My damn car isn't starting. Here is what I have replaced.

Battery
Ground cable
Positive cable
Altenator
Starter
Ignition Switch

Here is the symptom. I go to start the car, but the starter just doesn't go. If I jump the car it starts on like the 2nd crank. I've been push starting my car to work, and home for about a week now, and it's pissing me the **** off. If anyone has any ideas about crappy ef starting problems I would love the insight.

Thanks,
Pissed EF Owner

 

it cranks when u jump it (with cables?) if it only starts when u jump (as in push start) then i'd say neutral safty, clutch safty switch
join the 'my car is retarted' club

 

You checked all the plugs?

 

at least your car doesn't descide to not start randomly....mine starts most of the time, and then for no apparent reason descided to stop starting for a few minutes totally at random. .....but ya, check the safety switches, if not, if you can get a really cheap computer replacement (if your EFI), get that, and try that as well...sounds wacky, but so does the problem.

 

I think I've had just about every problem there is when it comes to starting an EF...what exactly is happening? Are there any clicking noises? If so, where are they coming from? The dashboard? Or are you hearing absolutely nothing at all?

 

92lx - your problem sounds like the main relay.

 

I know the safety switch on the clutch is funtional. (I should have mentioned that..:-\) I know this because I can hear the starter relay click over when I go to start it. I think the problem is the signal wire that goes to the starter. However, the fact that I jump it (someone parks by me, and I jump it with cables) tells me otherwise. It's really odd. By the way guys, I know the dizzy and plugs are good, because once I push start/or jump it, it runs like a top.

Thanks,
Dan

 

"Dirty" is right....main relay is it.

 

This is what happened to me when my car did a similar thing. My ground wire from the tranny to frame (it grounds the starter) just all of a sudden decided it didnt want to work, therefore not letting my starter work because of no ground. It was getting power but no ground. I would try to start it but all i would hear is the relay under the dash clicking. BTW do u hear the fuel pump coming on? From what i hear, if u do, then the main realy is OK...someone correct me if im wrong.

 

Ok. I've replaced the ground cable you are talking about. Also, I have a working main relay because I can hear my big *** holley coming on. I'm thinking of just running an extra wire to a momentary switch that has power for the starter signal. This is only if I can't get some results sooner. :-D

 

this problem sounds similar to mine...... i used to have the car starting ok, and all of the suden, at random, it stoped starting. after some observation, i saw that the car didn't sart when i had the fan on or the lights on due to a lack of power, but if i connected the (+) with the (-) side on the starter it would come alive!!!!!

i went to an electrician, and the problem was that the cable i was using to get power from the battery was too small. everything was fine except for that cable. he used a thicker cable to get power from battery straight to the switch, and then everything was ok, the car started even the fan or lights where on!!

this is what i use:
battery in the trunk
racing starting switch

 

I have a 12 gauge cable. I think I'm good on that part. :-D

 

Now is a good time to put in a push button for your starter, if thats your thing. Mine had the same problem, but we hot wired the starter and the car cranked right up. I spliced a wire to some wire on the ignition lock (I used multimeter and don't remember which wire) so whenever the key was on, the switch would get juice. Then send another wire from the switch to the little clip on the starter. Works good now.