Battery 100%... turn ignition on.. everything comes on... turn key to start & nothing.... wiggle gear lever around... go from P to N a few times.... but still nothing....replaced starter @300,000km... now @380,000km... Any suggestions ? (first time in the 15 years I've had it that it has failed to start)

 

Did you try starting the engine in neutral?

 

Yes... I moved the stick from P to N many times... .... nothing.

 

There are 5 related parts that affect the starting and I'd check them using a voltage meter. Those are the ignition switch ST2, 7.5A starter fuse, neutral safety switch, starter relay and ST 30A fuse.
I only have a JDM Celsior's wiring diagram and there are some Japanese characters but to trace the related parts one by one may give you some idea. The upper left corner イグニションスイッチ is the ignition switch. 7.5A スタータ is the 7.5A starter fuse, ニュートラルスタートスイッチ is the neutral safety switch, STARTER リレー is the starter relay.

There is an another primitive method. As a short cut, it may be an idea to hit the starter relay using a rubber hammer. Relays often work again when a big stress is given.

 

Good God... all that means nothing to me

 

Do you recommend changing all of those fuses, relays, and switches before changing the starter?

 

If it's not broken, I wouldn't change them. If you suspect a problem other than the starter, then you should diagnose the circuit the way Yamae described

In short, there is:
- A starter fuse
- Starter relay
- 30A fuse
- Ignition Switch
- Neutral Safety Switch
- Starter

To clarify - when you say you turn the key to start & nothing, does the starter crank at all? Or does literally nothing happen, meaning you don't even hear the starter come on?

If you haven't used a multimeter, then you should at least check the fuses Yamae mentioned and the starter relay.

You can try smacking the starter relay with a rubber mallet to see if the relay is going bad. If it works after that, then you should change the relay.

Checking the rest of the parts will require some basic electronics and diagnostic skills

 

Starters dead... has to come out... Grrrr

 

Gonna start on that job myself today. Wish me a “hope nothing breaks” luck.