intermittently wont start.. bad starter?

[xkeithx]

i put the key in turn it, i hear a click when i turn the key to "Start" but there is no cranking from the starter. then i have to pull the key out and keep trying to start it, and eventually the starter will work. its weird... i hear the little solenoid near the passenger side make a clicking noise.. so i know the wiring from the key lock to the solenoid is good.. but from there to the starter, i can get the engine to start maybe once out of every 20 or 30 tries. i know the battery is fine and all that, i dont know if its a loose wire or not. ive even tried holding the key at the start position for like a minute.. and it just keeps the solenoid open but nothing happens. so i guess that would rule out a bad connection.. what the heck is wrong? why does it take so many tries to get my engine started? i have a 1978 280z, all the wiring is stock as far as i know.

[Ken]

The same thing happened to me when I was returning from the show in Syracuse, NY. Identical. A buddy of mine disconected the ign lead from the starter solonoid and had me turn the ign key on with the gearshift in neutral. He took a screwdriver and shorted between the battery and ign connection on the starter solonoid. Car turned over and started. Got me home and let me know it was not the battery. That left two items. The electrical switch on back of ign lock and the starter brushes worn out. I picked up a re-built starter and an ign electrical switch. The rebuilt starter cured the problem. The new, rebuilt starter really spins the motor now! I am keeping the ign electrical switch for when that wears out. Good luck

[wilby34]

same thing happened to me, i just replaced the started and all was well again.

[2ManyZs]

Perhaps before you replace anything, you might want to double check your battery posts and connections at the starter. Try cleaning them with a battery post cleaner just for the heck of it if you haven't already. Might just be corroded.

If not that and replacing the starter doesn't help, it's probably in the switch.

[xkeithx]

just to clarify everything.. the solenoid in the engine compartment is not clicking. it is a little square relay inside the car on the passenger side under the dash that is making a clicking noise.. so would it be that thats worn out?? i tried putting the key in and i put it to the start position, and then i took a screwdriver and touched the two terminals of the starter solenoid together, and all these sparks came out and that scared me so maybe i did it wrong?? was i supposed to disconnect the ign lead? which one is the ign lead? as far as i can tell, there are 2 big terminals on the solenoid... one that goes into the starter and the other one that connects to the + battery terminal. and there are some other wires connected to there that were probably for a stereo or something. and then theres a little spade thing with a black wire coming off it, and it goes through the firewall somewhere. whats that wire for?

just to recap.. the only click i hear when turning the key to "on" is a relay under the dash.. and i dont hear any click from the solenoid in the engine compartment. thanks for the help guys.

[xkeithx]

well i got it figured out.. i took apart the starter and cleaned everything, put it back, still wouldnt start.. then i looked behind the key switch and just touched a screwdriver to the black/yellow and white/red wires and it started right up. so i guess its my switch. i took the switch out and tested it with an ohmmeter, and i guess when i turn the switch from start to on the switch doesnt go over far enough to engage the switch. i dont really feel like spending 30 bucks for a new switch so i just kinda hold the key at the on position and shake it a little and i can get it to start. anyone else do this? maybe i could spray some sorta cleaner stuff inside the switch to clean the contacts so i dont have to shake it? i dont know. would brake parts cleaner be a good thing to use for cleaning contacts? thats what i used to get all the dust out of my starter motor, it seemed to work good.

[2ManyZs]

Sounds like the barrel of the switch is worn out and causing too much play to make contact. You will probably end up replacing the switch sooner or later. Might try looking for one form a parts car that might be in better shape. You will need to find one from the same year car if possible as some years are wired differently and you end up with a mess to figure out.