I thought my problem was the clutch safety switch. The car would not even turn over when I turned the key. Just a click from the dash. I cut the connector from the clutch safety switch and spliced the wires together. This worked brilliantely for one day. My car was involved in a minor wreck (other guy got ticket) and after the fender bender my car would not start again! I thought that the wires I spliced together had come apart, but they are still solidly connected. The weird part is that it works sometimes now. I will get to gether a few guys to help me bump start it and just as we are about to push I turn the keys and it works! But them if I turn it off it probably won't start again.


I can start it by shorting out the + - on the starter and it starts perfectly every time that way. Does that eliminate the starter as the problem?

I'm pretty sure that it is a loose connection between the ignition and the starter; or the starter itself. I would like to eliminate the starter if I could without replacing it.

My understanding of the starter is that if it receives a + charge of 12 volts it will turn over regardless of the source right?

I had the IDENTICAL problem and with my troubleshooting I figured it was the starter even though it would sometimes work and sometimes not under identical conditions. I replaced the starter and didnt have any problems for a couple months but just last night the car wouldnt start when I parked it (I did drive through a flash flood) but I did have power. Then I push started it and got it 20 minutes towards home and my lights started dimming...then my cd player then my dash and it just cut out. I parked the car on the side of the road and I have power but it wont crank! My starter couldnt have gone out AGAIN that fast. Any body that can help me out, please send an email to jmw2an@virginia.edu since I will have no more internet acess for 20 weeks (basic training starts tomorrow). Thanks.

Check your battery cable where the positive wire meets the battery. Back in the mid-'90s, my SE-R had the same glitch: It wouldn't start consistently. I wiggled that connection at the battery, and voila', it would fire right up. The wire/terminal had to be in just the right position to do so.

A new terminal and cutting the wire back a little took care of that.

Hope this helps you guys.