SR20DET - Starter Key Switch plug literally falling off?

[Freivo34]

Hey guys, I just got this S13 that the PO put an SR in. I believe it’s a red top. I’ve found that if I drive for a while over the notoriously bumpy roads of Chicago, sometimes when I get home the car will act like the starter has no power the next time I go to start it, the cause of this being the key switch has fallen off the terminal on the starter itself. Once I plug it in everything is fine, but it happened a second time today and I’m not sure what to do. The plug just wont click on to the little flat terminal. It’ll stay for a bit but inevitably fall off. Has this happened to anybody else on here?

[derass]

Yeah, it's a common problem. Probably because it wears out from how often it gets connected/disconnected during all the swaps that happen on these cars.

Either squish the metal part of the stock female connector with some pliers so that it fits more tightly over the male blade on the starter. Or cut the old female blade connector off the wire, and crimp on a new one from the hardware store. Just try to preserve the stock rubber boot over the female connector.

[kyral]

Originally Posted by derass

Yeah, it's a common problem. Probably because it wears out from how often it gets connected/disconnected during all the swaps that happen on these cars.

Either squish the metal part of the stock female connector with some pliers so that it fits more tightly over the male blade on the starter. Or cut the old female blade connector off the wire, and crimp on a new one from the hardware store. Just try to preserve the stock rubber boot over the female connector.

I second the squishing. I use metal probe tools to help collapse the female terminal a little for a tighter fit. great thing to know makes the connection better too

[Freivo34]

awesome, thanks to both of you, I will get in there with some needle nose pliers today!