Hey everyone. I've been searching all over but nothing is working.

I'm having a big issue with my 95 ESi-T. The car has always had an electrical drain since I bought it and caused dead batteries in the winter. I traced it down to the cig lighter so I pulled the fuse. So now power is fine. But now I have another problem that's also been going on for awhile...

When it gets really cold outside like it's been here in Chicago lately, the car refuses to start. It doesn't even crank. I put the key in, have great power, lights and all electrical work, but it won't budge.

Here's what I've done to try to fix...
-Checked PCV valve (recommended from friend)
-reset safc
-turned off TT
-cleaned battery terminals/wires
-regrounded the wire from the battery to chassis. Also have a grounding kit so it's all over the place.
-Unplugged coilpack
-Unplugged coolant temp sensor
-Pumped clutch
-Went through all gears couple times.(was cold and hard)
-Tried jumping it with battery jumper
-Turned on the heat with fan on in car (I was desperate for ideas)
-Gave the starter a good couple whacks
-Gave starter a good rub down (trying to warm it up)

Battery sits at ~12.5v. Alternator charges ~14.5. Battery and starter are new as of about mid-summer. If it's not blizzarding when I get home I have a spare ECU I'll pop in and see what happens. Oil is 5w-30 so it's not too thick for the cold. I don't have space to push start since I'm in an alley and it's basically snowed up bad.

Any ideas? I need this fixed by tonight!!!!!

My '95 has always had a problem with intermittent no-start. I finally wired a small push-button between the battery and the starter solinoid, bypassing the ignition cylinder, and it's been fine ever since.

Alright so I ran a wire to the starter and it's just spinning. Not even cranking the motor. My battery was dead and charger was almost dead so it's charging and I will go back out later.

I took the starter out and seen that the wires to the starter are slightly melted together from the heat of the turbo. I couldn't see any copper showing but I think there may have been a problem there. I wanted to take the starter to get tested but I would have to take the turbo out and I was freezing. It's about 10 degrees right now.

I had a car that would do this. Always when it was really cold. Wiggle your grounds, take them off, sand them, and retighten them, triple check them :thumbsup

Originally posted by david60638
Alright so I ran a wire to the starter and it's just spinning. Not even cranking the motor. My battery was dead and charger was almost dead so it's charging and I will go back out later. I took the starter out and seen that the wires to the starter are slightly melted together from the heat of the turbo. I couldn't see any copper showing but I think there may have been a problem there. I wanted to take the starter to get tested but I would have to take the turbo out and I was freezing. It's about 10 degrees right now.

I think you've found your issue. Current is likely bypassing the engagement solenoid and just spinning the motor. Time for a heat shield, imo.

Originally posted by DR1665
I think you've found your issue. Current is likely bypassing the engagement solenoid and just spinning the motor. Time for a heat shield, imo.

But wouldn't the starter still spin if I turned the key? It's pulling power (I disconnected the power from starter and turned key, no change in lights (dimming) then reconnected and turned and lights slightly dim just a little then).

Originally posted by david60638
But wouldn't the starter still spin if I turned the key? It's pulling power (I disconnected the power from starter and turned key, no change in lights (dimming) then reconnected and turned and lights slightly dim just a little then).

Dunno. Unless I'm mistaken (and I might, I got over 12yrs and 210k out of the original starter in my car), turning the key to START routes full battery power through the solenoid, which kicks the pinion out to engage the flexplate on the clutch as the juice then flows to the starter motor.

If you've got melty gooey wires in or around your starter, you need to replace them first order of business.

Kinda goes without saying, you should make damn sure your battery terminals/posts/connections are spotless as well.

Originally posted by DR1665
Dunno. Unless I'm mistaken (and I might, I got over 12yrs and 210k out of the original starter in my car), turning the key to START routes full battery power through the solenoid, which kicks the pinion out to engage the flexplate on the clutch as the juice then flows to the starter motor. If you've got melty gooey wires in or around your starter, you need to replace them first order of business. Kinda goes without saying, you should make damn sure your battery terminals/posts/connections are spotless as well.

Like I said I checked the wires and they're good. Nothing is touching anything else.

Battery and terminals are spotless too. New battery and I clean the terminals everytime I take the battery off (more often then not)

Dunno, man.

There's relatively few components in this circuit. The switch in the column, the starter relay, the battery, and the starter motor/solenoid. Find the relay and test it. Pull the starter and have Autozone or some place like that test it. If the battery is good, the starter checks out, and the relay checks out, then you're looking at a problem with the switch. Might be worth splicing in a button like Dino suggested.

I would try replacing your battery to starter cables. I've run into several issues similar to yours, mostly with Chrysler components. often times the small cheap cables that Chrysler uses get very oxidized or corroded inside the jacketing and even though you cant see it it chokes the current down to the point where it can't kick the starter over. bypassing the switch like DarkOne suggested will get some current to the starter and get it to spin but not be enough to kick the bendix out so that it will engage the ring gear. 99% of the issues that I've had with Chrysler starting systems was bad cables.

and if you've got issues with cables melting fab up a heat shield while you're at it.