Hey everyone,

It's been a while since I've posted, but I've got a big problem I could use your help with.

Today I was trying to start my car and it wouldn't start. I cranked it over probably about 10 times for about 5 seconds each time, giving it a little bit of gas here and there, but it just would not start.

On the last try, it almost sounded like it got some gas as was ready to fire if the starter could have kept chugging, but the battery started to give, and the starter slowed down to the point that it stopped cranking over fast enough to start the car.

I immediately switched the ignition off. When I tried to start the car again, it would not even crank over. I decided the battery was just dead and I would just try to jump the car, and I should be good to go.


Well, I tried to jump the car with my girlfriend's car, and it still wouldn't crank over. I turn the key, and all i get is a couple of light 'click's. I was so baffled I tried two sets of jumper cables, just to make sure it wasn't the cables.

I have no idea what's wrong. I just replaced the starter about six months ago, and it has worked flawlessly until now, so I don't think its the starter.

It might be something that controls the starter, a circuit, or solenoid or something?

I don't know, any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

 

Can you power on any of your electrical systems? Stereo, windows, headlights, ect.?

There are a few relays behind the dash above the fuse box, make sure those are all secure. I would try charging your battery over night and seeing what happens the next day with a charged battery instead of trying to jump it.

 

All of the electrical systems work. I was thinking the same thing with the battery. I ran out to pick one up, but all of the local autoshops were closed. I'll do that tomorrow and see what happens.

 

you killed your starter. doesnt take much to burn them up.

 

I've been having some similar problems recently and was just about to post about it when I saw this thread.

I'm having to crank about three times for about 3 seconds to get it started and once it gets started it dies unless I give it some gas and rev it up a little. I don't think it's the started either since it has nothing to do with my car dying after it's already started. Although it may be a different problem altogether, their timing would lead to believe otherwise. If my battery were bad, it would have died on me by now. What else could cause this?

 

Sounds like a starter problem, take it out and have your local autoparts store do a bench test on it. I believe most Autozones will test them for you.

 

To the OP:
You need to solve the hard starting problem, otherwise you will end up with another dead starter. I wouldn't bother with the "grounding" routine as it makes no sense (to me anyhow). check your plugs, check chambers for deposits, make sure you are getting fuel, may be time to change the fuel filter, check the air filter and pull any codes if you have them.

 

^^^^^^^^^ makes sense to do that first

 

Amen brother...

 

Ya, if you have any codes, pul them and find out what they are. Test your plugs and coils and make sure they are fireing. If they are not, best place to go next would be to check the cam position sensor and the crank position sensors.

 

its your starter.ive gone thru 3 in 2 years. your starter should have a warranty on it. take it back and do a wannaty exchange. they will probably test the starter in their machine. its gonna probably work in their machine. tell them to excahnge it anyway becasue you know its the starter and tell them that if it doesnt fix your problem, you'll bring it back. remanufactured starters are junk.

 

i did the "grounding" thing and it did help with the number of cranks. i think before it took about 3-4 cranks to start, after the grounding thing it starts within 3 cranks. could all be in my head, but thats what i noticed

 

Rv it could be your ignition switch.. SAme thing happen on my 97 maxima. Everytime for a whole year I hard to crank it 3 times and then it would start. So i went out and bought an ignition switch from ebay and installed it and now no problems at all. Starts the first time.

Let me know if this works.

 

guyz do not get a starter from autozone. They suck, i've replaced 2 starters in just 6 months, so i finally got pissed and complained and got my money back. I went online and paid 60 more got a oem starter. I've driven it for a year now and no problems.

 

I'll see about trying that, thanks

 

another common thing people forget to do is make sure you run a wire brush ovser the B terminal connector to make sure your getting a good connection