decampos

Car won't start at all. Won't crank, no clicks.

Was in heavy traffic today. Parked, came back an hour later, won't start.

noticed an electrical type burning smell coming from the HVAC vent.

Anyone know now what the problem is? Know a quick fix so I can get it out of the parking garage?

Thanks

FredR

Model Year/transmission type?

Any sign that the starter motor is trying to engage like a single clunk then nothing?

decampos

Thanks for your reply FredR. I thought I had a signature. Weird, it must have disappeared.

It's a 1983 Automatic. I don't know if it's relevant but I had a new shifter cable installed a couple of weeks ago by Greg Brown.

Nothing is engaging. completely dead when turning the key. Any help much appreciated.

GT6ixer

Simple stuff first. Did you try to jump start it? If the battery has a good charge then try swapping the starter relay with the horn relay.

FredR

Well the good news is it is not an S4 automatic or we might be suspecting TBF. As I am aware that does not happen with the earlier automatics because of the different drive shaft coupling design.

Anything GB installed you can dismiss as a potential problem I would suggest.

Are your lights/electrics otherwise working OK or is the car completely dead?

decampos

Hi there. Thanks for your reply. that’s the X relay with the XIV relay? They are interchangeable? Do I have to modify anything?

Isn’t there a bridge one can make test for the starter? I can't remember which pins, Anyone help with this?

decampos

Lights and electrics are all fine. Just no start.

I am a little puzzled by the burning smell. I'm searching the forum like heck at the moment and there's some chatter about how there may be an issue with the shifter regarding the neutral cutoff switch. Anyone know about this?

GT6ixer

They are interchangeable. No modifying required. I'm not near the information but if you have your owners manual handy it'll tell you which relay is which. The starter relay is prone to failure. I keep an extra in the glove box for emergencies.

Speedtoys

http://928intl.com/repair/Relay/earlyrelay.htm

FredR

That suggests no major earth fault albeit there may be some shorting issue if the burning smell is the result. The auto cannot start unless there is a healthy signal telling the logic that the tranny is either in park or in neutral. Burning smell not withstanding the ignition switch is a common time based failure point and the engine is going no where when that fails. You might try juggling the key about a bit to see if that induces something to make contact. Hopefully others will chime in with more suggestions- that or you are going home on a flat bed.

decampos

That's great, thanks. I have the manual here. X - two tone horn and XIV starter relay.

Speedtoys

How about finding the bad fuse? Smell suggests perhaps a blown fuse too?

decampos

Update: GT6ixer's suggestion of swapping the starter relay with the horn relay. Started right up. Thanks for everyone's help. I love this place.

I really didn't think that would fix it because of the burning smell coming (from what I thought was) the vent. I guess it was the relay dying. Everything seems to work great.

The Forgotten On

The contacts probably arced and scorched the inside of the relay or the coil failed burned up. Glad it was such an easy and inexpensive fix for you.

FredR

Excellent result