I turn the key all the way over and all the lights across the bottom of the dash light up and I here a click but nothing.....

 

The dreaded dead starter...

...just dont pay a dealer full price to replace it.

 

Check your fuses... esp. the IGN fuse under the drivers side of the hood.

 

my fuses are fine...

 

sounds like a dead battery to me, at least not enough power to start the car, mines done that before and i could play the radio, but the car refused to start, at least try charging it before going off and buying a new starter

 

I have an OPTIMA yellow top and my Autometer voltage guage shows a little over 12 volts...

 

well crap, it was a possibility, ive never had my starter die so you may have to listen to ben on this one

 

How are your connections>? If you havent cleaned them in a while You will get 12V, but not enuf juice when you crank it=click if you corrosion use baking soda and water....but if you have a yellow top I bet they are clean>?

D

 

ok I've determined it is my starter I have two of the three bolts off but the largest bottom bolt is not coming off is it clockwise or counterclockwise? do I pull or push?

 

rightie tightie
leftie loosie

They are all standard threads, it's just tight. Get a 1/2" drive breaker bar and put some a$$ behind it, it'll come loose.

 

thank you I got it and it is out and I have a show to do this Saturday....

ohh what a week I'm having....

 

that one bolt on the back of the starter took my brother, me and a 4ft breaker bar to snap free!! besides that the rest of the install was a breeze

goodluck!

Ant

 

Same thing happened to me once and the car worked the next day after I tried starting it the 2nd time. Car has started everytime since then.

 

check the starter first is bad. always check the battery first. I remember a member said his optimal bettary was bad only after 3 months (I don't remember the exact time)
Just take out the battery to autozone for check. if it is good, then take out the starter to autozone for check. Taking out the battery is an easy job. take out the starter is not.
I learn it the hard way for taking out the starter first (cuz my battery is almost new and all accessory are working fine). I was so **** off for taking so much time to take out that large bolt of the starter and turn out to be battery problem. the battery was only 4 months new and couldn't find the receipt for warrenty.

 

by the way, even though the voltage might looks good at first doesn't mean the battery is fine. when I took my battery to autozone, it showed good voltage but after some consumtion, it suddenly dropped to 5 volts or something.

 

my car is bakck running again....and the show must go on...I want to thank all Maxima.org mebers for giving us members the encouragement to do-it-yourself when modding and fixing your car..I put on my new starter in my yard in about 15 mins...and turned it and it started right up all by myself..

I have another show tommorrow...last week it was....
4TH Annual HEAVY CHEVY SHOW DOWN Car,Truck & Motorcycle Show-July 27, 2002. Baxley,GA.

I won BEST EURO(trophy) & 15TH In The TOP 25(plaque).

against some of these....


sig pic.....

and tommorrow......

TRUE PLAYERS Car, Truck & Bike Show-Aug. 3, 2002. Midway,GA.

I'm trying my best to rep Maximas....