BG

The battery is good, dash lights come on and I hear a click from the rear but it doesn't turn over.
It finally did after about 15 attempts. I've had this problem in the past but after a few attempts it always started but now it's much worse.
I was thinking it might be the clutch switch but there is no message on the dash saying depress clutch and I do get that message when I don't depress the clutch so i figure that's not the problem.
I'm thinking it might be the ignition switch, not sure what else it could be other than maybe a bad starter.
Any of you guys have this problem?

MarkG123

Sounds like ignition switch or battery connections are not tight. I believe you can eliminate the clutch switch by putting a jumper across the leads at the switch.

Mark

tcsracing1

check your battery terminals. have you had a new battery instaled latey?

Drew_K

How do you know the battery is good? If you're relying on the dash lights coming on, that's not enough to tell you if the battery has enough juice to start the engine.

Zeus993

In city driving the batterys last about 4 years. My last one went after a 3 hour highway drive. So no sense in that. Replaced it and all was good. Is your the original battery?

BuckeyeDrew

Starter?

Hearing it click suggests that it is getting power. When starters begin to fail they will work properly sometimes and other time will just click. Eventually they will just click.

85Gold

If your dash lights almost go out when turning the key and just getting a clicking noise then it is probably your battery or battery connection. If the light say bright then it is probably your starter of starter connection.

Peter

Clifton

Assuming your battery is good, it might be the clutch switch. If they are faulty they will prevent startup because the car thinks the clutch pedal is not depressed. Dealer replaced mine under Campaign WC09.

mike1111

There is a recall on clutch switch. I have seen several GT3's with this issue.

85Gold

If clutch switch is bad then no clicky from the rear.

Peter

BG

Thanks for the ideas guys but I installed a new battery 2 years ago (Interstate MTP-94R/H7) and I keep the car on a smart charger if I'm not going to drive it for a week or more and the battery connections are tight. I think the battery is good. Like "85Gold" mentioned if the clutch switch was bad there would not be a click from the rear.
Is there any any way to figure out whether it's the ignition switch or the starter?

curtsm

Reading this thread, if it was me, I wouldn't eliminate the battery quite yet.

You may have a weak battery, even if it will light up the dash lights and it's two years old. I have had 2 year old Interstate batteries fail.

Have you tried jump starting the car from another (running) car? If the car starts, you probably have a bad battery, if not this points to the starter/switch.

If you're not a jump-start guy, since it sound like you have a fully charged battery, turn on the headlights on high beam for 5 minutes and if they are bright after 5 minutes, your battery probably has the capacity to crank the car and this points to the starter/switch.

There's a good website for battery questions: http://www.batteryfaq.org/. Section 4, on testing batteries might be useful.

- curt

Drew_K

I agree that you shouldn't eliminate the battery just yet. They can go bad, despite being on a charger. I had to replace a 1 year old battery in my wife's car recently. I would start with the simple (check the battery) and go from there.

BG

I'll check the battery further and go from there, thanks.

Ur20v

Starters are weak, I have had the clutch switch play up and the starter replaced as it was just clicking in the rear of the car.

Check the battery, put a volt meter across the battery get someone to attempt to crank and the volts should only dip from ~13.5v float to ~12.4v load, anything 11v and below and you have a faulty cell so replace the battery.

Jay