Ok, I have searched and searched and have found no luck. Where in the eff is the damned starter relay? I have thought i had found it like 3 times, disconnected them and still my car will start.
I am trying to find it because when I am driving for a certain amount of time, my car won’t start after being shut off. Fuel pump primes, and I hear all the clicking from the relays, but sometimes my car won’t start. Never has a hard time starting when it’s cold. Usually after driving for an extensive amount of time is when it won’t start. I have read over and over about people with the same problem, and everyone saying “Check the starter relay”. Ok, great! BUT WHERE IS IT?!??!1
I found one diagram with a picture of the starter relay being located under the climate control behind the radio. So I pulled everything out but I don’t see it. There’s a really small relay back there, and another relay (I think), but that one is cased in a metal shell. I disconnected both of them and the car still starts, so I know that those aren’t them.
I have also heard from different people that our cars don’t have one, and then from other people saying our cars do have 'em…
Anyways, if someone can please help and take a REAL picture or has a CLEAR diagram of the location of the starter relay, or at least tell me how many/what color wires are coming out from the bottom. MY whole lower dash is out right now so I have a clear view of all the relays under the dash. PLEASE HELP!!!
Oh, also, I am in the process of jumping the switch from the clutch to see if that’s the problem. I will edit this post when I do, and let everyone know whether it worked or not.
I wouldn’t say starter relay, I would say it is you Main fuel relay. It is located under the drivers side knee panel under the steering column but more to the left side.
The only reason I didn’t mention the fuel relay is 'cuz I just repaired it. That’s why I’m thinking it’s the starter relay now. Anyways, I think I’m gonna redo it and see what happens. Thanks for the input!
The starter relay is located on the right side of the heater unit, [heater core].
I also do not believe it is the relay, or the clutch interlock switch, it is something that is heating up as the engine heats up, causing a connection problem.
It’s easy enough to check.
First thing to check are the 2 connections at the starter motor, main batt. power, make sure the nut is tight, [do not over tighten] the other is the starter “signal”, it is a plug in terminal, something like this… http://www.scosche.com/products/sfID1/151/sfID2/195/productID/1302 make sure this terminal is clean and fits tightly to the male terminal in the starter solenoid.
Next time it will not start, [I assume you mean engine will not turn over] try a direct power jump to the starter motor solenoid, use a jumper wire from the batt. pos.(+) terminal, [even the batt. cable connection on the starter motor] to the solenoid terminal, you will need to unplug the starter signal lead, [black/white] from the solenoid.
CAUTION make sure car is not in gear as doing the direct power jump bypasses the clutch interlock switch.
if engine still will not turn over, have someone hold the ign. key to start, [stepping on clutch] as you give the starter motor/solenoid a sharp tap or two with a heavy metal object.
You also said “I hear all the clicking from the relays”
Does that mean you can hear the PGM-FI Main Relay click on to prime the fuel lines and then click off or does it mean you can hear the starter relay click on and off as you turn the ign, switch from run to start?
Can you hear clicking from the engine bay?:hmm: 94
Well couldn’t it be the relay? Being that it’s over 15 years old and just getting ready to go? Anywho, I do hear the fuel pump prime, and I hear a few clicks from the relay…two when I turn the key to the on position (Main relay on and off?), and then one other one when I try to start the car (this is when it wont start). Once I let go of the key, having an unsuccessful start, the main relay will click again, re-prime the pump, and then click once more (turning off I guess)…I don’t know if I hear anything from the engine bay, but there is a loud click coming from behind the radio somewhere when in the run position and not starting. I’m sure it’s there when the car starts, just can’t hear it then. I am assuming that’s the starter relay…I’m gonna look into it more when the car doesn’t start…but I have only like a 30min-1 hr window as the car usually starts when it cools a little. Last time I was checking stuff when the car didnt start, about 10 min the car turned over and started so I had to stop checking as it would just start everytime now. I am gonna check all my connections today and see where I can get. I wll wire wheel all the connections and see if that solves my problem. Thanks.
Yea, intermittent problems can be a bit of a pain to find.
What I would do is jerry rig a test light, use any 12V light, ground one side and connect the other side to the starter signal lead at the starter solenoid.
Unplug the starter signal lead, stick the stripped wire end into the terminal and plug it back onto the solenoids terminal, run the lead into the car and connect it to the bulbs 12V+ input, then strip the end of the bulbs neg. lead and pinch it in the lighter for a ground, if you have a test light or meter you can connect it up pretty much the same way.
When you crank the engine to start the light bulb/test light will light up, as there is 12V+ to the solenoid, [starter signal lead].
The next time the engine will not crank you will have narrowed down the problem, if the light still lights up, the problem has to be after the point where you connected the bulb/test light, [starter solenoid or starter] if the bulb/test light does not light up, the problem is before the connection, [starter relay, Clutch Interlock Switch, or even the ign. switch].
By far the most common cause of intermittent engine cranking is a defective starter solenoid, with the ign. switch a close second and the CIS and starter relay a distant 3rd and 4th.:D94
Sweet deal. I have a multimeter, so I can use that. Has pretty long leads, so I can position on the windshield from the outside so that I can see the voltage while cranking. I just got home from about an hour drive (girl went to work) and so I’m gonna go try it right now and see if it starts or not. Hopefully it doesn’t so I can test everything now. Thanks again, and if you think of anything else, just let me know. I appreciate the help!