Starting Problems

[ancorder]

I have a '93 SE with the 3.3L V6 and have been having starting problems for the last year. The problem is such: When I turn the key, there is a click. My electricals work (A/C, radio, wipers, lights, gauges, etc.) but there is no crank in the engine at all.

The strangest part is this: this seems to happen completely at random. I will go thirty starts without any trouble, then for two days it will refuse to start, no matter what I try. Then it'll work the next day, then won't work one time, then it'll work for a month, etc. One time it wasn't working, so I opened the hood to check it out and my dad fired it right up without doing anything. Another time I turned off all the electricals except the dome lights and it worked. Strange. It doesn't happen more or less often during heat or cold. I have no idea what prompts it to happen. I took it on a 1200 mile trip earlier this summer and it started right up every time. I tried to go downtown to get some milk the other day and had to walk.

My battery is fine. It's been tested and charged and jumped and stared at. I wonder if it isn't the ignition contact switch? Someone suggested it might be the neutral safety switch. I have an auto transmission, is this a realistic possibility?

Thanks,

Marcus

[ACoolGuy]

i have a 92 and this may sound crazy but my car will (most of the time) not start in park...what i do is throw it into neutral and it cranks right up...i wouldnt be able to tell you what causes this but maybe it'll work for you too...when it wont start again...try it in neutral...if you've already done this then i would say elect problem...

[93GASE3300]

it sounds like one of three things. 1.)you might have a bad ground in your ignition wiring, check all your grounds for corrosion or breakage. 2) A starter that has a dead spot in it, sometimes when
starters get old they develop a dead spot where the car will not start at all when its stuck there, you can determine this by giving it a good wack with a hammer and fix it with a new starter. 3) you may have a bad starter solenoid, with age the can malfunction internally and do the same thing.

let me know your findings or if you need help with the information I gave you.