So some of you may know, Keith and I replaced my starter 2 nights ago in an emergency. We put in a duralast starter from autozone, no time to research or get an OEM one.

So anyway, I notice that this new starter that we put in makes a wierd noise that the OEM one did not. It almost sounds like paper tearing, like a mettalic woosh sound. The car does start up just fine. usually within 1-2 cranks. I dunno if this is just beacuase its not an OEM one and it is the nature of the aftermarket beast. I don't want anything to mess up my flywheel. Its not worth a 150 dollar part costing me a huge repair bill if its defective.

However, maybe it is normal, as both my parents Hondas that are relatively new make a paper tearing soudn too upon startup. Any thoughts? SHould I be concerned?

 

I have that very same starter and I never noticed any weird noise.
Go exchange it, it has a lifetime warranty.

 

I get that w/ an AutoZone starter as well. No need to worry. Since it does have a lifetime warranty, and it is very easy to change, I will stay w/ AZ for the moment.

 

Oh okay, at least im not alone. SO you know exactly what Im talking about. It sounds like a honda starter kinda, right?

 

Man i need a starter too. How much did the autozone one run you? I might jump on it if it has lifetime but i dont know if it makes weird *** sounds. It sounds like mine is going to give out at any second, then i will have to learn to pop my clutch to make it to autozone lol.

 

Call them and find out. Prices may vary by location. It's been a few years since I got mine, so I can't remember what I paid, they'll need a core.

 

mine in NYC was 139.99 plus 42.00 core charge.

 

Damn, i guess I will shop around, didn't know they were that expensive.

 

Maybe it's cheaper in your area, try calling them.

 

i bought a surplus starter. but i noticed that the sprocket/gear is smaller than the OEM. it starts fine but should i be worried that will damage my flywheel?

 

Honda starters have always been a little high pitched from the factory. Nissan sounds different. I think that when it comes to alternators and starters you are better off with factory or NAPA.

 

The different sound is because it's a different motor type. It is a common sound on domestic (chevy, ford) starters. If it has a lifetime warranty, it's hard to beat... plus Vatozone keeps computer records of the warrantys, so all you need to remember is your phone number. Lifetime warranty pwns factory or NAPA.

-Robert

 

You get that 42 dollar core charge back though.

 

I replaced my starter about two months ago. I was in the same situation- starter just went out and I needed something quick. I went to the local Federated Auto Parts and bought one for about $75. It starts every time, but it too has started making that whooosh sound. I know my old starter did it too, just a lot worse. I guess it is pretty common, annoying though it is.

 

True lifetime warranty is a plus, i have seen people that go through 3 starters in a few years so it might be worth the little extra cost.

 

Oh forget this starter. Its def. going back. I needed to go out real quick early this morning and go to turn the key, and instead of it staring it squeals like when you accidently try to start a car thats already running! It did start on the second try. What would cause that? What a crock!

 

Actually, NAPA starters have lfetime warranty as well

 

a non oem part

 

swapped starters at auto zone, the second one is operating fine. Only started the car twice so far though. Keep your fingers crossed.

 

The only time i notice weirdness coming from the car starting with a new starter was when the ignition switch was going bad, which is common to go wrong on the maxima. So check your ignition switch.

 

have your OEM one rebuilt...mine cost me $30 to have rebuilt. no problems

 

Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't the Autozone Duralast starters rebuilt OEM?

 

But even then they cost more than 30 USD.

 

i've heard good and bad about autozone starters.

i say while you have the lifetime warranty and you have already gone there just keep what you have.

i personally got my starter from http://www.nissanpartsonline.net/

actually it seems that the site has changed since i have last used it but i ordered it from this site. it was a rebuilt nissan starter and i have had it since last winter and i haven't had any problems with it yet.

maybe just an idea if you keep on running into problems with this autozone starter.

one of my friends up here has a starter from Autozone and from what it seems he hasn't had any problems with it yet. just seem what happens and take it from there though.

good luck

 

smae thing happen on my 01, bought the starter from napa and me and my dad compared the OEM one and the napa one turns out the napa one's gear was a bit longer than the oem one like 5mm. the best thing to do is get the old redone will cost the same as the autozone one, until then use it won't do any harm

 

I just installed one from Advanced Auto Parts. Cost $130 plus $60 core charge. It starts like a dream now. I bought the car used and it never really started like I thought it should. Now it starts at just a touch of the key. No strange noises or any of the other problems that some have mentioned.

 

How do you check your ignition to see if it is going bad? I just swaped my starter a few months ago and I am having hard starting issues where sometimes I have to crank for 10 seconds before the engine starts. I read posts on the problem and most likely it is a grounding issue but I want to cover all my bases and make sure it's not a faulty starter?

 

my starter ****ted about 2 times.
1 time was from a shop, had 20,000 then it ****ted so i finally took it upon myself and did it. got a bosch reman for about 170 or so and did the job.
been about 30,000 and no prob.

 

is the autozone starter lighter than the stock one ? my oem was around 7 lbs.

 

My plunger does not seem to go back fast enough when it is cold and it gets stuck on the flywheel for 2 secs when I crank it. Only happens when it is cold. So I might replace my starter next year or so...I rather not bother giving it a re-greese because I don't know if that will work or not due to me not starting any work on my car until the spring. And this sound only happens when it is really cold out...

 

I just replaced my starter a couple of weeks ago with an autozone starter. Everything seems fine. Only thing I noticed is the engine turns over much faster now, I think because the new one has 10 teeth compared to 8 teeth in the stock one. Either that or my stock one was going bad for quite some time and I don't remember what it was supposed to start like.

Troy

 

9tgledreams--

If you're getting it to crank, I don't think you have a grounding problem. Sounds more like fuel supply or spark is lacking.

 

The bendix gear gets stuck in the out position, like when you reengage the starter while the car is running. The airplanes I worked on had this happen all the time, it's usually from bad lubrication or debris in the gear.

 

is it connected properly?

 

I got a used updated 11 tooth one from shae stadium. works perfectly now. Good ****e.

 

I bought the same starter from Autozone and it dosen't make the teraing noise. Take it back.

 

its not as easy to take back as you think. the tech guy will throw it in his starter tester, and it will pass the test. After he passes the test they wont allow him to get a warranty replacement. happened to me. i had to go back 5 times to get the warrany exchange. its a pain in the butt.

 

if i were you, id drive there with some tools and make him listen to the tearing noise. take it out there, have him test it, if it passes, ask him if you can install a new one real quick to see if there is a noise. then just keep it. starters only take like 20 mins to install anyway.