My buddy has a 93 VX I believe with a 1.6 V Tech 175,000 miles. Drove the car the other day ran normal. Went to start it up the next morning and car won't start. Turns over for like only 3 or 4 seconds and then stops cranking. You can turn the key again and repeats. Has fuel and has spark although spark is yellowish. I can see the rockers moving and turns over smoothly. CEL is working but isn't throwing any codes. He had a problem with it about a year ago, would just die while driving. We changed distributor solved problem. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

The battery may be low on charge or dead.

 

Turns over great. Then starter just cuts out.

 

Is there an anti-theft system? Could also be loose connections at the battery, or a bad starter though they typically don't do that.

Start by turning the headlights on to see if the whole car loses power causing the starter to quit. If the lights go out it's something near the battery. If they stay on get someone to hold the key on start (and the clutch pedal down) while you measure at the starter to see if it is getting power.

 

Tried a good battery out of another car. No change.

 

Could it be the main relay since the starter turns over for a couple of seconds and then just cuts out? Starter circuit runs through the main relay.

 

Do you own a voltmeter? What you should do is have someone hold the key after it stops cranking; while still holding the key measure the voltage at the starter.

The starter circuit does not pass through the main relay. It does tee off to the main relay in order to force the fuel pump on while cranking, but the car will crank with the main relay unplugged (try it if you want).

 

Right on. Yea I have a voltmeter. I am an electrician. I will give that a shot and see what we come up with. Not sure if it has anti theft or not. I will check.