help car doesnt crank over. (clutch interlock switch) - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

fcdrifer17 · 02-28-2007, 07:41 PM

i recently got my car running about 2 weeks ago and now it doesnt crank over. it does a click sounds like its commoing from the fuse panal. a couple of days ago i had this problem and searched and found out to be it was the clutch interlock switch.. the owner before me must have bypassed the switch and just wired those to wires together and came apart.. i rewired them back and it started great for a couple of days.. now it doesnt want to start.. the wires to the interlock switch are wired together.

if i turn the key and hold it on start the main fuse in the engine bay will pop..

at the time of the swap i lost the negitive ground wire that goes from the battery to the block. so i used another wire about half the size and connected it from the battery to the block.. maybe its to thin?

is the clutch interlock switch bypassed right or am i soppose to ground it?
anybody have any ideas? thanks.

lazierhobo · 02-28-2007, 09:45 PM

the clutch interlock switch is just a simple normally open two terminal switch. removing it is simply connecting the two wires coming out of it. it should not cause any problems for it to be removed.

i would look somewhere else for your problem. if you heard a click, it sounds like a relay is trying operate. other than that. im not sure what direction to point you in. electrical can be a bitch, thats half the reason i ripped everything out and started from scratch.

Irukandji · 02-28-2007, 11:51 PM

First thing I'd check is your ground. I thought my clutch interlock relay was bad but it turned out to be a bad ground problem. Start with the simple stuff first, get thick (at least 4 gauge wire) and fix your ground cable. Then clean your battery terminals and contacts. see what happens from there.

longdy · 03-01-2007, 12:01 AM

i also had this kind of problem too..
what i did was
1. i checked all the negative wires
2. check to see if the ignition fuse went out
3. (and my problem) make sure all the wires are connected tightly to the starter and the alternator.
4. if not these then check you batt. have you tried jumping it yet????

try these and see what happens

s13gold · 03-01-2007, 12:03 AM

take off the terminals and check to see if they are immersed in that blue stuff. that exactly what happened to me. you can't see it without taking it off.

Z U L8R · 03-01-2007, 09:40 AM

there is a big grey (or NOT the usual 30amp blue) ignition relay that is by the battery kind of tucked up along the passenger fender behind the headlight, it's mounted on a bracket, check that relay.

when you say main fuse do you mean "just a big fuse" or do you mean the actual MAIN FUSE, what amp is it?

i just can't really see an internal short happening in the starter solenoid, but you may just need a new starter.

fcdrifer17 · 03-01-2007, 02:21 PM

ok so yesterday i go out and start it and it starts without messing with it.
now it only starts when it wants to. about 70% chance that it wont start

im check everything really good and replace that ground wire.

Z U L8R · 03-02-2007, 03:47 PM

you need a starter, that's it.

02-28-2007, 07:41 PM	#1
fcdrifer17 Leaky Injector Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: socal Posts: 142 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	help car doesnt crank over. (clutch interlock switch) i recently got my car running about 2 weeks ago and now it doesnt crank over. it does a click sounds like its commoing from the fuse panal. a couple of days ago i had this problem and searched and found out to be it was the clutch interlock switch.. the owner before me must have bypassed the switch and just wired those to wires together and came apart.. i rewired them back and it started great for a couple of days.. now it doesnt want to start.. the wires to the interlock switch are wired together. if i turn the key and hold it on start the main fuse in the engine bay will pop.. at the time of the swap i lost the negitive ground wire that goes from the battery to the block. so i used another wire about half the size and connected it from the battery to the block.. maybe its to thin? is the clutch interlock switch bypassed right or am i soppose to ground it? anybody have any ideas? thanks.

03-01-2007, 12:01 AM	#4
longdy Zilvia Addict Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Long Beach Posts: 747 Trader Rating: (2) Feedback Score: 2 reviews	i also had this kind of problem too.. what i did was 1. i checked all the negative wires 2. check to see if the ignition fuse went out 3. (and my problem) make sure all the wires are connected tightly to the starter and the alternator. 4. if not these then check you batt. have you tried jumping it yet???? try these and see what happens __________________ Summer project: Rx-7 Vert

02-28-2007, 09:45 PM	#2
lazierhobo Zilvia Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: upstate NY Posts: 228 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	the clutch interlock switch is just a simple normally open two terminal switch. removing it is simply connecting the two wires coming out of it. it should not cause any problems for it to be removed. i would look somewhere else for your problem. if you heard a click, it sounds like a relay is trying operate. other than that. im not sure what direction to point you in. electrical can be a bitch, thats half the reason i ripped everything out and started from scratch.

02-28-2007, 11:51 PM	#3
Irukandji Post Whore! Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Compton Posts: 4,268 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	First thing I'd check is your ground. I thought my clutch interlock relay was bad but it turned out to be a bad ground problem. Start with the simple stuff first, get thick (at least 4 gauge wire) and fix your ground cable. Then clean your battery terminals and contacts. see what happens from there.

03-01-2007, 12:03 AM	#5
s13gold Post Whore! Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: CARSON Posts: 4,240 Trader Rating: (79) Feedback Score: 79 reviews	take off the terminals and check to see if they are immersed in that blue stuff. that exactly what happened to me. you can't see it without taking it off.

03-01-2007, 09:40 AM	#6
Z U L8R Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Georgia Age: 43 Posts: 1,194 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	there is a big grey (or NOT the usual 30amp blue) ignition relay that is by the battery kind of tucked up along the passenger fender behind the headlight, it's mounted on a bracket, check that relay. when you say main fuse do you mean "just a big fuse" or do you mean the actual MAIN FUSE, what amp is it? i just can't really see an internal short happening in the starter solenoid, but you may just need a new starter.

03-01-2007, 02:21 PM	#7
fcdrifer17 Leaky Injector Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: socal Posts: 142 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	ok so yesterday i go out and start it and it starts without messing with it. now it only starts when it wants to. about 70% chance that it wont start im check everything really good and replace that ground wire.

03-02-2007, 03:47 PM	#8
Z U L8R Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Georgia Age: 43 Posts: 1,194 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	you need a starter, that's it.