Hey guys, i have a 96 sidekick 4 door. having issues with it starting. if i boost it, it starts fine. and will stay running forever. but sometimes when i shut it off it wont start back up until i boost it again. when i turn the key on i can hear the starter clicking but wont turn over. so i tested the battery and its holding a charge. and where it will stay running forever i figured the alternator must be putting out a charge (never confirmed yet tho) so i went out today to take a look and check the grounds via the old kick-fix information and i noticed a wire was off and it was routed towards the starter. but i cant find any other piece of wire and i cant find anything on the coloring.  The wire is yellow, blue stripe, and brown dots.


this is the wire I'm talking about, it was hanging straight down from where it is in this picture


this is the other end of the wire, it goes into this connector


this may or may not be my starting issue, but i figure its something to go on. I thought it might be the Top of starter mount bolt main battery ground. Any help or recommendations would be great.

thanks

The "wire" that you describe looks like a bundle of wires that go to a four-pin connector.  Since the wire bundle is near the battery, I would hazard a guess that it is the diagnostic plug.  It is used to force the ignition system to "ignore" the ECM while setting the physical timing of the engine.  It is not related to your starting problems.

One of the most common starting problems found in TracKicks and Samurais is the inability of the starter solenoid wiring to deliver enough current to drive the starter solenoid.  This caused by:

A worn starter switch.   

Corroded connections at the clutch safety switch or Automatic transmission Park Linkage.

Corroded connection at the starter solenoid

Loose or corroded Positive connection at the starter solenoid.

Grease buildup on the starter (rare) preventing a good ground between the starter and the engine.

Loose or corroded negative connection to the engine block.

Check the first three out (most likely failure) then the last two.   A thorough cleaning of the connectors can solve the problem.

A common solution to this problem (if it appears to be the ignition switch) is the "clicky starter fix".  This "fix" basically permits the ignition switch to use its lower current output to trip a sensitive intermediary relay which, in turn, drives the starter solenoid relay.  The Clicky Starter Fix is documented in threads (do a search for clicky starter at Ack's FAQ - see link in signature) or can be purchased as a kit through many of our aftermarket vendors.

I hope that this helps!

If you can hear the starter clicking and not cranking focus on that - and please be aware that the clicky starter fix only addresses on of four possible reasons that can cause the symptom.

Look at the starter solenoid - there will be a small wire with a spade terminal - with the vehicle in neutral and the handbrake on - jumper that terminal to the battery positive, if it clicks without cranking, have the starter checked.

On my SJ I had to take apart the starter solenoid and sand everything down so it would engage properly.  I would have just replaced it but it stopped working right before a wheeling trip and I didn't have time.