Remote Car starter wiring question...

[Chucker]

Hi, 2003 2.5 Baja.
I got a car starter installed several years ago. It worked great for years. I stopped working a couple of years ago and I'm just getting around to trying to figure it out. It's a "Compustar" system.
The door lock/unlock function seems to work fine.
The car starter does not. It "connects" but it just causes (what I've always called) the "solenoid noise." - Not just the "click," but many clicks in quick succession like happens with a low battery in the winter.
(*note - The car starts fine with the key - no issues).

I'm thinking it's just a bad wire connection somewhere. But does anyone have any idea which it might be and where to look for it?

Thank in advance for any thoughts!

[anarchy1024]

Another possibility could be a worn-out relay (dirty contacts, etc.) in the control unit, which for mine is behind the dash, driver's side. Presumably trace the wires that go from the ignition switch and there should be a tap somewhere before the firewall that goes to a not-OEM-looking box. I haven't had a this particular issue before, so couldn't really say.

Measuring the resistance across the relay contacts may be difficult, since they're only completing the circuit while it's trying to start the car, and the resistance setting needs to be done on an unpowered circuit. Alternatively, you can measure voltage drop across the relay while it's trying to start.

I'd think the problem would likely either be that relay (since it's a mechanical part, and the relay contacts are not switching an insignificant amount of current, even if it's just the solenoid...arcing, build-up on the contacts), or where the OEM wires were tapped by the aftermarket starter installer (should be behind the steering column, or thereabouts).

[Chucker]

Another possibility could be a worn-out relay (dirty contacts, etc.) in the control unit, which for mine is behind the dash, driver's side. Presumably trace the wires that go from the ignition switch and there should be a tap somewhere before the firewall that goes to a not-OEM-looking box. I haven't had a this particular issue before, so couldn't really say.

Measuring the resistance across the relay contacts may be difficult, since they're only completing the circuit while it's trying to start the car, and the resistance setting needs to be done on an unpowered circuit. Alternatively, you can measure voltage drop across the relay while it's trying to start.

I'd think the problem would likely either be that relay (since it's a mechanical part, and the relay contacts are not switching an insignificant amount of current, even if it's just the solenoid...arcing, build-up on the contacts), or where the OEM wires were tapped by the aftermarket starter installer (should be behind the steering column, or thereabouts).

Thank you. I'll try to check into some of that...