My car started making clicking noises everytime i tried to turn it on and i just had to keep on trying to get it started. Now it wont start at all, all it does is it makes one click when i turn the ignition and wont start. I already checked the battery, and i know the alternator works because the radio and the lights still work. I got it started last night by pushing the car and "popping" the clutch. I think most likely its the starter but do any of you guys know whats wrong with it? is this i can do myself because i dont have much $$$ right now. If its not the starter can someone please tell me what it could be. Oh and i have a 96 if it makes any difference.






GO MAXIMA PEOPLE.

 

Any one please help..

 

You should first check the connections on the starter. If all the wires are connected good, than remove the starter. Take it to an auto parts store. Most will check it for free.

 

This sounds like the starter is dying. Just one question though: Did the starter seem to start the engine "slow" during let's say the week before? I ask this because I noticed symptoms of my starter dying. From your description, the motor is dead and the clicking sound is coming from the solenoid engaging the starter w/the flywheel; however, the motor is not turning the flywheel. You can get a starter for fairly cheap if you go to a small autoparts store. I bought a rebuilt one for about 60 bucks compared to one from Kragens or Autozone for about 180. Hope this helps.

 

Answer Supa's questions regarding the nature of the failures. You'd generally hear some whine during startup while the starter is beginning to go. I suggest you checkout the motorvate.ca site and regrease your current starter. I replaced just the solenoid and everything was fine but in my case it was because I busted the plastic under one of the leads.

While I had it out I greased it up and put it back in. No problems since.

 

mine also just went out last week...it was dragging for like a week or so and then just quit, I took it out and disassembled it and ordered new brushes for it, had a guy spot weld them on the plate...and put it back together, it works good as new, all for $20.....so be sure and check the brushes in the back of the starter!!!!

 

Like maxtrax said, check the positive connection to the starter and batt for corrosion and tightness first, just in case you have a bad connection.
Also checking the solenoid is a good idea, should be able to separate it pretty easy from the starter motor. In addition to pushing the nose gear froward to the flywheel, the solenoid acts as a high current relay switch, giving power to the starting motor when the the nose gear gets pushed forward. Sometimes the relay contacts get fouled up from arcing and you'll get a click of the solenoid going forward, but no turning. Might be able to get away with just replacing the solenoid which is a much cheaper fix. If you're electrically inclined, you can check this on car by jumpering the positive starter wire at the post, to the solenoid terminal where the ignition switch wire comes (have to remove ignition wire first) in to push the solenoid forward. The solenoid will likely click forward,if (not solenoid is shot). Then while nose gear is forward, jumper or short positive post to starter motor infeed wire from solenoid the motor should turn quickly,if not starter motor is toast. If I'm not mistaken though, the starter on the max isn't very accessable todo these on car tests.

 

The starter is not hard to pull off...just take it off and see how it spins...also what I did is hook up jumper cables and then touch the contact point with the positive cable....this will make the starter spin....when I did this I heard are bad grinding noise like when I was trying to crank the car....I greesed it and tried working it in...this did not work for me so I had to get another one....just a quick way to test the starter.

 

Today, my '96 wouldn't start. For the past week, it seemed to crank slower than normal - like the battery was getting weak (the battery is about 4 weeks old). When I try to start it, all the lights are bright, all the beeps and sounds are strong, the lights are bright, but the starter doesn't even click.

I measured the voltage on the battery under three conditions: Ignition switch @ OFF (12.5 Vdc), Ignition switch @ ON (12.35 Vdc) and Ignition switch @ START (12.2 Vdc). If the starter was energized (ignition switch in the start position), I think the battery voltage would have been lower. After reading this thread, I suspect the solenoid and/or starter.

Could someone please tell me where the starter is located and generally how to get it off. Do I need to raise the vehical to get under it?

Also a recommedation on a service maunal would be great.

Thanks

 

The starter is on the driver side of the engine bay...under the intake. Its round in shape and has a selenoid (sp?) mounted to it. On another note, I had a similar problem and all I need to do was clean my battrey terminals....use a wire brush. After I did this my Max cranked right up. I have a Haynes service manual.

 

Just pull the starter and go have it tested. What you are describing is exactly what happened to me last week. I pulled the starter off the car, after checking the connections of course, and took it to O'Reillys. The guy put it on a stand and when he tested it, the gear only came out half way and made about a half a rotation. It was COMPLETELY dead. He asked me when the last time it worked was, and I told him that morning. He said it was a miracle. Be ready to spend about $150 for a new one with a lifetime warranty.

David

 

So I have to follow-up on this saga.

I tapped on the side of the solenoid with the handle of a screwdriver, not very hard because of the limited space -- and it started.

Now I can get it home and work on it in my garage.

Thanks for your help

Steve

 

Exactly the symtoms I had (95 SE). Take out the starter and disassemble it. You will more than likely find that the grease has all dried up and is sticky. This causes the gear to bind on it's shaft. The magnetic field in the solenoid is not strong enough to overcome this. I cleaned it up and regreased and it's been working perfectly for 8 months or so now. You DON"T need a new starter. This fix should cost you nothing.

 

Yea, I think its just the solenoid. How do i take the solenoid off, and how much do you guys think a new one will cost??

 

In the past couple days my starter solenoid has intermittantly given me slow starts. I checked with a local parts warehouse that can get damn near anything for import parts and they had no listing for separate solenoid. Parts guy said the solenoids are often integral to the starter these days, first I heard of that. $170 for whole unit.

 

Very good starter removel and relub write up at www.motorvate.ca " Worth the visit.