Mx3 wont crank or start

Muscle_Mark · Post by **Muscle_Mark** » April 25th, 2005, 5:34 pm

Hey guys, having a problem with my mx3. In hot weather even when its been sitting all day it wont crank or start. I check the voltage at the starter and there is none. What else should i check? Clutch switch ?ecu?

Please i really need my car for work and appreciate any input.

Tunes67 · Post by **Tunes67** » April 25th, 2005, 5:37 pm

Check your battery terminal connections first off. If those are good connections and free of corrosion.. then I would suspect the starter itself.. When they heat up the core of the starter expands a bit and as the bushings/bearings wear out.. the core spindle can actually wedge against the outer housing.. preventing the starter from spinning. Now I havent seen this actually happen to a MX-3 starter specifically.. but I have seen it happen to several different types of starters in general. So it wouldnt surprise me to see it happen to a MX-3 starter as well. Best of luck man.

Tunes67

Grants · Post by **Grants** » April 25th, 2005, 6:21 pm

Yes there is a switch on the clutch. Check out the drawing on my web page under info. So in the start position you should have a voltage to the BLK / BLU wire on the clutch switch and then on the BLK / RED with the clutch drepressed.

Muscle_Mark · Post by **Muscle_Mark** » April 25th, 2005, 9:25 pm

Thanks for the help. Yes i thought the starter as well but there was no voltage coming to it ....THe mx3 manual talks about the Mtx starter interlock switch..is this the clutch switch?

Tunes67 · Post by **Tunes67** » April 25th, 2005, 9:28 pm

Do you hear the starter solenoid clicking when you turn the key to the start position?

Tunes67

Grants · Post by **Grants** » April 25th, 2005, 9:35 pm

Yes - the clutch switch. Have a look at that drawing.

Tunes - no voltage so wouldn't be any clicking.

Tunes67 · Post by **Tunes67** » April 25th, 2005, 9:52 pm

Grants.. if there is a dead short in the starter would you still register voltage at the dead short? I know that when the starter in my Nova seized up.. it behaved like a complete dead short.. but I could still hear the starter solenoid clicking.

Tunes67

Yoda · Post by **Yoda** » April 25th, 2005, 11:03 pm

Sound a lot like the clutch safety switch on the pedal going bad. I had this problem for a day or two until it gave out. I ended up having to jump it out in a parking lot one day to get the car going . Over the past 5 to 6 years I have come across several people stuck in parking lot where thay say the started would crank and other times it won't. If you have a good battery connection then check the two safety switches.

Grants · Post by **Grants** » April 25th, 2005, 11:07 pm

I'm assuming he's checking the solenoid wire from the ignition. He should really do this with that wire disconnected.

Regardless of a dead short or not, if the relay was clicking it must be getting some power, at least enough to pull in the solenoid. A dead short in the starter might then rob the battery voltage but you must get some at some stage for the solenoid to pull in (click). A good way to check for a dead short in the starter motor is to turn the headlights on while your trying to crank and see what they do.

I'd be check in this order:
- battery and starter motor connections
- power to one side of the clutch switch when cranking (clutch not pressed)
- depending on that - power to other side of the clutch switch when cranking and with the clutch depressed
- depending on that - tap the starter motor with a hammer while cranking (the solenoid might be sticking although this seems unlikely if he's got no voltage).

Muscle_Mark · Post by **Muscle_Mark** » April 25th, 2005, 11:36 pm

Thanks so much bros ! Yes i made a 100 % sure it wasnt the Starter ....Definatly no voltage getting there. I'll be checking it tomorrow and let you guys know how it turns out.