I have a stock 86 samurai with 1.3L has been running great, last couple weeks I used it on occasion it would not start, I would turn the key and the lights on dash would come on but that was all,no clicking nothing, I would turn key on and off and after a few tries it would start, the last time this happened it would not start at all again starter would not turn over no clicking only the dash lights would come on I tried boosting it and still nothing, only way was to push start it. I have been away for about 1 month and today went to start it after sitting for a month and would not start again tried boosting it and nothing but the dash lights no clicking push started with ease.
Has anyone else had this problem and what do you think is the problem? 

Lookup Clicky Relay fix, should solve your problem.

To properly trouble shoot your problem you will need a test light or meter. Have a friend try to start the truck while you check at the starter for 12V at the power terminal and at the relay terminal. If you dont keep going upstream till you find out why not. If you do, check your ground. If you have 12V and ground you have a bad starter. Many people have trouble with the connection at the key switch (clicky fix). Many people have trouble with a sorroded connection at the battery that, looks good and shows 12V with no load, but cant supply enough current to crank the engine, and at which point the voltage reading will drop significantly.
Good luck.

Why would/should a "clicky starter" relay fix, fix a starter that doesn't even click?
Why not diagnose the problem before spending money attempting to fix it?

The starter circuit is amongst the simplest on the vehicle to troubleshoot.

First it's actually two circuits, a power circuit that supplies the power to the starter and a control circuit, that controls when that power is supplied to the starter motor.

The power circuit is the battery, the starter motor, and two heavy cables one between the battery negative and the bell housing, the other between the battery positive and the starter solenoid - four connections, easy to find, make sure they are clean & tight.

The control circuit is the battery, the igntion switch, the starter solenoid, and the cable that you just checked from the battery negative to the bell housing - depending on what you're country you're in and the type of transmission, there may also be safety switches between the ignition switch and the starter solenoid - automatic transmissions have a safety switch that only allows the vehicle to start in neutral or park, and some manual transmission vehicles may have a clutch safety switch that only allows the vehicle to start if the clutch is depressed.

You can test the control circuit very easily - you need a volt meter or if that's not possible a 12v test lamp.

Find the starter solenoid, it's the bump on the starter where the cables connect - there will be two cables, the big heavy one that goes to the battery positive and a smaller one with a "spade" type lug - connector your volt meter or test lamp between the spade lug and the battery negative - turn the key, does the volt meter indicate 12V or the test lamp light at full brightness?

If it does, your problem is either in the starter or the solenoid - if it does not, your problem is in the control circuit - work your way back through the switches until you find the problem.

One last comment - the "clicky starter" relay fix only addresses one of the possible reasons that a starter clicks without starting the engine, there are at least four others - follow the steps I outlined and you WILL find why the starter does not work, fit a "clicky starter" relay fix and you have a 25% chance of fixing the click, and you haven't even started on the other possible causes.

All of the clicky starter being said,    I have had the Clutch switch stick.   In fact for me more often than not it was the clutch saftey switch not fully engaging .  Thus not noise no click nothing but silence.   Might want to check it also


                                                                                         

Corrosion and loose connectors are common problems on a Samurai.

If you can turn on the headlights, your problem is very likely to be found in the starter wiring - clutch pedal switch, starter solenoid connector or (shudder) the ignition switch itself.  Mostly the failure is in the clutch switch or the solenoid connector.

If everything is dead, it may be a bad battery connection either at the battery positive/negative connectors or possibly at the engine block end of the batter negative cable.

fordem is correct in that you should use a multimeter as described to check out the starter relay circuit.  No point in throwing money at a problem...

 

The clutch switch (connector) was disconnected by the po on mine, could the OP just undo the connector to see if the clutch switch is the problem?

The clutch switch (connector) was disconnected by the po on mine, could the OP just undo the connector to see if the clutch switch is the problem?

Yes, What you would be looking for on the white connector with the red/black and black/yellow wires is 12v on one wire and when the clutch is pushed in you would get 12v on both wires.

The actual problem that puts you in the need of the clicky start fix is the rear of the ignition cylinder switch. That old switch is easily replaceable with a new plug in but more expensive than a clicky start.

Typically some one new to Samurai will get the click click no crank and fix it but if you don't you will eventually lose good contact to the solenoid wire. A meter will show 12v on the black/yellow wire at the solenoid, but there is so much resistance that the required amperage can not pass through to the solenoid.

And the obvious; Did your black/yellow wire fall of the solenoid tab? Happens way to often.

MY

Take the wire off the small slide on terminal of the starter solinoid. turn your key on, run wire from pos. side of battery to the slide on terminal. it should start. If not it is most likely the starter if all the wires are good and no corrosion.

wade