Ka24de (1991) Clicks but wont turn

[slidingsideways240]

I have been wokring on this problem for three days now thinking what could be wrong with my starting system. I get power from my battery, but when i turn the key all it does is click from the fuse box near the driver side headlight and a click from underneath my steering wheel near that fuse box. Please let me know if any of you have an idea whats going on. thanks.

[ryan hagen]

clicking is a relay, did you change the starter or anything? drive through water, was it making bad sounds previous? starter could be bad? or not grounded well, could be alot of things, need some more info.

[slidingsideways240]

For a while it took 2-3 times of turning the key to finally get the motor to start. so i decided to change out my battery terminals and then i started the key and it turned over perfectly on the first try, but i noticed one of the terminals was not placed on the battery to well so i wiggled it down more on the outpost and then tried turning over the car and thats when the clicking startec. I never drove then any water lately. I figured my ground(negative cable) which i hooked directly back to the intake mani. should not have a problem cause it started the car untill i moved the terminal. i replaced that red box (some cars black) today and that didnt work either. Which relay would it be that your talking about? is it possible that one of them blew or a fuse blew (i checked all the smaller fuses but i dont know how to check the 30's that run the ignition swith if im right) let me know if you need anything else answered.

[s13_gearhead]

I think I might have a solution for you.

Same thing was happening with a car I just installed a fresh motor into. Turns out that the clutch interlock switch behind the clutch pedal (it's a screw-in type sensor, adjustable) wasn't getting depressed by the clutch pedal, and therefore the car wasn't starting. Check to make sure that sensor is fully depressed when the clutch pedal is on the floor.

Let me know how it goes.

[slidingsideways240]

sorry but i left out the most important yet must embarasing thing......its an automatic.

[ryan hagen]

try jump starting it, u may have damaged a terminal? or have a bad connection, that clicking is usally either not enough battery power to engauge the starter, or something has a high resistance(bad connection or loose wire) and if you ahve been trying alot or leaving the key on your battery could be drained.

[slidingsideways240]

my friend and i have tried jumping it three times now, but no luck(he car reads a steady 13.7volts the whole attempt) maybe the battery is bad now. it would not be a bad idea to get it tested...would that show if the battery is bad now? but wouldnt it still jump though even if the terminal is bad (though it still supplies power to the brake lights, etc.??

[420sx]

take of ur positive cable connection and clean them from corrosition, then make sure the ground is clean/tight. try now. if that didnt work try different battery. if didnt work test ur starter - this one can be done as step 2.

[slidingsideways240]

well i just tried a new battery and it wont work still, just supplies power to my electronics. I hooked up one of those testers that light up when you have electricity to my battery terminals and the positive one light the pen up, but when i tried it to my negative nothing happend...could that mean im not getting enough ground? or does this all mean i need a new starter. im confused

[brokeAs240sx]

Originally Posted by slidingsideways240

well i just tried a new battery and it wont work still, just supplies power to my electronics. I hooked up one of those testers that light up when you have electricity to my battery terminals and the positive one light the pen up, but when i tried it to my negative nothing happend...could that mean im not getting enough ground? or does this all mean i need a new starter. im confused

You really need to get an FSM or something to learn how to test your car...

No, the light won't go on if u put a ground + ground (negative to negative).. that is normal.

Are you SURE all connections are secure? if that is the case... then we can move on.


Here's a test on the starter:

1) Locate your starter.

2) Have someone get ready to crank the key

3) Get a long pipe/bat or whatever.

4) While the person in teh car is turning the key (while you hear that click click click), you hit/poke sort of hard at the starter w/ the long metal object.

5) If car starts, then your starter is bad. If it still doesn't start, well, either the starter is realllly bad or you have some loose/bad connection somewhere.

Other easy way to test the starter is to take it out and bring it to a kragen/autozone whatnot and have them test the starter.

[slidingsideways240]

Well tomorrow ill be able to work on my car for a little bit more, this is really starting to aggervate me. Thanks....ill keep yall updated

[theicecreamdan]

starter is bad

[darklord0424]

Originally Posted by theicecreamdan

starter is bad

Bingo, I'm shocked no one got this sooner.

[ryan hagen]

u can bench test the starter, just be careful doing, it, watche da kid in my class launch one across a table cause he didnt clamp it down good.

[slidingsideways240]

ok so i put a new starter on today, i go to turn the car over, and ......there goes all my power! any ideas?

[slidingsideways240]

Yay! Finally got the car to run again Thanks for the help

[glycerine169]

What did you do to get it running again? i am having the same problems with my 91' and it is a pain in the a$$.

[ChinkyChris]

WOW this thread is OLD!
its from 05 bud..... If you are having the same issue he did. I'm willing to bet he blew the 75A Fuse when he changed the starter....

BTW, welcome to zilvia

[glycerine169]

Yea i realized it was old but it was the only thread I saw with the same problems I was hoping to get a response from someone. My car was dead this morning when I went to go to work.

[glycerine169]

Thanks for the welcome as well I just started on my 240 about a month ago I also have a supra that's strictly track now so it was kinda upsetting when the 240 didn't start for me.