I knew I was starting to have starter problems (posted awhile back) but it looks like she finally gave out today. I had to stop by the grocery store during lunch and I knew, judging from the cycles of how the starter gradually deteriorates but then springs back and acts like usual, that I was going to encounter the part where it was hardly gonna turn over. Silly me thought that it was gonna start up after a minute of resting. It didn't. So, there she sits. Need to call around tomorrow morning to see if there's any rebuilt ones hanging around town since my work load didn't allow me to call around today after I was rescued. I guess the thing that ****es me off the most is the fact that 20-30 years ago, 100K miles would have been an exceptable life but seems kinda weak for a modern, japanese sedan.

 

Make sure the car is still there cause the store might tow it. Oh and the car isn't dead, it's just the starter so how can you say the car is dead at 100k miles and that it's unacceptable???

 

If the starter sounded like it was lack of oil in the car for a few seconds, then there may be hope for you. Nissan has a (quiet) recall on these starters and they will offer some subsidies in repair/replacing it. Normally about $350 for about $125-150. It may be worth while for you to call Nissan HQ and ask them to call the local dealer (the one you use for service ) and they should give you the "special" price. I had it doen on my 95 Max recently! Apparently there is a generic problem with these starters and they know about it. So rather than recalling ALL of them, they only hekp out if you complain!

 

To replace a starter is about $249. I had the same problem with my starter. The starter would periodically start when it wanted to. Finally it died a couple of days ago. I got it installed for about $50, totalling to about $300. I needed my car fast so it bit me in the butt with the price.

If your car is still in the parking lot, you can always have it start by rolling it. Have someone push the car and pop the clutch as it rolls. It's a one time start but at least you can get it to the mechanic or home.

 

I called the store to let them know the car was there and asked if that ok to leave it there and they said no problem. While it is the starter, my family and I have had american cars with 140K, 160K, 180K miles + with original starters. For it start acting up around 90K and then die at 101K seems like a pretty puny lifespan in comparison.

 

don't feel bad mine only lasted 52k, it just went bad this week.

i needed the car bad, i work about 1hr away and need to leave about 5am.

so i got the car towed to the dealer with a wheel-lift tow truck and replaced the starter with a new one (not rebuilt). i also got an oil & filter change and i also told them to change the gas filter.

all that with the towing came out to $460 in about 4hrs.

they told me they gave me a $120 discount.

these where the prices from the dealer:

new starter $275 (not rebuilt)

installation $165

gas filter installed $49.95

oil & filter change $21.95

then they added 6% tax

most of you will say i spent alot of money but when i called pepboys they told me $169 for a rebuilt stater and $119 for istallation and then they told me tow the car down and it will be ready the next day.

they told me everthing i didn't want to hear.

i must say i was very happy with the dealer and the way they took care of my car.

 

my roommate has a 97 ford ranger and his starter went out at 70k..does that mean all fords are bad?

i have 120k with the same starter and my cousin's maxima has 180k with everything original, just cause one car out of alot of them has a bad starter go out of them doesn't mean they're bad cars

 

My starter died this summer. I took it out, took it to a repair shop, the guy said the brushes had gone bad so he fixed it for me the same day. Only cost me $30.

 

did you try hitting it? i read on here some people hit it a few times and it worked until it eventually died for good. maybe try to hit some life back into it for a temporary solution? goodluck fixing

 

Yep, tried hitting it...nothing. Advance Autoparts here in town had a starter in stock for like $150 with a lifetime replacement warranty. Took about 3 hours total to change it out including one trip to get 14 and 17 mm sockets and an 5" extension for my breaker bar. It really wasn't all that bad to change out considering I made the switch in the parking lot in drizzly, 40 degree weather. She starts though!