On my car.

I have a 95 max gle and I need some advice as to what tools to get and what else I should keep around the house that can help me fix my own car. My car is having a starter issue and I don't know what the exact problem is, how can I check for the ecu code?

 

It's in the stickies. If you don't have a flathead screwdriver use a butter knife. That's what I use at college.

 

Talk about the blind leading the blind, lol! The first thing you should do is buy a Haynes manual. They are relatively inexpensive. The introduction to the manual has a section on maintenance techniques, tools and working facilities. It describes a maintenance and minor repair tool kit, a repair and overhaul tool set, special tools and the care and maintenance of tools.

When in doubt use a quarter, a nickel and a dime, lol!

 

Go to sears/Homedepot/Lowes and buy a nice 150+ piece socket set that has 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2 inch drives. Also get a 24 inch long 1/2 inch drive breaker bar. Get a decent floor jack and some jack stands. Last but not least, get some ramps. Metal ones with a support in the middle so you have 3 points touching the ground.

This ensemble will cost you about $200 but you will save that much with your first major tune up so it pays for itself.

 

These are the manual at discount auto parts I think...yeah I'll get one tomorrow and get some basic tools for right now like a socket kit and a wrench.

 

Thanks, later on when I can come across 200 hundreds dollars that I can spend I will, thanks for the advice. My car doesn't start right now...The engine isn't getting any spark at all, won't turn over.

 

The tool kit I referred to above would also include such things as: spark plug wrench, screwdrivers, combination pliers, tire pressure gauge, wire brush, battery post and cable cleaning tool, oil filter wrench, funnel, drain pan, etc.

 

I would suggest getting the car fixed and working on your mechanical skills and tool inventory later on.

 

Yes, that's what I was gonna do.....

 

Do you have any idea what it might be? A car that powers up(all lights, full power but when I turn the key nothing happens)?

 

If you shop around you can probably spend less than $200. For example, Sears will often have a tool kit that's "1/2 price! (not really because they're like clothes, always on sale)" for say $30. It will have all kinds of 1/4 and 3/8 ratchets, sockets, wrenches, etc. There will be some gaps, but you can buy an entire socket set for $15 to $20. If they're craftsman, they are not bad. A floor jack can be had for $20, again Craftsman. Join the Craftsman club and often you take another 15% off.

You don't need to start out with Snap-On, MAC, S*K, etc. As a matter of fact, most of us never need that stuff, we just like it. But you don't need to cheap-out either when Craftsman offers real value vs. quality. Good luck.

 

If you work under a car with a $20 jack there is something really wrong with you

 

All I've got to say is I wish i started out with 1/2" drive.

Everything I have is 3/8 and that's quite a few sets of shallow/deep sockets of both metric and english units ... having to basically start over with quality tools.

 

Thanks to all....

 

I got a 3.5 ton "SUV" floor jack (I think they call it that because it gets a very high lift off the ground) for $35.

Sure it isn't $20 but it's still cheap .. and thing is built like a rock.

 

Now back to this guys maintenance problem. It sounds like your starter to me. If it were a 5-speed you could push it and pop the clutch to start it, but its a GLE. Move the car a few feet and try to start it again. I don't know about Maxima starters, but sometimes you can get a flat spot on an armature and if you move the car you can often start it.