I have a major problem getting my car to start consistently. I had the starter replaced in March and it started ok for a month and then took longer and longer to crank, mostly when the car was already warm. Eventually the starter stopped cranking and when I turned the key, no noise was made. The starter was replaced again in May and today I started the car to move out of a driveway and the starter never turned off after the car was shut off. It started smoking and is most likely dead again.

Does anyone have some insight as to what could cause this and what I might be able to check?

It's a 5-speed with about 150K miles.

Thank you.

 

Was the magnetic switch (starter solenoid) replaced at each time the starter was replaced? Did you DIY or a shop replaced the starters? I think somebody had added a ground strap from the starter to the bell housing. Was this done?

 

I had the shop do the work each time, I'm not sure about the starter solenoid.

I took the car in this morning and the shop wants to rotate the flywheel around and see if there are teeth missing. Is this worth their time (and my money), could this be a realistic cause?

The fact that the starter didn't turn off with the car would suggest to me that it is an electrical problem, then again I am not very mechanically/electrically inclined. I saw on another thread that the crankshaft sensor or CPS sensor could have something to do with it.

Thanks for the help.

 

I bought one of these when my last starter died. It got replaced about 13-14 months ago and still running strong. It's a 10-tooth too so it cranks much quicker.

http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductD...pe=123&PTSet=A

Yes, it's remanufactured

btw, it's not that difficult to get to the starter. If you can't find a guide online, I might be able to take some pics over the weekend. It's definately something that can be done by someone who is not mechanically inclined (such as me ).

edit: hmm ... I just read over the op again. My starter never smoked - its solenoid was gone and just wouldn't spin. I don't see why missing teeth from the flywheel would cause the starter to not stop - your assumption that it's an electrical problem sounds about right to me.

 

The Nissan design doesn't use relays, just the key switch to the starter solenoid with a clutch/secuirty interlock relay in between. So if it stays on when you release the key, the starter solenoid is stuck in the extended position. This can happen when the solenoid is not mounted on the starter correctly or the starter housing casting is not precise enough. Then the solenoid plunger is binding in the solenoid field coil housing. When the plunger doesn't slide back, the switch on the end is kept on.

If your starter had been replaced several times, likely the rebuilts they used were of a lower quality. You should force them to use a new build part to be rid of this problem.

 

3rd? wow. did u have to pat hte gas to get it to crank?

 

yeah not good

 

Yeah, I would have to give it a little gas. It's really bad, my car is no longer reliable. I'll see on Monday if they find anything wrong with the flywheel, but somehow I don't feel like that will resolve the issue.

 

mine did the same thing& it was cause I had a minor oil leaked& it leaked out on the started& it caused it to burn this is the 3rd starter good thing I have a lifetime warranty on it.

 

to the Org. Please be mindful of the dates. You just bumped a thread from 2007.