car won't start!! starter and battery are good

[bronxballer]

so my car didn't start one day after work.
Towed it to my house.
I got it to kick start.
I tested the battery and it was fine.
I was 100% sure then it has to be the starter.

When the starter was still attached to the engine, I hit it a couple of times with a hammer/screwdriver and it still didn't work.

I knew then the starter must be replaced.
I took it out and just to make myself 100% sure i took it to autozone to test it out and it ended up passing!!

What else could be wrong with that car that it won't make it start.

The car doesn't even crank if that helps.

HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[FrayAdjacent]

Bad ignition switch, bad clutch switch (manual tranny) or bad switch in the auto tranny... The security system could for some reason have the starter kill enabled...

You said you 'kick started' it? What do you mean? Do you mean 'JUMP started' it? If jumpstarting it got it to turn over and eventually start, but it won't start on it's own, it's got to be the battery. Are the terminals and connections CLEAN? If not, CLEAN THEM.

EXACTLY what happens when you try to start it? Dash lights come on? Any clicking sounds?

BE AS DETAILED AS POSSIBLE.

[bronxballer]

It's a manual tranny
By kick start I mean "push start". (pushed the car and released the clutch and it turned on) NOT a jump start

Battery is 3months old. All the lights come on.
I get a humming noise coming from the starter when I try to start it and all the other regular things, like dash lights coming on, seat belt bell etc..

I thought it was the security system also, but I hear if you can kick start the car and it turns on it's not the security system. Not too sure on that though.

Maybe bad clutch switch... but if I did get a kick start shouldn't that negate the bad clutch switch?

[blinkwatt]

You may want to swap out the ignition switch before you start dropping big $$$$ to a indy or dealership.

$15 from www.************************************************************

[FrayAdjacent]

If you can 'push start' it (pop the clutch), then that will rule out your security system. It locks out the ignition system (the ignition system is more than just starting the car, it's the system that controls the spark to the plugs and keeps the engine running)

I'd concur, try the ignition switch. They can do wonky things when they start going out. Plus it's cheap, and they DO wear out eventually.

Barring that, I'd think there's some kind of wiring or electronic problem.

[bronxballer]

Also for the battery, when I try to jump it, usually when I put on the last connection of the jumper cable a tiny spark happens, but no spark whatsoever...

When I hit the positive and negative together of the jumper cables when it is attached to the battery I do get the big spark.

[FrayAdjacent]

Originally Posted by bronxballer

When I hit the positive and negative together of the jumper cables when it is attached to the battery I do get the big spark.

DON'T do that. VERY bad for the battery.

[bronxballer]

Why would it be ignition switch?

I thought the symptoms of an ignition switch problem are:
-can't get the key out of the ignition
-lights are still on when key is out of the ignition
-weird noises of plastic breaking when inserting the key

anything I'm missing

[bronxballer]

the thing that keeps bugging me is why didnt it make a spark when I connected the batteries...

[wvicary]

It does sound like the ignition switch. It's not very wise to be banging on the starter.... most starters in today vehicles are of the permanent magnet type, hitting them can damage the magnet and ruin the unit.

Ignition switches have a very high failure rate, replace it and let us know if it fixed the problem.

[CJ_Boxster]

ignition switch issue are not limited to:
-can't get the key out of the ignition
-lights are still on when key is out of the ignition
-weird noises of plastic breaking when inserting the key

but can also cause
-unable to turn starter
-dash lights sometimes not working
-A/C stop working
-radio stop working

[FrayAdjacent]

Ignition switch failures are very unpredictable, and can result in VERY wacky behavior. It's a cheap part, so you might as well check it.

You might also look to the clutch switch. If it is faulty, and can't sense that the clutch is depressed, that could also disable the starter.

[mbvan1]

I had a 99 MY with similar problem, seems block was porus and cyl filled with coolant. No way would the engine turn over
Take out the plugs, look for water coming out