I inherited a 1995 Mitsu Montero LS from a collision shop, its black (hence the moniker black rider) and is in prettty good shape BUT it is very sometimey about starting. I have tested the battery both static and while running. Terminals, posts are clean, starter wires were oily so i cleaned them with brake cleaner and put the starter back.
Still i can turn the key and nothing, i have lights, power, horn, fan, blinkers etc but nothing on the engine. I have to do this for awhile then on any given try she starts with no problem whatsoever. Not sluggish, no whining, nothing just spins its happy little heart out until it kicks in. Sso the problem is electrical somewhere - but where?

 

From your symptoms, it's either the solenoid, the ignition switch, or the wiring in between.

I'd hook up a 12v test lamp to the start wire connection on the solenoid and see if you are getting 12v to that terminal every time you turn the key. If so, then the solenoid is intermittently sticking or that connection is not tight.

On the other hand, if you find that test lamp only lights when the car fianlly starts then you've got an intermittent wiring problem. Assuming the start wire connection to the solenoid is tight then I'd suspect the Ignition Switch - especially if you have high mileage.

The start contacts on my switch burned out a while back and I had the same symptom. Remove the plastic cowling around your steering column and it's easy to pull the switch away from the key mechanism.

Switches are not expensive but if you want to test it, hook up the test lamp to the Start wire (farthest clockwise) and see if it's getting 12v every time or if it is indeed intermittent coming from the switch.

Note: if you pull it out - don't trust just testing it with a meter. On mine only half the start contact was corroded. The key only turns the internal disk so far. If you turn it with a screwdriver it can go past the corroded half of the start contact and look "good" on your continuity meter.

Ron

 

Thanks jrm i hav ordered a new ignition switch will be here in a couple days.

 

Now the dashboard lights and running lights have gone out. I searched through all the fuses, found two that were burned (one 15amp and one 10amp) replaced those and still no running lights or dashboard lights.
They both went out simultaneously where else should i look or what should i be thinking about replacing? Is it a relay? There is no fuse "map" that shows which fuse or relay works on what. Any hope of finding a Chiltons or Hayes manual that describes the problem with definite solution online or otherwise?