Click at relay box, NOT starter

[rruddfan21]

this is a follow up to the "intermittent start problem" post. i drove it around for quite a bit, shut her off, went to start it, and nothing. i got my brother to try and start it and i listened at the starter. no click there, but there was a distinct clicking at the relay box. ??? what does this mean???? is this FI relay activating? if so, then i'll know that solenoid isn't even engaging. please help guys thanks abunch!!

[geozukigti]

There's a blade terminal that plugs into the back of the starter. Those get old, don't hold as well, and get corrosion in the terminal. Next time it won't start, jiggle that wire, and see if it starts up. That is probably your problem.

[graywebdesign]

I have the same problem with my 94 1.0 with automatic and A/C. When it don't start, I also noticed only a click. However, I also notice that when it don't start, the fuel pump also don't start. It seem as if the F1 relay coil is operating but the contacts are not actually closing. This would explain why the fuel pump never gets turned on by the ECU. But, I looked at the circuit diagram for the starter itself and cannot see how this would prevent the starter from cranking in the START position. I am still working on the problem and will let you know what I find.

[theragtopguy]

Two times now, I shut my Metro down on a REAL hot day (90 degrees +) and then go to start it, it would just click. Both times I wiggled wires, nothing happened. Then after 5 minutes or so, she cranked right up. I would assume this is the solenoid, does that sound right? Only has happened 2x, both on real hot days.

[serenity]

My 92 metro doses this same thing. If I turn the key a few times it will usually start. My brother in law who runs an auto machine shop told me that he thinks it is a dead spot in my starter and eventually it findly gets past the dead spot and starts. On the times that it starts right up it has not landed in the dead spot. About half the time the car will start on the first turn of the key. I guess I will get a new starter eventually but they don't come cheap. Plus there are atleast two different styles of starter and I will have to pull my old one off so the parts store can match it.

[graywebdesign]

It did it to me again yesterday several times. It was a very hot day (95 degrees). However, it has also happened on other much colder days. At first I thought that the fuel pump was not turning on during the time that it would not start. But now, I think it actually does run. It is very difficult for me to tell where the clicking sound is comming from because I do not have an assistant to turn the key while I listen under the hood.

I am thinking of hooking up a "remote starter" switch to the selonoid blade terminal to see if bypassing the normal starting circuitry solves the problem.

I will let you all know what I find.

[rruddfan21]

fixed that a month ago....starter was defective