1988 Pathfinder No crank. (Wiring checked) (Starter Replaced)

[CountEjacula]

Hello everyone, 

I'm scratching my head on this one pretty bad. Recently picked up my '88 pathy, after missing my 93. I've got a no crank issue. I can bump start just fine. After fixing some wiring "repair" the previous owner did, I was able to get it to crank and start when I installed a new starter. 

Currently I've got a new starter installed, wiring is good (unless there is something I'm missing), I have the neutral safety switch bypassed, and a brand new Optima Redtop. I do not have a crank. When I turn the key I get a click out of the relays and that's it. 

I've got 3 starters and they all bench test fine, I just find it odd that after I installed a new one the first time it fired right up.  


Any and all help would be appreciated. Thank you.

[Slartibartfast]

The EL section of the service manual has a diagram of the starter circuit, so you can go through and check each thing and see where the power stops. I don't know of a digital version of the '88 manual, but I've got an '89 manual up on Dropbox that should be about the same.

 

Does yours have the stock car alarm? I'm not sure when those started. I had an intermittent no start/weak start a while back that (somehow) came down to the alarm harness. I had already thrown a battery, a starter, an inhibitor relay, and an ignition switch at it before I thought to tear out what was left of the alarm system, and to my surprise it hasn't acted up since.

[CountEjacula]

Hey Slartibart, thank you for the wiring diagram! It does have the stock alarm. 

I actually found the issue. There was a tiny split in the black/yellow insulation close to the firewall that I did not see. There was enough juice to get the starter relay to click, but I guess not enough to function. Thanks for taking the time!

 

[Slartibartfast]

No worries, good to hear you got it figured out!