94 Cobra won't start- tried many things

hunterhicks

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Dec 4, 2003
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Howdy all, the day that I might sell my cobra, it won't start. Funny, eh?
The car usually starts and runs perfectly.

When you put the key to the start position, nothing happens... in the on position, the fuel pump primes, the dash lights come on, all looks and sounds normal. But when you go to the start position, nothing.

Here's what I've done:
-hooked up to another car (battery)
-checked the 3 40a fuses (and all the other fuses in the engine compartment)
-checked the starting relay
-replaced the ignition switch

Here's what I've learned:
-the clutch switch works fine
-the path from the white/pink wire (starting relay wire) coming out of the ignition switch (which goes through the clutch switch) to the starter relay (in the fuse box) is good- no problems there

The problem is that there is no power coming out of the white/pink wire when I am in the start position. So, it seems to be a problem before the ignition switch. I've probed all the easy wires on the ignition switch (closest to the steering wheel- fat yellow, fat yellow, fat gray, skinny yellow) and they all have power at the 'on' position.

So, what feeds the ignition switch power?

I have to get this guy up and running tonight for the possible sale tomorrow!

thanks!
 
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I can hotwire it- that is, clamp +12 onto the white/pink wire coming out of the ignition switch, with the key in and on the 'on' position and it fires right up like a good car.

I've studied over the Hayne's starting wiring diagram- I don't see what I'm missing.

I could install a 'push button starter'... heh...

so whatever feeds the ignition switch power to the starting circuit is not working. What is that?
 
Pictures. I took apart my stock one to see where the power was coming from.

Wire B4 seems to power the STA (starter wire- goes to the starter relay).
I have power to B4 in the 'on' position. when I go to the start position, no power.
You'll see in the dissected picture that B4 has that extra long tab, which would connect it to the STA terminal.

Here are some huge-ass pictures.

http://hunterhicks.com/ebay/igBoth.jpg
http://hunterhicks.com/ebay/igInstalled.jpg
http://hunterhicks.com/ebay/igJustInsides.jpg
 
have you checked the grounds? A quick test to check if a ground is causing the problem is to use a jumper cable. Run it from the negative post on the battery to somewhere on the engine(smog pump bracket, etc).

Also where did you get the ignition switch from? It's possible that it could be faulty.
 
i second the ground situation. had this same problem with mine. turned out to be more than just a ground but i would start with that first. what i did to remedy the ground problem was to jumper a wire over from where the main ground goes on the timing cover over to the bolt on the starter that has the nut on the end of it that holds the o2 sensor bracket. hope this helps.