Zirafa

I have a '95 GXE with 100K on the odo. Last night I was going to move it from the driveway and when I turned the key the engine started turning slowly but it woudn't start. At first I thought it was the battery, but the headlights would light up strong even after several unseccessful attempts to start the car, meaning the battery still had enough juice in it. Then I measured voltage across the battery terminals and it came to a little over 13V. Then, as the last battery test, I tried to jump-start the car, but again it would turn very slowly and wouldn't start. It's definitely not the battery. And, since the battery was fully charged it means the alternator is working fine. The reason I am 99.9% sure it's the starter is that it has been making that ugly noise every time I started my car for the past several months (six, at least). Another reason is that when I hit the starter with a wrench it kinda worked better (but it still couldn't start the car). I've been meaning to take it apart and regrease it, but just never had time. A few days ago I decided to finally do it one day this week, and now it decided to crap on me first before I got to do it.

Do you think that, if I take it apart and regrease it now, I could get some more life out of it? I mean, it is trying to spin the gears, I can hear it. Could that be because the dried grease inside seized the gears, so when I clean it and regrease it, it may still work? Or is this just a waste of time and I should get a new starter?

sickmen

iTrader: (1)

Yes, it's the infamous dried grease problem common to our Max. You've have to open it and repack the starter... it's not that difficult! Search the forum and you should see a lot of thread about this problem. Do not buy a new starter without trying this first! hope it helps.

sickmen

iTrader: (1)

BTW, next time you having throuble starting the car then try to tap the starter head with some metal object. If it starts then you need to repack the starter!

Zirafa

Thanks sickmen! I will then definitely try to repack tonight.
Unfortunately, I am familiar with the whack-starter-to-get-started concept as I have had to use it on my previous car too until I finally replaced the starter.

sickmen

iTrader: (1)

Repacking the starter is fairly easy.
http://www.motorvate.ca/mvp.php/516
This webpage will show you step by step to repack the starter. Very simple! good luck to you man.
If I can do it then anyone can do it as well...

Show Maxima

or again sorry to post *****, i am selling a sstarter in great condition, just pm me.

Zirafa

I'll keep you in mind in case I need one.

Zirafa

I tackled the starter last night. The hardest part was definitely taking it off. It's held by one 14mm bolt and one 17mm. The 17 was a major PITA. I broke a wrench trying to break it loose. Luckily, I had another one. (If you don't have a good breaker bar don't even bother to try.) Anyways, after I finally took it off and apart, I cleaned it with TB cleaner, dried it, and regreased it. Put it all back together and my Max started fine. The start is still a little sluggish but at least it works. I have started it at least a dozen times, and it started every time. If it stays like that for a few more months I will be happy.

Show Maxima

sounds like a plan, just beware and be observant just to make sure the problem doesnt persist again, cuz its not cool getting stuck in a mall parking garage, having to push your car out in order to get it towed, this happened to me about 6 months ago.

sickmen

iTrader: (1)

did u repack the starter man?

Zirafa

Yeah, I did, and it worked fine yesterday all day, but towards the evening it took longer and longer to start the car, so I started thinking: screw that I am not getting stranded so I got a new one from Advance AP for $140.

sickmen

iTrader: (1)

hmm... after the repacking, mine worked 100% during last 1.5yr. Did u clean well with spray cleaner and repack it with high-speed grease?
It might be your time to buy the new starter...

ZeRo MaX

iTrader: (4)

i'm doin the same thing.. what kind of grease should i use?!?

UncleMax98

High temperature wheel bearing grease. Mine has been working fine since regreasing 6 months ago. I cleaned the solenoid and brushes with electrical cleaner. Everything is in very good condition, except for the dried grease. I think the starter can go for another 80K miles.

ZeRo MaX

iTrader: (4)

how long do starters usually last?

sickmen

iTrader: (1)

I think it really depends on... but after the repacking mine works flawlessly for the last 14 months!

Zirafa

Well, here's the difference:

I did NOT repack the starter to get rid of the noise. I did it to try to save it because it was already almost dead. I could not start the car. I thought it may have been dying because the grease dried out, so I just wanted to see if it would help if I repacked.

You repacked it while it was still working fine.

sickmen

iTrader: (1)

No... I couldn't start my car time to time and it only got worse. When I open the starter the grease was all dried out and gears were all stick together. I cleaned it with electronic cleaner and repack it with high-temp gear grease. After that it works 100%. I didn't repack the starter because of the noise, the starter simply wouldn't turn!

Zirafa

You had more luck than me. I did the same on my starter, but it died anyways. I guess it was just its time...

njmodi

iTrader: (4)

The 95/96 starters were updated for the 97 and beyond years... to add extra teeth the gears (reduction type starter is what they call it)... I replaced mine on my 96 for two reasons, 1) the grease had definitely dried out, 2) I had developed a couple of flat spots, so it just wouldn't spin/turn the engine over fast enough... the redesign addressed this problem.