Circuit between ignition switch and starter solenoid ???

My '93 wouldn't start normally tonight. Turning the ignition key actuated everything BUT the starter. Lights, horn, etc. all worked normally.

After cleaning this and that with no results, I removed the connector from the low-current side of the starter solenoid (right center of engine, rear, accessible from above), and ran a wire from there to the HOT side of the battery - with the ignition held in the START position. The engine cranked and started, and ran.

Obviously, the problem is somewhere between the key and the starter solenoid... Any thoughts? Fuse? Relay? Switch?

And the CHECK ENGINE light is now on.

[Mr. Pockets]

Originally posted by Henry
My '93 wouldn't start normally tonight. Turning the ignition key actuated everything BUT the starter. Lights, horn, etc. all worked normally.

After cleaning this and that with no results, I removed the connector from the low-current side of the starter solenoid (right center of engine, rear, accessible from above), and ran a wire from there to the HOT side of the battery - with the ignition held in the START position. The engine cranked and started, and ran.

Obviously, the problem is somewhere between the key and the starter solenoid... Any thoughts? Fuse? Relay? Switch?

And the CHECK ENGINE light is now on.

I had a problem with my '93 last fall that convinced me I had a bad ignition switch. All power things worked - seats, lights, etc, but the engine wouldn't even turn.

I replaced my battery and everything was fine.

Your wire directly from the battery to the starter may be providing a more direct path for the power, which would explain why you can start it like that...but it;s just a guess...

The wire that let me start the car went to the starter solenoid, not the starter itself.

The whole problem turned out to be a connector, probably jarred loose when the tranny was rebuilt.

[Seraph]

Originally posted by Henry
My '93 wouldn't start normally tonight. Turning the ignition key actuated everything BUT the starter. Lights, horn, etc. all worked normally.

After cleaning this and that with no results, I removed the connector from the low-current side of the starter solenoid (right center of engine, rear, accessible from above), and ran a wire from there to the HOT side of the battery - with the ignition held in the START position. The engine cranked and started, and ran.

Obviously, the problem is somewhere between the key and the starter solenoid... Any thoughts? Fuse? Relay? Switch?

And the CHECK ENGINE light is now on.

Check the ground wire for the tranny (i think the pin number is 1). That should do the trick.

Lwin