chrisZ

Hi,

I've replaced my auto tranny last September ('07) by the dealer and the car has been running great. But within the last week its developed a hard starting issue. It started last weekend by just taking a bit longer to start. But it has progressed to where I had to have the car towed. The dealer replaced the starter, so it starts, but not very well. It hickups during cranking but with the new starter at least it fires after a 5 seconds or so. I suspect its going to stop firing shortly and I will need another tow to the dealer. I've replaced the fuel filter, battery is good, oil level is fine, temp sensor was replaced 2 years ago. I've checked for any codes, none were shown. I always use premium fuel, and the intake has been cleaned last year, but didn't show much residue.

Any suggestions or recommnedations.

maxihari77SE96

iTrader: (3)

Ground the starter.

4AWG cable from (-) on the battery to one of the starter bolts....

chrisZ

Ok, will try this weekend. But its odd, that the ground would go bad after 6 months time?!

Thanks,

maxihari77SE96

iTrader: (3)

Had the same problem last winter. Car was out for a month.
Changed out battery AND starter. Added ground wire. Worked great up until last month. Same thing. Changed battery and starter. New ground. Works fine now.

chrisZ

Hmm, the 2nd time you changed the battery and starter, did you try without the grounding first to see if things improved? If you replaced the ground how did you change the ground?

maxihari77SE96

iTrader: (3)

Just new cable because I didn't even want to bother with cleaning...
I had another cable laying around.

They didn't improve and they can't improve, hence the problem and the ground fix.

It's easy and cheap.
Won't hurt to try.

chrisZ

After seaching this forum for hard starting, I've ran accross others that also used additional grounding and its seemed to help. But one poster noted that he found the transmission to engine bolts loose and hence he suspects that the loose bolts contributed to the starting (grounding) issues. Have you maxihari77SE96 checked or noticed anything odd with the tranny bolts (I'm assuming you had some tranny work).

Tomorrow is my day to spend under the car...
Thanks,

chrisZ

Well I added the gounding cables but no improvement. The starter just does one click and the engine does not turn over. Battary was recharged just in case, but this didn't help. The starter was replaced by the dealer just a few days ago?! What next?

CRiME

iTrader: (21)

If the surface where the transmission meets the engine was not sanded/properly cleaned, that can also eventually lead to starting problems. Since you had the transmission replaced, this is a possibility.

njmaxseltd

iTrader: (19)

Don't overlook the ignition switch, it's a known problem in our 4th gens.

chrisZ

I'm taking (towing) it back to the dealer for a fix.

I'm beaten, maybe its its time to took for a new car. Its been a good 12 years with the Max but perhaps I needs something newer.

exrider7510

There is a grounding strap that grounds on the tranny Not sure what it acutally grounding but I had the same exact problem with mine, same symptoms, I had my transmission rebuilt then a few weeks later the same issue. Brought it into Nissan after replacing starter and battery and 60 dollars later they had replaced the grounding strap and it was good as new.

chrisZ

Gave it another shot today. As the stores are open today, I took out the battery and starter and took them for free evaluation. Both were deemed defective?! Anyhow replaced the battery under (36 month) warranty and the starter (3 days). I did check the ground strap on the tranny, it was badly corroded at the connector (it fell apart as I was trying to clean off the rust), it was replaced. Anyhow, put everything together and it started. Tried starting it a couple more times and all seems normal. Anyhow I left the added (yesterday) ground straps at the tranny and starter.

Maybe I'll keep the max a little longer...

maxihari77SE96

iTrader: (3)

congrats...! feels great, doesnt it!!!

chrisZ

It would have felt better if I didn't spend the $500 on the dealer replacement starter and their labor charges and a tow to the dealer. But as it happened at an inconvenient place (not in my garage), so be it. The dealers have to eat too...

Hopefully the fix lasts a few more years.
Thanks,

crazy97

iTrader: (1)

My ground went bad after a week....

smai555

any updates? i seem to have the same problem however once the CEL came on it starts better (i havent checked the codes yet ) ... i just put in a tranny and new starter .... and now im leaving for 2 weeks

hermtm2

iTrader: (1)

I had the same problem after the A/T was rebuilt on May 2007. When the tranny was just rebuilt, the car which is a 96 I30 wasn't start at all. It sent another shop to fix the starting problem which was eletrical specialist. The dealer paid $600 to repair. It was in that summer and then it occured again in the winter. I paid $500 to the same shop. Now it is fine. I have a labor decription and parts list which I replaced for that. It will be sent by PM. Check your PM.
Thanks.