rob

I've got an 1988 Mitsubishi Van/Wagon 2.4L that doesn't want to crank.

Now, I'm a handy person (30 years an electrical repairman by trade.) My van has been acting up for quite some time now. When I turn the ignition key to start it clicks. If I turn the key (& release) about ten times (anywhere from 1-20 times) it will start, sounding normal on that "good try."

I've since hooked up the 2 wires (cables) directly to the starter @ the starter solenoid & ran them into the passenger compartment. So to start the car for the last 2-3 years now, I turn the key to try to start the car once the "usual way" & if it doesn't turn on the starter, I keep the key 'on' & use my auxiliary switch (as explained above - directly to starter) and it will always start!

I'm getting fed up with this problem and want to fix it correctly.

Over the last few years (since the problem first started) I've: replaced the battery, battery cable, alternator, and tried 3 new starters (all 'professionally rebuilt units.) The problem will not go away!

I've checked the ignition switch, starter relay, and like I said, the starter works.

Once again, when I turn the key I get continuity at the switch which triggers the starter relay, that triggers the starter solenoid (I hear it click with a 'thump' as it should) - but the starter motor does not even try to turn (it doesn't sound like a low battery slow turning starter - nothing!)

Any good solutions or suggestions?

My son died seven years ago @ 18 due to a heart condition. My Aunt & Uncle were his Godparents. My uncle was cremated a few years ago and my Aunt (83) is in Hospice now and not expected to make it to the end of the month. My Aunt caught me off guard one day on the phone and asked me to 'promise her something' and I told her "sure, what is it?" she replied "have me cremated and mix my ashes with your Uncles ashes and sprinkle them on Bobbys grave" (Bobby is my sons name.) She hung up, out of breath from talking. When I told my wife of this last request, my wife got very upset and said "NO WAY!" I told my wife that I would only take a pinch of each persons ashes and blow them in the wind over Bobbys grave and she still said "NO!" Should I not respect my Aunts "last request" that I promised to her (before hearing the request)? Or should I honor the words of my wife? Any suggestions are appreciated.

Does anyone know, as a fact, that the Xerox 8570 printer uses more ink when starting up (and printing out that plaid start-up page after "cleaning") - or if it uses up more ink keeping it on power saver mode? You see, I only use it about once a month. (When I say once a month, I'm talking about printing 500 pages for a newsletter that is sent out monthly. For daily print jobs I have a B&W printer I use.)

My car is a Subaru Impreza, 5 speed manual transmission, 41,000 miles: First thing in the AM, I back out of the driveway with no problem. I put it into first gear and it 'jerks' forward (as if I'm pushing in and out on the clutch VERY quickly. Like a kid learning to drive.) Once in gear it drives fine. Shifting into second and the other gears is nice and smooth. This jerking happens only when I'm letting out the clutch, and only while I'm going into first. Within about 5 - 10 minutes (lots of stop signs and red lights where I drive), it's all better. In the late afternoon after driving it to work, it's fine. Even on the weekends when I don't get into the car until later in the day, it does it - it does it the first time I drive the car any day. Any ideas? It's been this way for a while, but it's getting on my nerves now. (And no, it's not me. I've had many other 4 & 5 speed cars and know how to drive a clutch.)

Actually it's more of my tongue pushing up against the roof of my mouth and a conscious swallowing of the bubbly saliva created. It makes my mouth hurt but I can only stop by eating, talking, whistling or other things that would keep me from using my tongue. HELP, it's driving me crazy!