon anyways 200,000 mi on the stock one but yeah it doesn't even crank i'm thinking it might be my ignition but that works fine except for when i turn it to start it just clicks like it's making contact but i get nothin from my starter

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Predatorinc &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i got the starter from Shuck's auto supply so it shouldn't be bad</TD></TR></TABLE>
Don't be so sure. Electrical parts often have a high rate of return, particularly remanufactured or aftermarket items.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">it probably needed to be replaced soon anyways 200,000 mi on the stock one</TD></TR></TABLE>
So the old one was working when you pulled it out? Why did you replace a working item?

Starters are not a mileage wear item - you replace them when they go bad.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">but yeah it doesn't even crank i'm thinking it might be my ignition but that works fine except for when i turn it to start it just clicks like it's making contact but i get nothin from my starter</TD></TR></TABLE>
That is a telltale symptom that your starter is bad.

 

no the old one didn't work either when i pulled it and i don't really know how to go about checking to see if it's something besides the ignition

 

maybe you have a bad connection on the cable from the battery to the starter or from the ign switch to the starter. its pretty simple. there are two wires at the starter a fat one and a small one. the fat one is connected to the battery all the time and supplies all of the current. the small one is just a signal that tells the starter to start. what happens if you take a small jumper wire and jump the small wire to battery positive (make sure the car is in nuetral) does it crank? if not try the same test with a jumper cable (the fat ones) connected between the battery positive and the fat wire on the starter.

put the car in nuetral wiht the ebrake on before u do anything please.

 

i thought that jumping the little wire only tells you if you have a bad starter solenoid but i can try and really hope that you don't know anyone that would try to start their car in gear especially if they are standing infront of it lol

 

try a main relay?

 

try the ground wire on the starter if its plugged in

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by sirtef9 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">try a main relay?</TD></TR></TABLE>

if it were the main relay, then it would just try and try to turn over w/ no luck. He said the cars just clicks once when trying to turn it over, definetely NOT the main relay.
Bad starter, bad ground or bad ignition switch is most likely the problems.

 

so i jumped the small wire to the battery and the starter cranked does that mean that the ignition switch is bad or is it just the wire

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Predatorinc &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">so i jumped the small wire to the battery and the starter cranked does that mean that the ignition switch is bad or is it just the wire </TD></TR></TABLE>

yep, a voltmeter would tell you for sure if your getting 12v to the signal wire on the starter. It does sound like an ignition switch at this point based on what you have said. You don't need to replace the whole lock cylinder luckily, you can just switch out the eletrical backing part that screws into the lock cylinder and then runs from there into the under dash fuse panel, peice of cake to install.

 

it sound like you ignition switch is gone. does it make a clicking sound when you tuirn the key to the on position. i would just go and get one from a junk yard for like 15 bucks. but make sure it didnt have an alarm hooked up to it.