Well i have never had a problem with the starter on the Z, but on the 135i bmw i replaced the starter and still had no go, traced the wiring found bad wire it was ripped half way, assuming it came from the factory like that, car had less than 1000miles, then exhaust bolts fell out, that car was a disaster on wheels, but my Z 31000 miles still going no failures so far.

OP gl man i hope u resolve ur issue cuz am stomped.

Awesome help guys way too dark too see now she will be stranded at work outside in the cold until tomorrow

I appreciate the help thanks

All fuses are good all links are good. I can only find one starter relay(ipdm) is there truely a starter control relay and does any body know where to find it?

Both relays are in the IPDM according to the FSM. IIRC, there is a diagram on the inside cover of the IPDM that shows which relay is which.

If you can get into "ON" position, I would also get a code reader and see if any CEL or pending codes pop up. Could be something weird and random like a failed crank position sensor.

I only have one relay in the ipdm, no codes, everything seems to check out, I cant verify the starter control relay, but it seems everything else is happy until the click.

Thanks for the help guys!!!

Looks like ill be tracing wires this weekend. Woot woot!

Props to you for having the patients in finding the problem. At this point, I would of brought it in and have the dealer look into it.

The PCS and SEC sections of the FSM have info that may be helpful for troubleshooting.

Several places in the FSM show two relays for the starter in the IPDM. One of them may be mounted on the back side. The physical layouts for the IPDM I have seen only show the wiring connector locations and not the fuses/relays (but I may have missed it).

Just a late thought, check ur clutch position switch it wont start the car if its defective.

So I gave up and sent it to the shop..... they tell me the "new" starter I bought is bad.. waiting on another one. Will have her back after christmas! Thanks for all the help!

LOL im in the same mess..

Started my car and drove it home 30 min... was hearing some occasional tick or noise somewhere there-abouts in the vicinity of the starter.. I had the left turbo ( its a twin turbo'ed 370z) come loose on me once from vibration so i'm always paranoid thinking its that again, but that wasn't the noise.

Next morning I go to start it and nothing. The battery was dead ( drained overnight?) I get the jeep hooked up and start charging w jumper cables...

(Ive jumped the Z before in a tight spot where it was stored over winter in a storage locker - nothing bad ever came of it.)

I go to get the car going - no go... but now 1/2 the dash and the 3 gauge cluster went dark....

Next day, i do some searching and find its the fuseable link... i replace itr, it blows again... quick 10$ gone... so i rig some wires and an inline fuse harness since i have a pile of the same amp fuses to complete the fuseable link circuit and change out cheaply if they blow.

Next I get on ebay and 1 by 1 swap out the ipdm ER and inside modules after checking and rechecking fuses like a crazy person. same problem. I also disconnected the alternator, in case there could have been a short, but, like i said before, there was a strange noise driving home where the starter lives.
I also used a video snake cam to try and check.. but the + wire didnt looked cooked and nothing else looked out of place.

I check the FSM and the diag points towards possible BCM harness and further on to the BCM....

SOO thats where im at, at the moment Since the car is twin turboed, the starter is buried... to get at it ill have to pull plumbing to continuity test the starter apparatus and wiring. Once i bust knuckles on that and thats not an issue, ill either flat bead it an hour to Z1 or bite the bullet on a harness and BCM.