flthere

iTrader: (2)

Hello All,

I have a 4th gen max or rather 98 I30 and it's sitting idle in the parking lot right now, just dead. I read couple threads on bad/weak starts/cranks but none was similar to my problem

I have been having weak starts the past couple weeks or so but it'd start later. If I park the car down a slight incline or on flat ground, it would start after a weak crank, but if I park it slightly up on incline, it'd hesitate a lottt before it start. One bad day on highway, there was an idiotic target carrybag flying and it happened to stuck to something beneath my car, ever since I get to smell some burnt plastic everytime I get out of my car.

I have a CEL for bad O2 sensor, I bought it couple days ago but didn't get time to put it.

Now,yesterday evening, I tried 3 times to start, it made hissing geezk geezkkk sound, the RPM tried to goto almost 1200 but came down and all sort. The battery is just fine, all the lights in the car still light up, the stereo plays. Now the dash shows the oil, battery, brake and what not, all lights when I try to crank it up, I just hear a "click" sound. I feel like the starter is turning at all.

Is this is a bad starter symptom or something else like any sensor or some belt ? plz helpppp ... I need to get it done soon .....

Thanks ....

Daily Interlude

iTrader: (1)

First thought that if it just clicks, it's battery/power related. The starter isn't getting enough juice...

You can have enough power to run the lights and stuff but the starter needs a lot of power to engage.

Try jumping it and see what happens...

Crusher103

iTrader: (10)

we had that same problem with our I30 its the starter go to Advanced Auto or Autozone and get Ur battery and alternator checked it could just be the charging systems but the VQ is notorious for eating through starters mine went through 3 of them in 2 years

flthere

iTrader: (2)

thanks for replies ... i just noticed that the red terminal on the battery (Interstate) has good amount of salt/corrosion sorrounding it ... i'll try to scrap it and see if that is causing the problem ... and will get a jump start too ...

any precautions or how-to on cleaning the battery terminal ?

Max_Out

iTrader: (4)

Just get a wire brush battery clean and battery sealant, then clean it up. Hopefully you havent corroded through the terminals.

sky jumper

weak crank? corroded battery terminals? most likely a bad battery. when batteries start to die they often vent excess acid fumes that can corrode the terminals. clean the battery first - if that doesn't solve things then replace it.

flthere

iTrader: (2)

actually, there is not much of corrosion ... i tried jump start too but all i hear is just a 'click' sound ...

looks like it might be the starter ... anything else to check before jumpin into conclusions ?

thanks

flthere

iTrader: (2)

assuming it's the starter, is there any specific product in autozone or murrays or advanced auto which is value for money and best suited for the max/i30 ?

i see autolite, bosch, beck/arnley, duralast etc., ...

Daily Interlude

iTrader: (1)

Autozone can test the starter too. I'd test the battery first, starter second and then maybe the alternator third.

flthere

iTrader: (2)

i tried googling for locating the starter on maxima ... can someone help me find it, and help with time/effort estimation on removing it ?

can this be a ignition switch problem ?!?

KRRZ350

iTrader: (29)

it's not to bad, disconnect the battery, remove the intake, then you will see it located about a foot below the throttle body.

cardana24

iTrader: (81)

if it was the iginition switch you would not hear clicking. If the ignition switch was bad your car would not know you are trying to start the car and it would not do anything.

From what you describe it sounds like you battery, but it could be your starter too. Are you sure both of your battery terminals are connected tightely and clean? If that is the case and you can still not jump it then maybe the starter is gone.

flthere

iTrader: (2)

well, the battery is in good condition, i might have jsut overstated the corrosion, I took a close look at it, just cleaned with my nails and it was pretty clean ...

anyways, it's the starter that went out .. i bought a Bosch starter in Murrays for $130 and now the car starts sweet ... i have a code for O2 sensor and will replace it this evening ...

thanks to all those who helped with their experiences/knowledge ... i now know what it'll be like when the starter goes off and how to replace it ... lesson learned !

flthere

iTrader: (2)

hmm ... after replacing the starter, it started as usual couple times but it just gave hard start just now ... i can hear the starter rotating but the car wont turn over ... tried again thrice n it started normally ... donno what's happening ...

replaced the o2 sensor n cleared the codes ... i just went to autozone to check codes and it gave P0100 MAF sensor ... ohh gawddd .. one after the other ...

cardana24

iTrader: (81)

If I am not mistaken then that would point towards the flywheel. You can pull the starter out and see if you have some teeth messed up on your flywheel. Good luck.

Daily Interlude

iTrader: (1)

get another starter...mine used to do that and a new starter solved it...

Do you hear grinding when the start turns but does not engage the engine?

flthere

iTrader: (2)

It only made that kind of a bad start once where i cud hear the starter rotating but it was just for few seconds that I tried ... forgot to add that there is a code for crankshaft sensor too :-(

Daily Interlude

iTrader: (1)

That sensor, if it's the one I'm thinking off, will eventually get you stranded. It won't let the car run/start if it gets bad enough.

flthere

iTrader: (2)

any writeup on its location and how-to replace ???