Fluke Posted July 10, 2015 Share Posted July 10, 2015 I am trying to eliminate issues that might stop my car from starting. I have already made sure my battery is fully charged. Checked the fuses behind the battery and I still only get a single click. All my lights and other electrics work, so unless anyone can point out something else. The only thing I can think of is either the clutch pedal switch or the starter motor. Before I have a go at removing the starter motor and trying another one, is there a way I can rule out the clutch switch? Any tips for removing the starter motor on a driveway? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MIGWEL Posted July 10, 2015 Share Posted July 10, 2015 If the clicking is coming from the starter motor then it may be jammed in the flywheel. Two things you can do. Firstly put car in gear and rock it ( push ). Secondly while someone is trying to start it give the starter a knock which usually frees it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fluke Posted July 10, 2015 Author Share Posted July 10, 2015 The car will bump start so I figure it's the switch or the starter motor? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MIGWEL Posted July 10, 2015 Share Posted July 10, 2015 The battery may be charged but may not have the full power to turn the engine over. If i were you i would borrow some jump leads and see if it starts from another vehicle. When you say bump start you did mean by pushing it ? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southpaw89 Posted July 10, 2015 Share Posted July 10, 2015 On the 370Z, the car will start with the brake pedal pressed rather then the clutch - someone might know if the 350 is the same so the clutch switch could be ruled out? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZEUS Posted July 10, 2015 Share Posted July 10, 2015 No it's the clutch on a 350 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fluke Posted July 10, 2015 Author Share Posted July 10, 2015 The battery may be charged but may not have the full power to turn the engine over. If i were you i would borrow some jump leads and see if it starts from another vehicle. When you say bump start you did mean by pushing it ? the battery is only a year old, and I tried jump starting with a set of leads. It started when I had a mate push it and I popped the clutch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
choptop Posted July 11, 2015 Share Posted July 11, 2015 The battery may be charged but may not have the full power to turn the engine over. If i were you i would borrow some jump leads and see if it starts from another vehicle. When you say bump start you did mean by pushing it ? the battery is only a year old, and I tried jump starting with a set of leads. It started when I had a mate push it and I popped the clutch. Still could be the battery. Could also be the alternator. Take it to an electrical specialist that reconditions alternators. They should be able to find the issue without charging you a fortune Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juggalo Posted July 11, 2015 Share Posted July 11, 2015 Check the Crank Amps on the battery. When I was shopping for a Z I saw a few with 300ish CCA. Good for a Saxo, way too low for a V6. But yeah, rock the car in gear and that can free up the starter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fluke Posted July 11, 2015 Author Share Posted July 11, 2015 I managed To remove my starter motor, both the actuator and starter motor work ok when I hooked it up to a spare battery. Is there a way to test the clutch switch? Is there likely to be a fuse that I have missed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juggalo Posted July 11, 2015 Share Posted July 11, 2015 Hooking them up to a spare battery won't tell you much, as the starter isn't under an load. best just chop the starter in for a refurbed or new one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garak112 Posted July 11, 2015 Share Posted July 11, 2015 Does this help at all? http://www.350z-uk.com/topic/69887-clutch-switch/#entry1503376 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dicky Posted July 12, 2015 Share Posted July 12, 2015 This may help...taken from the maintenance manual. If the car bump starts then the problem must lie within the following .. STARTING SYSTEM System Description M/T MODELS Power is supplied at all times: â— through 40A fusible link (letter M, located in the fuse and fusible link box) â— to ignition switch terminal 1 â— through 15A fuse (No.73, located in the IPDM E/R) â— to CPU of IPDM E/R. With the ignition switch in the ON or START position, power is supplied: â— through 10A fuse (No.80, located in the IPDM E/R) â— to CPU of IPDM E/R â— through 10A fuse (No.71, located in the IPDM E/R) â— to clutch interlock switch terminal 1. When the clutch pedal is depressed, power is supplied â— through clutch interlock switch terminal 2 â— to IPDM E/R terminal 43. Ground is supplied: â— to IPDM E/ R terminals 14, 45 and 46 â— through body grounds E17, E43 and F152. Then starter relay is turn ON. With the ignition switch in the START position, IPDM E/R is energized and power is supplied: â— from ignition switch terminal 4 â— to IPDM E/R terminal 11 and â— through IPDM E/R terminal 4 â— to starter motor terminal 1. PFP:23300 The starter motor plunger closes and provides a closed circuit between the battery and starter motor. The starter motor is grounded to the engine block. With power and ground supplied, cranking occurs and the engine starts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fluke Posted July 12, 2015 Author Share Posted July 12, 2015 I put my old starter back on and the car fired up straight away, I turned it off and tried again and just got the single click again. I am not sure if it was a fluke or that it does point to the starter motor being duff? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dicky Posted July 13, 2015 Share Posted July 13, 2015 I put my old starter back on and the car fired up straight away, I turned it off and tried again and just got the single click again. I am not sure if it was a fluke or that it does point to the starter motor being duff? Either the gear on the end of the starter motor which gets thrown into mesh with the fly wheel is damaged and sticking in mesh with the flywheel or the starter motor itself is duff. Have you tried putting the car in 2 nd gear and rocking it back and forwards to see if the starter motor gear wheel u meshes from the flywheel? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fluke Posted July 13, 2015 Author Share Posted July 13, 2015 I put my old starter back on and the car fired up straight away, I turned it off and tried again and just got the single click again. I am not sure if it was a fluke or that it does point to the starter motor being duff? Either the gear on the end of the starter motor which gets thrown into mesh with the fly wheel is damaged and sticking in mesh with the flywheel or the starter motor itself is duff. Have you tried putting the car in 2 nd gear and rocking it back and forwards to see if the starter motor gear wheel u meshes from the flywheel? No, I tried doing that in first gear, would that make any difference? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dicky Posted July 13, 2015 Share Posted July 13, 2015 (edited) Would be much the same I expect, just I always select 2nd. So long as the flywheel is made to move and hopefully release the starter gear if it has got caught up. The more violent you can jog the flywheel the more chance it will release. The click you hear when trying to turn the engine over will be the starter solenoid relay pulling in to supply current to the starter motor. Edited July 15, 2015 by Dicky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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