Starter wiring

[ndgcpr]

Ok my friends soarer has stopped starting via the ingition switch, and for the past few days he has been jumping the starter solinoid manually to start it. I have heard that when some cars get old the resistance increases and doesn't provide enough power to throw the starter anymore.

We were going to fix this this weekend and we thought why not use this to our advantage, and build somthing else. like the push button starters on ferrari's and stuff, simple wire a momentary switch to throw a relay and provide 12V to the solinoid.

Now the big question, and i know we should wire this, but what does the STA pin on the ECU actually do? i know the car will start without it sonnected, so does it just increase AFR or something to help it start? Is it EXTREEMLY important to wire this wire.

Now the easiest way to do this (just incase there is something wrong in the existing wiring) would be to wire a relay in the engine bay and let it provide 12V to the soliniod and back up the trigger wire, which in turn should provide power to the ECU STA line? Does that make sense? and would that be the best way to install a push button starter?

Thanks

[45aken]

we are wiring up a similar starter on my car. even thought i dont really follow your probelm (i'd have to look at it), this is what we did.

intercept the wire from the barrel that has power when you crank the car. remove this wire and replace with a switch (the barrel is basically just a switch anyways) one side +ve, other side signal wire from the barrel (the wire which lights up +ve when cranked).
that way you just turn the car to reds, then push the button.

[ndgcpr]

yes, but our problem is the car currently doesn't start weith the wire from the barrel, as it is shagged or has too much resistance

[wilbo666]

Why not just use the STA 'shagged' wire from the ign barrel to trigger a realy to provide the required current to the starter solenoid...the ign barrel should be able to provide the ~200mA that a relay would require...most modern cars use a starter relay steup like that anyway...

make sense?



Cheers
Wilbo

[ndgcpr]

because a push button is more sexy

The wreck i bought had the relay setup but i thought we could run a push button as well/ instead of

[CrUZida]

You need to run a dual relay setup to use the push button.

Just use the key to trigger a single 30A relay, and use the relay to power the solenoid.

[ndgcpr]

I guess if i wire the key wires to a relay then the push button could just short the barrel, would proably be easier. Thanks

[RobertoX]

Be careful that this is actually the problem though... I had exactly the same thing as your mate, I would use a screwdriver to jump the solenoid from the power wire to the starter motor as a temporary solution.
The problem turned out to be a bad engine earth wire, I put in a nice big new one and it cranked over like new.

[ndgcpr]

hmmm thanks mate, will check that, he has been doing much the same thing i think with some wire.

[BradW]

Is the car auto or manual. If auto it could be a faulty inhibitor switch. Are you getting power at the solenoid when you try to start it.

[ndgcpr]

its auto, will have to check that too, i don't think he has a multimeter but once it arrives here i can do some proper tests, he did just install a new box actually....