Ok the saga continues. I replaced my starter with the exact model of my last and Still when I turn the key over I hear the starter click but it doesnt turn. Now I was also hearing a rapid clicking or thumping around my ignition harness and such (remember the dash is removed) so I turned the key over and tracked it down to a relay. Its a mitsuba Relay ***'Y, Main RZ-0132.....would this keep the car or starter from turning over?

 

when my bros hatch dont start he has to hit the starter. haha pretty ghetto

 

did you have the starter tested?

 

check the lines....dirty fuses maybe?

 

make sure all the wires on the ignition are still where they should be, and that it's not arcing...also i've seen a lot of those mutaba whatever main relays go bad

 

Yup that's the main relay. What happens is when you turn the key to the ON position, it sends power to the main relay, which energizes the ECU, and then the ECU grounds the fuel pump back through the main relay (it's got two relays inside it) and primes it for two seconds to pressurize the system. Even if that doesn't happen, when you put the key into the start position, it will also turn the fuel pump on.

I had nearly these same symptoms so let me have you test some stuff:

If you put your key in the On position (don't try to start it) do you hear your fuel pump prime? It'll be like a low hum for two seconds.

If not, it could be that the main relay is bad, or the ECU is bad, like mine was. If you don't hear the fuel pump, turn the car back off, and then back to the on position, and watch the check engine light. Does it turn off after two seconds? If not, there are a few sensors the service manual says to pull, some wires to test, or replace with a known good ECU and test that. Do those first couple and let me know.

Is the starter turning the engine but not firing, or is it just going clickclickclickclick?

If the fuel pump does turn on, then that means the initial part of the main relay is starting the ECU, and the ECU signal is getting back to the fuel pump. If the starter isn't even turning, then that means power isn't getting to it for some reason. If the main relay is making a mad clicking noise, then there could easily be a problem there.

 

first off the starter in brand new and yes its been tested so its good. Now mojo lemme make sure I get this all right. When I turn the key on I can hear the fuel fill up and the car gets pressure at the fuel rail. The starter isnt turning the engine at all. I hear it click but nothing else. I hear the main relay clicking.