car won't start .. WTF
 

i woke up this morning, bright and early, ready to go to school.
i go to start my car, and exactly what you can see in the video is what happened. i replaced the battery, and the same thing still happens.
i turn the key, and it cranks, but does not turn over and start the engine. if keep the key turned, it makes the noise that you can hear at the end of the video (sounds like a vacuum)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_8nO2K8Qvk

what is wrong here?
thanks for any help

edit: if it is the starter, is there anyway to get it to a garage?
also, how much is reasonable for a starter + labor? how long would it take?

You need a new starter

that pesky thing. :(
is there any way to start the car so I can bring it to my nissan dealership?

If you are a manual you can roll start it. (roll the car down a hill or have someone push it up to at least about 5mph then drop the clutch in 1st gear and pray it starts)

probably only need the solenoid if you can buy the piece separately it would save you some money. Sounds like your starter is spinning but the solenoid isn't pushing the starter gear out to engage with the flywheel gear if that makes sense.

look at the starter and make sure all of your wires are attached. maybe try wiggling some stuff around and see if it works.

where is that located? :hide:

I haven't ever had to deal with mine but i believe it is on the driver side down below the air box. You might be able to reach if from below better if you jack your car up a bit. otherwise i think you will probably have to take the air box out to reach it

i just went and looked at mine and it is on top of the transmission so you can't get to it from the bottom. It is just below where the air filter sits. You might be able to reach your hand in there without removing anything. I took a crappy picture with my cell phone that i will post in a second for you

http://www.ritzpix.com/net/ImageDisp...F4&maxSize=773

You should find your starter down in the hole i circled in red

If you have a ratchet set and a pipe to use as a breaker bar, you can replace it yourself. Even if you have no experience, it will take you 1 hour at most. It's held in by just two bolts, but they will be on there kind of tight, hence the need for the breaker bar.

This is a writeup to re-grease the starter, but you can follow the same procedure for removal & replacement:

http://www.motorvate.ca/mvp.php/516

I agree, this is one you can do yourself even if you aren't too mechanically inclined. If you really don't want to do it yourself take it to a shop not the nissan dealership.

sounds good. i might get my dad to do it since he is more mechanically inclined than i am.
i'll probably be getting the starter from advance auto parts or auto zone for around $150-200. nissan dealership quoted $284 for starter and $214 for labor :yeahright
in case i do have to take it to a shop, is there anyway to start the car? or should i just take advantage of my AAA and have it towed?

Have you looked at your starter to see if all the wires are securely attached? maybe try hitting the solenoid (the smaller round part) to see if that makes it work. there is no other way unless you are a 5 speed, then you could roll start it

before i go through with this repair, are you guys sure it is the starter? a friend of mine thinks it is the alternator.

The bendix isn't engaging the flywheel, it's your starter.

yeah deffently your starter. you could try and hit your starter hard with a hammer then try cranking it if you need to get it somewhere.

but to be honest with you i would stay with a oem starter vs a aftermarket.


also i would go to a junkyard find a starter and maybe they might even give out some kind of warrenty. i had to get one back in dec and they only charged me 40 bucks.

another thing is a starter is a good starter project if you want to get into fixing your car up. it is pretty easy and straight forward. When i got that starter back in Dec i had to change it in my works parking lot when it was -10 out so it isnt to difficult. i belive all you need is a 17mm and a 14mm socket and maybe a extension.

if it were your alternator you would probley be able to start it just wouldnt recharge your car there fore die quickly.

Definitely not the alternator. if you want to rule it out for sure though try and jump start it.

thank you guys for your help.
today was a great day. i called AAA at 1:40, the tow truck got here at 2:00, got to the repair shop around 2:30, and was finished around 3:30.
the new duralast starter with lifetime warranty was $190 + $70 for labor. the car starts even better than what it did before :D