Having trouble starting (VERY RANDOM)

[Cellerator]

Alright, I have a 5 spd P5 like a lot of people here, anyways, I've got an issue. The car has been a little weird lately, I had the motor replaced no thanks to my sister for driving it through a huge puddle and ever since, on VERY random days, hot or cold, warmed up or not, mostly not warmed up, the car will just not start. It's almost as if I were to not step on the clutch and try starting it like that except I am. Now, I've tested the alternator and the battery as well as the starter but they all read as good, what else could it possibly be?

[patmaz]

have you check the clutch safety switch?

check it out and tell us about it(dance)

[Weborific]

Here's a shot...check your spark plug wires. Check it carefully for any cracks or cuts all over. Check the rubber at the ends as well. I had rips in mine.

[RABID_MP5]

have you check the clutch safety switch?

check it out and tell us about it(dance)

yeah I'd check this first. When it doesn't turn over, try to actually let the clutch out just a hair and see if it starts. You'd be rubbing on a different area of the switch contact.

[Cellerator]

alright, now it's become a problem, after my first session at a track day, I couldn't start it through the ignition anymore, I had to push start the car... I was looking around and would it be the neutral safety switch?

[RABID_MP5]

There are 2 switches on the clutch pedal mechanism. The upper one is for cruise cut-off and the one by the firewall is the starter safety switch. If you have a meter, I'd pull the connector on the starter switch and watch the resistance as you depress the pedal; should go to about zero near the floor. If this is what's bad, temporary fix is to hot-wire the switch so it can always start.

[Cellerator]

**UPDATE**
This is going to sound funny, I walked out to my car today and told it I was going to sell it if it didn't start up, I then stepped on the clutch pedal and turned the switch... It started back up... Once my dad came home, he and I went out and unplugged the switch that is behind the clutch pedal and tried turning it on again with no luck, plugged it back in and voila, it starts up. So, tomorrow I'm going to find out the part number and replace that switch. If there are any more problems, I'll update again.

[patmaz]

Good,its a comon problem on many manual cars...

[Cellerator]

Ok, replaced the clutch switch, and so far after the half a day of driving, no problems.

[patmaz]

Great!!!!(cabpatch)