Help finding out my problem.....(long)

[Vip-RT10]

As most of the Tampa crew knows, I have been out for about 2 weeks now. I have a problem that persists in the 93 Viper and is not fixed yet.

1) I changed the battery
2) clutch pedal switch works (checked continuity)
3) starter relay is new, I replaced it.
4) I reset the alarm
5) had the starter tested
6) tested for continuity to the starter wires (steps with the key on starting)
7) cleaned all the wires that need to be ground (by engine, battery, ECU)
8) checked all the fuses
9) I tried moving the steering wheel
10)fuel pump works when key is turned to "ON"
11)accessory position on key works

Earlier, when the clutch was pressed down, and tried to start the car....voltage dropped, lights dimmed a bit, then factory alarm honked twice, but the engine did not turn over.

Now, doing the same, the voltage does not drop. Gerald helped me start the car the other day by jiggleing the key release lever and tilting the steering wheel. It worked a few times, but gave away in Orlando this last weekend.

It push starts fine, but nothing with the key. Now, the only thing to see is if the key cylinder is messed up, or if the ignition module is ruined.

To end this, it doesn't even turn over, any suggestions.....I can't sleep at night. Thanks in advance

 

[Matt M PA]

Is it possible that the safety switch on the clutch is bad? Seems to me that this was a common problem.

 

[Vip-RT10]

Thanks for the suggestions guys....it is weird, this all started happening after i got the door pops and A/C in, so i need to rule somethings out. The aftermarket alarm guy is comming to my house in a few hrs to see if the alarm did ruin my car. I looked at the diagram for the alarm and the starter kill is the same as the door open thing. We'll see what happens as soon as he gets here.

 

[SteveBCloud9]

Had a similar problem with my 68' Pontiac Lemans convertible. It came down to the positive cable. If you turned the cable at the post a certain way (and re-tighted it) it would work, other times it would do just as you described. Change the entire cable as there is a short somewhere. Good luck.

 

[Vip-RT10]

I am happy to tell you all the the problem seems to be fixed. To everyone's surprise, it was the............

Let me tell you first what we did, had a stereo installer friend come over with his tools. He checked all the connections and continuity in the foot well. All was good to there.

We tested the starter relay and it was good. Upon trying to crack the engine, he heard a clicking on the auto-shutoff relay. So we read the book.

It states that the auto-shutoff relay will activate if it doesn't receive a signal from the camshaft sensor and the crankshaft sensor. The camshaft sensor was the problem. It was not connected properly or rattled loose a bit. Once that was fixed, the car started up fine.

AS a result to this sensor problem, it heated up the harness on the aftermarket alarm to ground the starter kill switch. Once this was bypassed, it worked fine. The correct parts will be in on Sat.

Thanks for the suggestions guys...keep this one for the record! 2 weeks of going nuts!

 

[Ulysses]

Just a guess, but it sounds like the starter itself is having a problem.

 

[Vip-RT10]

Well, I'm back to square one...the sensor finally completely died before the new one came in. It stincks not being able to drive the car!