No start. crankshaft position sensor?

[eauque]

Hello all, I have a 1995 DX which will not start. It is intermittent. I am thinking the Crank Position Sensor may be bad. If the car is in Park or Neutral, a key turn yields a click from behind the dash. If the car is in another gear, a key turn yields no click from behind the dash. Does this mean the Neutral Safety Switch is OK? If the problem is not the Crank Position Sensor, what else could it be? Thanks in advance!

[eauque]

On further reflection, since the motor won't turn over at all, I suspect it's not the crank position sensor. A motor will turn over even if that's not attached.

Neutral Safety Switch?
Brake Pedal switch?

Just to clarify, there is no click from the starter or anywhere in the engine bay.

[Sine Deviance]

Usually, a dead/disconnected crank position sensor will only keep the engine from firing up, not turning over. But stranger things have happened.

Very first thing you should check are your battery connections. If your positive or negative terminals are loose it can cause the very problem you're describing (but usually with the added effect of killing all the power to the car until you wiggle the terminal a little.)

Next, pop open the main fuseblock (under the hood) and check the main ignition/starter fuse and the alternator fuse. If you have a Haynes manual and a voltmeter you should also check your relays according to the instructions in the manual to make sure they're working.

Barring that, check the starter. If the starter was not engaging it could give you the 'click' you describe. <-- EDIT: Just saw where you said there was no click from the starter. Move to the next step.

If the starter tests good, move onto the neutral/park safety switch. The brake pedal switch shouldn't have any effect on this, it should only be for the brake lights. I could be wrong though.

And if that doesn't work, go for the crank position sensor.

[speedy25]

Position sensors rarely fail unless they get physically damaged.

On your description of "no start" is it:

engine doesnt turn over with starter

or

engine turns over but fails to start.

If its the first option you probably have bad contacts in the starter solenoid.

-SP

[eauque]

Originally Posted by speedy25

Position sensors rarely fail unless they get physically damaged.

On your description of &quot;no start&quot; is it:

engine doesnt turn over with starter

or

engine turns over but fails to start.

If its the first option you probably have bad contacts in the starter solenoid.

-SP

There is no response within the engine bay. The only click I hear is something in the dash. The click happens in Park and Neutral but no other gear.
I don't suspect a starter solenoid problem as the starter is new.
Maybe a bad Starter Relay?

[speedy25]

Dont rule out the new starter being bad! I put one in a Nissan that lasted 2 days!

Another thing to check that can make those symptoms is corroded battery terminals. AFter cleaning make sure that the terminal fits on the battery TIGHT. Last week I easily pulled off the positive terminal of a Honda I was working on.

-SP

[eauque]

I've replaced the Park/Neutral safety switch and the Starter Relay.

Still same symptoms. Will not turn over and no click from starter.

All connections and battery are good. What else might be the issue?

[speedy25]

reread my previous post??

-SP

[eauque]

Thanks SP. The battery terminals are attached tightly and very clean. I will stop being stubborn and work with the starter tomorrow. Thanks for your suggestion! I'll post a reply with the results.

[eauque]

The Starter checked out fine.

I am 95% sure now that the problem is with the Ignition Switch. I wiggled the key and the car started. It is very flaky though. I took apart the switch, cleaned it and added new di-electric grease to the contacts but still had the same symptoms. I'm going to install a new Ignition Switch as soon as the rain stops...

I guess. Or maybe it's a loose wire somewhere else between the dash and the engine bay. All the relays, fuses, connections etc are great as far as I can see without taking large parts off of the car.

I did check the switch with an ohm meter and in my non-expert opinion, it seemed flaky.

[eauque]

I replaced the electrical portion of the ignition switch and it still won't start.
I got a remote start switch and hooked it directly to the starter. It starts fine with that.

So,
New parts:
Starter Relay
Neutral Switch
Ignition Switch

I don't know what else to try. Maybe I'll permanently wire in the remote start switch.

[BigDAT]

do a physical run down from your key, follow all the wire ect with your hands to the starter, any issues remaining should be found, check everything.

[1jzdreamer]

On the front of the transmission, there is a gear selector switch around the lever the cable moves from the console. This tells the car what gear its in and if its clear to crank, and controls the reverse light switch. There should be a black an black white wire in the plug. Those are the same wires that on a manual run the clutch switch, check if those pins on the switch are open or closed in neutral and park. From there I believe the starter relay is to be triggered by the ecu to crank. Any popped fuses in the panel or the block in the engine bay?

[tonyhawk]

Originally Posted by eauque

On further reflection, since the motor won't turn over at all, I suspect it's not the crank position sensor. A motor will turn over even if that's not attached.

Neutral Safety Switch?
Brake Pedal switch?

Just to clarify, there is no click from the starter or anywhere in the engine bay.

Sometimes the car won’t start because the wheel is turned the wrong way. Try turning the wheel and then trying it again. Then if it doesn't work check the terminals and clean them if they’re dirty. Try again. Hope it helps.

[eauque]

Thanks Tony,

Your information is definitely relevant to the thread. I hope to remember that as a possible first troubleshooting step.

I've given up on the problem and wired a push-button start switch into the car. I have it jumped directly to the starter and the button is in an unused switch cover between the seats. So, now what I do to start the car is turn the key to "On" and then press the starter button. The car won't start unless the ignition is switched "On".

I did a real clean installation from the starter to the center console. There's a hole thru the inner fender liner on the driver side of the car that I passed the wire thru. The wire is protected with wire covering for its full length.

Thanks for all the input!