Sometimes when the engine is cold... *fresh start* I will turn the key... and nothing... kinda like what it would do if you turn the key without the clutch pressed in... all lights will turn off as if you were starting the car... but no noises... no nothing... battery is fully charged and strong... again... just NOTHING happends... God I hope someone else has had this problem and knows what it is...

 

Check the connections on your starter. If one is loose or corroded, it may not be kicking in the solenoid. Also double check the battery connections, they may be corroded and make enough contact to operate the lights, but not the solenoid. You could also have an intermittent clutch switch, try pumping the clutch a couple times when it happens.

 

Ahhhh,,,yes!! This problem rears it ugly head a lot! I use to harp on the starter as being the main player in this scenario but,,,,I have the same issue and have had it for some time now. I'm just too lazy to tear the car apart and start replacing stuff!

I have found a work around that allows me to drive the car BUT, I know, one day when I least expect it, BAM,,,,,I'm going to have to call the wife to come and get me!

Here are all the things that it could be:

- Bad Theft Deterrent Relay (TDR)

- Bad ignition switch. This is in fact what I think is causing me my issues. If I wiggle and pull on the key while holding it in the crank position, I can get it to start. I can also just hold the switch in the crank position for an extended period of time and it will start.

- Bad starter / solenoid

- Bad connections to the starter / solenoid

-Bad clutch switch. I have eliminated that as my problem. If you pump the clutch on and off of the safety switch , listen carefully in the passengers foot well and you will hear the TDR click. That means that the clutch safety switch is working and causing the TDR to function. It doesn't necessarily mean that the TDR relay is providing the starter solenoid the correct current to work properly. There are high current contacts inside the TDR which can pit or burn up. Thus, causing this issue.

If holding the key in the start position doesn't work, or wiggling the key doesn't work or pumping the clutch on and off the safety switch doesn't work, you can try to rap the starter with a hammer while someone is holding the key in the "START" position. If that works, the brushes in the starter or the electrical connections inside the solenoid are bad!

Hope this helps.

BC

 

wow hope this doesnt happen to me while I am here at work... what side is the starter on under the manifolds just in case it happends and I am here at work... so what side if I am lookin at the car from the front bumper.. so should I just take it to the shop and tell them what is happening and they should be able to figure it out right?

 

Do you have the resistor in your key? If so, do you have a second key and have you tried it? I have seen 2 people this week with starting problems that wiping of the resistor on the key solved their starting issues.

 

Whats the resister?

 

The black plastic thing (VATS) in the key that has metal contacs on either side. There is a resistor in there that the ignition checks to see if it is one of 20 or so values that match your key. It is an anti theft device so people cant create just a copy of your key cut, you need the right resistor *resistance reading" also.