my car doesn't start boo

[kombi731]

So I went out to move my car at 2am and no starty :(
lights, wipers, enigne fan(switched separate) ran real strong
so I just gave it a quick push and clutch dumped it(which was almost rad) and drove it down the street and parked and bailed.

now...
- I did a starter/soleniod combo(new) in 04 I think about 50k ago
- I have an alarm w/ starter disable
- car is equip w/ clutch position sensor
- I heard a faint click (when turning key) maybe from fuse area(under radio) maybe from solenoid(same area, other side of fire wall though)

soo I don't have many tools at home but I do at work. I think I'll swing her in the garage and check connections and clicky noise. Any of you real car techs have any advice?

I dunno where the clutch sensor is. I assume pedal area. Can I ohm it out and move the clutch past it and verify switch?
oh and I really don't want to pull the starter to bench test it. Its a pain in the azz to get to w/ my long arms.

come to think of it I'm lazy, and the last thing besides routine maintence I did was the starter back in 04. This sucks being forced to wrench to drive

oh car is Saturn '96 SC2 1.9L dohc

[twowheels]

First of all check your battery and connections. Most electrical problems are solved there. The clutch switch is usually at the top of the clutch pedal, it should be a normally closed switch and should give < 1 ohms of resistance, and OL when you depress it.

[twowheels]

Actually the switch could be either NO or NC. Depends on the car and where is teh switch located. Some switches are located at the firewall and open when the tab of the clutch hits it.

[kombi731]

yeah I don't have to many tools at home
I went through the fuses and sub'd w/ known good same size from other systems (ie turn signals, etc). I will attack w/ a multimeter tm. I found the clutch sensor and jumped it as it said I could. no dice.

I'll have to check for power at the soleniod on the starter w/ the key in start. And I'll check the battery to. All the connections I've come across are clean and tight.
It makes that click like when I set the alarm off and just try and use the key after surfing. That aftermarket alarm that came on the car has starter kill. asdfgakl I hope it has nothing to do w/ that alarm thats tied into everything.

[Udrivecrap]

starter connections (wire corroded or broken)
clutch start switch
battery connections
relay and/or fuse
aftermarket alarm starter kill relay

yup, that sounds about right. :D check all that. i think it was on the last alarm i had installed and the installer put the starter relay in the cab under the dash instead of in the engine bay where it can get hot and give out every so often.

and, that starter you did 4 years ago could be bad again. i'd almost bet that's what it was.

i think the click you hear is a relay, probably the starter relay. i hope i was able to provide some valuable input :hand:

[kombi731]

aye yup

I got a funny feeling if the starter is good as well as battery.
You may well see a push button start Saturn :D

the key works great according to its positions. why not mod it like that for cheap if it turns out to be wiring or alarm shiz.

[idiosyncratic]

aye yup

I got a funny feeling if the starter is good as well as battery.
You may well see a push button start Saturn :D

the key works great according to its positions. why not mod it like that for cheap if it turns out to be wiring or alarm shiz.
ay yup! they have that self-starting feature on some higher end auto models, if you know how to do it... go ahead. why not! :breakdance:

heck, some mopeds :moped: have a self-starter system, and my two vehicles don't. :mecry:

[ikeyballz]

lol, how about the old 'whack the starter with a hammer to get the solenoid loose' trick?

[Act162this]

^^ hey, don't laugh. i used to keep a maglite in my old T4R for just that purpose.

[kombi731]

okay checked it out after work
everywhere had power
cleaned things up a bit
yes I whacked the solenoid LOL

and now she starts
so I cleaned the throttle body and a couple other quickies while I had my hands dirty and my car in the shop.

Hmm maybe I need to stock a starter for back up. I guess 4yrs and 50k is good life out of that one.

thanks for the input guys :)

[Udrivecrap]

make sure you have the heat shield for the starter if applicable... dam, i shoulda bet you guys money.. lol

[idiosyncratic]

Hmm maybe I need to stock a starter for back up. I guess 4yrs and 50k is good life out of that one.

thanks for the input guys :)
Always good to have, especially if you're going to keep this particular auto for a looooooooong time :)