Need some help, Car won't start, Where do I start looking?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 464
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio Tx
Need some help, Car won't start, Where do I start looking?
It started up fine the other day. I went to start it today and it won't start. I have power to everything, fuel pumps are priming, but the starter doesn't even try to turn. Where do I start the diagnosis? Check the codes? Then what?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 3,200
Likes: 67
From: DC
St. Jude Donor '09-'10
What happens to the lights when you turn the key into IGN? Have you checked the connections to the starter? They can corrode (that's a common issue). Is your car auto or manual? If manual, have you checked the clutch switch? There's also a fuse to check in the passenger well fusebox (I forgot what # it is, perhaps someone else can fill this in?). Also make sure your battery terminals are clean and the wires are on tight.
Those are the easy things. After all those are checked and verified to be ok, I'd look for the 'cleaning your ignition switch' thread that's on here and do that. It's an easy thing to do and should only take an hour or two. After that I'd look at the actual starter itself.
Those are the easy things. After all those are checked and verified to be ok, I'd look for the 'cleaning your ignition switch' thread that's on here and do that. It's an easy thing to do and should only take an hour or two. After that I'd look at the actual starter itself.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 464
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio Tx
Lights work fine. Haven't had time to check the starter, rechecked the battery terminals. It's a manual. How would i check the clutch switch. All the fuses look good. i guess ill try the ignition switch cleaning, and checking the starter itself tomorrow, or this evening after work.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 2,754
Likes: 0
From: Nokomis FL
Lights work fine. Haven't had time to check the starter, rechecked the battery terminals. It's a manual. How would i check the clutch switch. All the fuses look good. i guess ill try the ignition switch cleaning, and checking the starter itself tomorrow, or this evening after work.
Like dangerz asked, do the lights dim? I had starter issues but the lights on the dash went blank when I turned the key.
Good luck.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 29
From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
Is the security light flashing or on steady when you try to start? If the security light is flashing, it didn't read the key's pellet. Do you hear the TDR relay in the passenger footwell area which you attempt to start? If you hear this relay click when you go to the start position on the ignition but nothing at the starter happened, get a mallet out and give a whack on the solenoid and see if it works after that. If so, you need a new solenoid. This is all assuming that you've checked the clutch switch as mentioned. Past all that, all that's left is the ignition switch.
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