2003 Vibe GT won't start

[dannyy72]

So on Friday night my 2003 Vibe GT won't crank when I turned the key, everything else was working fine. I thought it was probably the starter because the battery was checked a couple weeks ago. I pulled the exciter wire from the starter to check for power and sure enough, there was power going to the starter. I asked my friend to hold the key to the "on " position while I tapped the starter and the car started after a few taps. So the next day I bought a new starter, installed it and the car is doing the same thing, no crank. My car was still on the hoist so I had someone sat in it, raise it back up and told my friend to on the key at the "on" position. I wiggled the exciter wire a little and the car started again. So at this point I am thinking, this is really weird, but it could be just a loose connection when I put the new starter in. Sure enough, when I got home, the car wouldn't start again. So I got out of the car, tapped the starter, wiggled the exciter wire again, no go. I began doing basic diagnostics. Check all fuses using a test light, they were fine. Pulled the exciter wire again and check for power to the starter, and this time I am not getting anything. So at this point, I am thinking it could be starter relay, ignition switch, bad ground, crimped exciter wire. So my car is parked at home right now. Any ideas guys?

[triz]

I think your on the money with your assessment of a loose connection. Check your grounds and harness.

[Chiadog]

If the solenoid wire isn't getting power with the ignition switch in "start" position, It appears the problem is likely the ignition switch, the starter relay or the clutch/park switch according to my electrical diagram.

[circuitsmith]

I think the problem is the connector on the end of the starter wire; loose crimp maybe.

[trb]

Park on an incline and push start it! I did that a few times with my Mustang due to dead batteries, starter, etc.

But I agree, it sounds like a loose wire somewhere. Time to start checking them out. I had the wire from my key to the starter solenoid come apart once, and again had to push start it until I got home and was able to find it.

Good luck!

[dannyy72]

Thanks for all the input guys. Finally figured it out. The original starter failed, then the 'new' reman bosch starter was faulty out of the box, causing the starter relay to burn. Replaced both with new ones and the car started right up. That was 3 days ago and it's still going strong. On a side note, I went to Lordco (local auto parts store in BC) and asked for a starter relay and it cost me almost $150, then I checked OEM parts from Toyota and GM and it was about the same price. But then I remembered the Toyota Corolla uses the same system. Turns out the starter relay for a Corolla was considerably cheaper. The exact same part number was stamped on the relay and it only cost me $20.