2005 Cruiser

[sancapwork]

Hello all,
Love the info you guys have on these forums.
I have a starting problem with my 05 cruiser (5 speed manual, 189.000 miles) at first she would start when she wanted about a wk ago, now wont start, turn key on everything works except wont turn over, had the starter relay tested it tested fine at auto shop, then thought that it may be the clutch switch, no not that, had a new wiring harness put in 2 yrs back, new battery, no corrosion on any of the wirers in that general area of the relays, cables clean. But she wont start.
I wanted to ask if it could be the ignition aculator pin (excuse my spelling) How would I determine if that is the problem, before taking apart
I love my PT cruiser have had since new, Pease help
Thank you

[LionPT]

Have you tried jumping the starter from the battery to see if it will try to turn over..??
If it does, I'd replace the ignition switch.

[sancapwork]

No didn't try that, but you bet I will now... Thanks heres my next question in case how would I do that?

[sancapwork]

or is that the same as a normal jump start and we are justing using different words to do the same thing? lol

[quicksilverdon]

No, putting 12v direct to starter to see if it turns over.

[sancapwork]

Yes I tried the jump start and engine does Not start, she tries but no go

[JDB]

Originally Posted by sancapwork

Yes I tried the jump start and engine does Not start, she tries but no go

When you say "tries," what do you mean? Do you mean it just clicks or turns over really slowly or it whirls over like it always has and just doesn't start?

Cause if it's whirling over like it always has, that sounds like something between the switch and ignition system is interrupted. If it's one of the other two...it's a physical problem with the starter, starter relay or starter solenoid.

Also, when you said it started "when she wanted," do ya mean that nothing at ALL happened when you turned the switch or that it would crank over normally, but just wouldn't start? Cause if it wasn't cranking at all, that would lead me to believe you have a bad connection OR starter switch and NOT a starter problem. If it would crank, but not whirl over like she did when she was new, a weak starter could be the problem...which I doubt would have kept it from starting.

If it cranked normally, but wouldn't start, that could be a bad switch OR an intermittent electrical connector problem between the switch and the ignition system that's no longer "intermittent." ;~)

In any case other than a bad starter, you will just have to run the connectors backward...testing with a multimeter as you go...to find the culprit. But the starter switch would be the first, and one of the easiest places to look.

[cruserdad1976]

some ware there is a fuseable link that sometimes pops and keeps it from starting

[sancapwork]

Yes it cranks as tho it did when new but wont start. Im thinking its the ignition switch, as I have checked starter relay and also did a jump start but engine would not start that way either. for a while when she wouldn't start I would jiggle the relay box housing and it would start then yesterday the engine stopped doing 60 MPH down the rd and I was unable to get her start even after messing with the relay box under the hood, had her towed home. Now I get nothing when turning the key, all lights, dashboard and radio come on tho

[JDB]

Originally Posted by sancapwork

Yes it cranks as tho it did when new but wont start. Im thinking its the ignition switch, as I have checked starter relay and also did a jump start but engine would not start that way either. for a while when she wouldn't start I would jiggle the relay box housing and it would start then yesterday the engine stopped doing 60 MPH down the rd and I was unable to get her start even after messing with the relay box under the hood, had her towed home. Now I get nothing when turning the key, all lights, dashboard and radio come on tho

OK...that's different. If you could jiggle the relay box and make it work...I would start THERE. I can't see how jiggling the rely would have made the switch work.

By the way, and just to satisfy my curiosity, have you tried switching the relay in the box for one of the non critical ones...just to make SURE that the relay is really good? I mean I know you tested it, but nothing beats an old school swap out. ;~)

And of course, it could still be the switch, but I'd say the most likely place to start is the wiring connector going in and out of the relay. Not only just where it physically connects, but also any wires and connectors that you may have been moving by jiggling those connectors.

Thing is, they bundle up all those wires so that sometimes you think you are shaking the wiring to one thing and it may actually be effecting something entirely different. So I would start there and work my way through the harness and the wires in that lead to each component, checking the connectors for good connection and wires for power where they are suppose to have it all the way to the firewall and out to the starter or injectors or anywhere else the connected wires lead.

Pain in the butt...I know, but that's about the only way to do it. Sorry.