[Hiergehts]

I have an '01 GXE 1.8 5-spd w/ 93k as my DD. Today, while running errands I parked the car and came back about 15 minutes later and it would not crank or anything. The idiots lights would not light up and nothing else happened when I turned the key - no clicking, buzzing, etc. It had been running normally before I shut it off.

I thought perhaps the clutch interlock switch had stuck as if you don't push the pedal all the way in it will do that (no start, no dash lights) I so reached under the dash and pushed the pin switch in - idiot lights would then come back on when I turned key to the start position but still no crank, no start, no nothing...

Tried to turn key again without resetting, no dash lights again so reset switch again with same result, idiot lights come on but nothing otherwise. After resetting when the dash lights come on and you try starting they dim a bit so there seems to be an electrical load being applied when turning the key. I also noticed when I tried to turn the key a few times today, the idiot lights would alternate between nothing, them being at normal brightness or them being very dim, just barely visible...

As its a few years old, I though perhaps the battery had an internal problem so I swapped in a known good battery (almost brand new, same group size, out of our other car) - exact same result as before so obviously not the battery.

Car is bone stock, no mods or aftermarket anything (like an alarm, radio, immobilizer). I've not had any issues of any kind with it recently and this problem has never occurred in the 3 years that I've had it.

Anyone have an idea what the problem is here?

 

[i68k]

give the starter some light taps with a malet, the starter itself maybe failing on you. the starter is a fairly simple system, battery, ignition switch, wiring, and starter. otherwise i cant think of a normal reason this would happen aside from electrical wiring/grounding, bad ecu, or sezied motor.

 

[Hiergehts]

Thanks for your reply. I will try that this morning (car is parked at a mall lot).

In thinking about this further I thought perhaps the ignition switch itself may be the culprit?

I say that as a couple weeks back I shut the car off, removed the key and yet the 'key in ignition' tone continued to chime. I put the key back in, jiggled things a bit and then pulled it out and...the tone stopped like it should.

Though that has not occurred since, it leads me to believe that the switch internals may be loose/worn? The key itself (I only have 1, used car) has some wear, but nothing excessive in comparison to other cars of a similar age/mileage that I've had.

 

[JudoJohn]

it sounds like a loose connection somewhere. check the grounds as i68k mentioned. I would suspect an intermittent ignition switch because the lights don't come on. if it were just the starter, all the idiot lights would still illuminate when the key is turned to the ignition position. or perhaps a relay in the system.

if it happens again, wiggle the key and see if that changes anything. if so, you have narrowed it down to the switch.