Starting Issues

The last few days I've been having some starting issues on my 98 LGT. I noticed this yesterday, get in the car put my foot on the clutch and turn key, radio starts up, dash lights are on but the engine doesn't turn over. I took my foot off of the clutch and re-attempted pushed harder at a few different angles. Same deal this morning and this afternoon.

Anyone got any ideas? bad starter? bad clutch?

I have no idea.

Thanks!

Check the ground to the starter. Wiggle the terminals on your battery. Do you hear the starter click? How old is the battery?

Ground to the starter? The starter is grounded buy it being bolted to the trans. There's a little wire which is the signal wire from the ignition switch and a larger cable which come from the battery. First check the connections at the battery then the ones at the starter. If all checks out then get a test light and see if your getting positive power to the starter via that larger cable. If good then you'll need a friend for this next one. Also using a test light, while turning the key like your starting it, see if your getting a positive signal from that little wire if you do then its the starter if not then it could be your ignition switch or the clutch safety switch.

Mine was a mystery, my cable end was corroded inside, caused the same symptoms, didn't even look bad but it was.

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Spooln nailed it, if it makes a rapid clicking while attempting to turn over that's your starter, shake it down, but mine did the exact thing yours is and I was the clutch switch.

Originally Posted by Sludgeroo

mine did the exact thing yours is and I was the clutch switch.

this was my first thought as well.

cant you bypass the switch and then just depend on the neutral safety switch? idk much about it cause i never had any safety switches

Originally Posted by Swagon_Wagon

cant you bypass the switch and then just depend on the neutral safety switch? idk much about it cause i never had any safety switches

Considering all those switches are is a check for a complete circuit I don't see why not.

They probably do something to that effect when they put automatic car starters in.

And that's because your wagon isn't safe

you could jumper the wires at the switch if you wanted to, but remember that your car will still try to start when in gear and clutch not engaged. could be dangerous when not paying attention... my old scout had no switch, i almost launched it through my apt door a few times early in the morning.

for auto trans there is (should be) a P-N switch it looks for, to ensure its not in gear before allowing a start.

Doesn't anyone know how to jump a starter motor to check it? While in park/neutral take a wire, connect it to the main battery lead on the starter and touch it to the trigger lead on the solenoid.

Originally Posted by Swagon_Wagon

cant you bypass the switch and then just depend on the neutral safety switch? idk much about it cause i never had any safety switches

Since his car is a 5spd it doesn't have a neutral safety switch. Auto-NSS, 5spd-Clutch switch.

The battery is pretty new, left the car at my moms this summer and the battery apparently died at some point and she jump started it. . .crossed the cables...fryed the battery and a few other things. So, new battery this past summer. Didn't experience the problem at all today, how ever I did notice a slight humming coming from what seemed to be the alternator. Don't know if this could be related. So as of right now its still a mystery, clutch switch sounds like it could be winner - My car seems to be at the stage where a new (usually minor) issue arises weekly and sometimes daily.

Also, no clicking, no nothing when this occuring.

If there's no clicking the I would lean towards a bad or loose connection, bad ignition switch or a bad clutch switch. Like I said before to rule out the ignition switch have a friend try to start it while you use a test light and check for a positive power signal at the starter from the small single wire. No then it's the ignition switch if yes then probably the clutch switch. GL.

Hey skate. What was the result. Did u get it resolved. Mine happens to be doing this. The clutch is also going so I'm leaning toward clutch safety switch. I'll check it out this weekend as soon as I found out where it is!

Originally Posted by spooln30

If there's no clicking the I would lean towards a bad or loose connection, bad ignition switch or a bad clutch switch. Like I said before to rule out the ignition switch have a friend try to start it while you use a test light and check for a positive power signal at the starter from the small single wire. No then it's the ignition switch if yes then probably the clutch switch. GL.

i thought the clutch switch was a permissive on the starter line to keep it from getting a signal unless the clutch is engaged? i dont think youd get a positive on that line unless both were working. i could be wrong, but it doesnt seem logical to send a signal to the starter without both. mebbe my controls background is getting in the way of the logic tho.