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Intermittent starting issue on 1992 "Frankenstein" convertible.
Topic Started: Apr 7 2014, 02:35 PM (325 Views)
cwatkin


I am helping a friend with a 1992 convertible. The car was purchased with the following replacement/modifications. The car has a 1994 engine as shown by the block casting number and the fact that the timing belt is the newer rounded tooth style with the 5 bolt pulley. The car was also converted from an automatic to a manual so I don't know where the manual trans came from or if it was the one from the 1994 that donated the engine. Either way, the transmission is the smoothest shifting I have ever seen in a Metro.

Here is the problem. There is an issue with starting that pops up from time to time. Sometimes it will just click and not start but it seems to always start if you try enough times. The symptoms are a click like the starter is trying to engage. You hear a hum as long as you hold the key but nothing happens as for cranking. The original battery cables and ground were junk so I figured this was the cause and replaced/redid the cables and made sure they were grounded well. This seems to have led to a slight improvement of the situation but it might just be in my mind too.

I also swapped starters and this didn't improve anything.

I am not sure where to look next. They left the neutral safety switch from the auto connected so it will start in gear. I am not sure if part of this is malfunctioning but figure this is something to consider.

I am also wondering about the ignition switch in the column or maybe a relay of some type. Any suggestions?

Thanks,

Conor
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cwatkin


Is there a way to bypass the neutral safety switch altogether on this car? I would like to just cut and splice some wires to avoid having problems like this in the future. I would solder and shrink tube them together so I would know it was a good solid connection. If this can be done, which wires would I need to cut and splice?

There are quite a few wires in that bundle but I would assume only like two are important.

Conor
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cwatkin


Also, the backup light switch on the transmission isn't connected to anything. Is there a way to wire this into anything? I would assume some of the wires in that bundle would apply to this on the automatic setups?

Conor
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Metromightymouse
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Powdercoat Wizard

For the starter issue, the next time it happens, run a wire from the positive battery post and touch it to the small wire to the solenoid (you can also jumper from the big wire on the starter to the small wire). Make sure it's out of gear, etc. If it cranks like it should then you aren't getting enough current to the starter from the ignition switch. The easiest solution, as far as I am concerned, is to add a relay to feed power directly from the battery. Other disagree. Decide what works best for you.
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