Superformance starting issue

[Madrush]

When I start the car and turn the key nothing happens the first couple of times then it starts. I just replaced the battery so I know that's not the issue. Any suggestions? It does it hot or cold and not all the time.

[ACademic]

Check the tightness of all battery connections. Check your grounds as well. You would be surprised how easy it is to rattle free good connections in these cars. You may also be having an intermittent problem with your ignition switch. These problems are typically easy to fix but difficult to diagnose until you start isolating the issue.

[Jerry Clayton]

Poor grounds to a rear mounted battery in a fiberglass car--

check for voltage at the solenoid

Run an extra lead from the engine block near the starter back to the same lug where the battery is grounded to the frame.

Do you by any chance have a master shut off switch???

[jhv48]

Before you get all involved in searching for an electrical problem, flip your fan switch on when your ignition switch fails to start the car. If the fan comes on independently of the the ignition switch working you have narrowed down the problem to either the ignition switch itself or the starter/solenoid.

Now, one by one. Check that the wires to both the ignition switch and the solenoid/starter are tight. That could be the easy fix. Then, if the wires are tight, in order to eliminate the starter/solenoid, you must crawl under the car and bypass the ignition switch by placing a screwdriver across the two poles of the solenoid (or use a remote starter if you have one to bump the starter, less sparks). Make sure the car is in neutral and just touch the poles briefly to see if the solenoid engages. If the starter engages and spins, then it's the ignition switch. Replace it.

If the shorting out of the solenoid doesn't produce a starter engagement, then your solenoid is bad. Rarely will it be the starter.

My bet is a loose connection to the ignition switch or solenoid or a failing ignition switch.

These are the easy steps. If no fix, then we have to go deeper.

[Jerry Clayton]

You also should get a serial number range specific wiring diagram from Blas on here---trying to chase down electrical problems from the owners manual can be difficult

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Jerry Clayton

You also should get a serial number range specific wiring diagram from Blas on here---trying to chase down electrical problems from the owners manual can be difficult

Jerry, check your PMs -- I sent you something. <Excuse the interruption to the thread.>

[Chilibit]

Before you get all involved in searching for an electrical problem, flip your fan switch on when your ignition switch fails to start the car. If the fan comes on independently of the the ignition switch working you have narrowed down the problem to either the ignition switch itself or the starter/solenoid.

My fans are independent of the ignition switch. Intentionally I think.

[jhv48]

Originally Posted by Chilibit

Before you get all involved in searching for an electrical problem, flip your fan switch on when your ignition switch fails to start the car. If the fan comes on independently of the the ignition switch working you have narrowed down the problem to either the ignition switch itself or the starter/solenoid.

My fans are independent of the ignition switch. Intentionally I think.

The point is to see if all the power to the car has ceased momentarily or just the ignition sequence. If the fan turns on when the ignition won't, you have narrowed down the field.

[Chilibit]

Ah, now I see your logic.

[Blas]

It would be helpful to have your chassis number. The next time the engine won't turn over when you turn the key, keep the key in the cranking position and jiggle it while in that position. Has the car ever turned off while driving? When hitting bumps? I'm assuming you jet no reaction when the problem occures, no clicks, etc. Another thing is the start inhibit switch on the transmission or the Start inhibit relay. More later. You got and message on CC from me earlier today.

[Blas]

Any further progress?