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Background: I have a 1993 Del Sol that won't start. The engine turns over but won't stay on once the key is released. It runs fine if the key is held all the way to start, but I haven't been driving it like this except to get it home from the mechanic.

The mechanic thought it needed a new distributor, and maybe it does, but on a hunch I took out the main relay to have a look at the solder joints. Sure enough, several were dry and cracked all the way around. Thinking that might be the problem, I resoldered them - I'm no professional, but reasonable competent with an iron - and put the relay back in.

Now: I turn the key for the first time in two months, but all I get is a faint whir from the starter. So either the battery is dead - because the car sat for 2 months in winter, and the battery's already pretty old (seems reasonable, yeah?) - or I shorted something out on the relay, although I *really* doubt it because I checked my soldering carefully.

So here's my question: I want to just jump start the car, to see if the soldering fixed the initial problem, but I'm concerned: if I *did* short out something on the relay, is there any chance that the current from jumping the car damage any other components?

I'd really appreciate any tips or suggestions. Thanks!

 
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Needs an ignition switch. The electrical portion of it.




So charge the battery and have it tested, or replace the battery.

 
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Thanks for the quick reply, ezone. Sure, it might be the ignition switch, but it could very well be the main relay switch: if the circuitry for the starter is good but the circuitry for the main ignition coil is bad (e.g. cracked solder joints), then no spark when key is released.

That's not really the point, though. What I'm hoping to get some advice on is whether jump starting could do any damage if there's a short in the main relay. I haven't tried charging the battery because I don't have access to a battery charger, and I'm not going to blow the cash on a new battery just to see if that's the problem.

Any thoughts?

 
Rep Power: 518

If you butchered the relay, the worst that will happen is blowing fuses.

 
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Thanks a lot! I'll give it a shot.