No start Issue - Electronics working fine - not starter - what should I try next?

[harvardpark617]

I Googled around and couldn't find anything similar to this problem.

I'm having a strange issue and I could use some help.

I was taking my '94 840 out of storage and there is no start. All the lights come on, radio works, and everything seems to be working right - but there is no start at all.

There is no attempt to start at all, no noise or buzzing at all coming from the engine.

I had it towed to my mechanic and they have no idea.

They told me they have ruled out the following-
batteries + terminals
starter

fuses
looked at most of the wiring and it all looked good
No immobilizer system


What should I have them check next?

[Timm]

Two things spring to mind, firstly the fusible links - and make sure that the gear display shows 'P' or 'N'.

[cartoonz]

Cycle the alarm with the remote.

[rjjablo]

Ask them how they tested the starter?

Fusible Links in the Trunk

Check and clean your main ground from the Motor mount to the Body

Check and Clean all of the Main power connections under the hood.

Starting system is stone cold simple when you get down to it. One main cable to the starter providing the 100amps plus to crank it.

One wire to the Solenoid to tell it to crank

One wire to the Solenoid to tell it to stop

One heavy duty gound from the motor mount to the body

[cartoonz]

Sigh.... seriously, cycle the remote lock/unlock before you do anything else.

You claim to not have any type of immobilizer... this is unlikely. Possible, but unlikely. All of the 94's but a very few early ones had DWA.
Here's what to check:
K1.jpg
See the "K1" relay, 3rd from left at the top?
Is that relay in your car, or is there a jumper, or is it completely empty?

K1 relay there? Check fuse F5 and see if that relay clicks when you turn the key. You can bypass the relay completely by jumpering #4 & #8 in the socket.
No relay but a jumper? = You never mentioned it was a rare 840 manual car, so that's not likely.

Nothing there? = You do indeed have a DWA unit in the car, behind the front left speaker (according to the ETM). On this one, you CAN jumper #2 & #6 in X55 and the starter will fire when the key is turned. Car *may* not start though, depends which flavor of DWA it is.

But really... before you get all complicated in any of that, do try to cycle the remote lock/unlock a couple of times, maybe use the key and lock/unlock the car from the driver's side too. The DWA doesn't like being put to sleep for the long Winter's nap, so it doesn't exactly wake back up without complaint. Had you had troubles before the car was put away, I'd be less suspect that this is your issue... but that's not the case.
Also check the engine ground to the motor mount/block. That *may* have corroded over the time, but not as likely as the above scenario.

Report back what you find and we can go from there.

[harvardpark617]

Thanks for the responses all! The collective knowledge of these cars on this board is really amazing.

I'm going to forward this over to the garage and give an update when I get one.