Thread: '93 SE-R - Starter or Ignition Switch?

I now own two B13s! My '91 SE-R is becoming a full time Stage Rally car and I just acquired a gorgeous '93 SE-R with only 95,000 original miles. It's fantastic!

However, I do have one problem now that I need to sort out. We have some arctic cold temperatures outside and I'm having an issue that I can't nail down as either the starter or ignition switch.

Turn the key on, clutch in, turn key, *click" - but not the same noise as a poor battery connection or mostly-dead battery. Tried hooking up jumper cables and swapping in a known good battery to be sure, doesn't make a difference. What I have to do is flick the key on several times and it eventually cranks to life. Once it starts once, it's good for the entire day as it cranks up just as expected when the engine is warm. Park it at home, starts right up after being parked for an hour. Leave it overnight, back to clicking in the morning, same old routine.

Would you suspect a failing starter, or a failing ignition switch? Either way, I have not had to replace a starter in-car on a B13 yet, the only one I've done was on the other engine before installing it in the '91 rally car. If I need to replace the starter, can it be done reasonably efficiently without dropping the crossmember?

The starter can be swapped out in about 30 minutes. ALLDATA book time is 1.1 hr.


Ignition switch from Nissan is 48750-65Y00 and ALLDATE book time is 0.8 hr.


What you are describing to me sounds more like the ignition switch.

Sounds like a worn switch but it's worth checking the connections at the starter for serviceability or corrosion....could be something simple as a ground....\

It's ridiculously cold outside now and I can't get it to do anything at all. Just hear a single "click" from up front, radio and fan stop during that period as expected. As before, all lights stay on the dash and no behavior to suggest a dead battery or poor connection.

Still thinking ignition switch? I'll have to look into ordering one tomorrow, or I wonder if I could swap the known good one off my '91 to check before ordering?

I forgot if it made the click noise or not, but the grommet/stopper whatever you wanna call it that the clutch switch pushes on, check that. When mine broke I had a no-crank situation as well.

wildmane - Good suggestion as well, I had taken a quick look at the clutch switch earlier but the nature of the problem made me look elsewhere. I'll have to take another look tomorrow.

If I can confirm that the ignition switch from my '91 is compatible with the '93 (I can't help but assume it is), I'll take the known-good one off the '91 tomorrow and swap it onto the '93 to see if it solves the issue before ordering a new ignition switch.

Update: My racing friend that I bought the car from says he would figure it to be the original starter. Considering the car's age, it would be possible to be the starter as well.

It's the starter guaranteed

If it's not a daily driver, pull the starter out and bring it to a local testing place. I've personally never had a Nissan starter go on me. Other things I would check are the grounds and coil. Since you have two b13s, swap the coil over and see how it does. I had a coil go on me and it was a similar problem. Since it only has 95k on it, it's done a lot of sitting. Check for rusted connections.

Just to clarify, wouldn't an ignition coil issue be a crank/no-start instead of a no-crank/no-start? Unless you're talking about a different coil I'm not familiar with.

I've checked everything else over far as corrosion is concerned, corrosion is genuinely nonexistent around the entire car. The previous owner was a Nissan tech when these were new, maintained it fastidiously and was always garaged. He's sending me a known-good starter that I can try swapping in. If that doesn't work for whatever reason, I can try a new ignition switch or swap the known-good one off my '91.

Here's a video to show exactly what's happening. Don't mind the shaking, it was -11F when I recorded this earlier. I'll keep this thread updated when I determine whether or not it's the starter.

run direct power to the starter from the battery

would swap the starter either way if its that old just so it doesnt leave you stranded