Car wont start battery and starter both good
03-20-2009, 06:31 AM
#1
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Car wont start battery and starter both good
I have a 1997 Maxima SE that won't start. The battery and starter are both new. I tried to jump start it but it doesn't work. I can hear the starter engage the flywheel but there doesn't seem to be enough juice to crank the engine. It seems to be progressive. It works fine and then all the sudden you can hear the starter cranking slower each time you start it until it wont start anymore.
This has been an ongoing issue for a while now. At first I bought a new battery, that seemed to help for about a month. Then I bought a new starter and that seemed to help for about 4 months but now it's acting that same way it did before I replaced the starter and battery. I took the starter out and had it tested and the shop said it was good. The battery also tests good.
What else could it be?
This has been an ongoing issue for a while now. At first I bought a new battery, that seemed to help for about a month. Then I bought a new starter and that seemed to help for about 4 months but now it's acting that same way it did before I replaced the starter and battery. I took the starter out and had it tested and the shop said it was good. The battery also tests good.
What else could it be?
03-20-2009, 06:42 AM
#2
How long will it crank well for before it starts to slow down? Does it spit, sputter at all like it's trying to fire?
Have you checked the connections, made sure that there's no corrosion and everything's tight?
Have you checked the connections, made sure that there's no corrosion and everything's tight?
03-20-2009, 06:47 AM
#3
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What do you mean how long? It can go weeks of working fine, then all the sudden one day it will start to slow down. No it won't crank the engine at all. All connections are tight and no corrosion that i can see on the battery terminal or on the starter. Now that doesn't mean that there isn't any corrosion somewhere in the wire bundle between the starter and battery.
03-20-2009, 06:51 AM
#4
What do you mean how long? It can go weeks of working fine, then all the sudden one day it will start to slow down. No it won't crank the engine at all. All connections are tight and no corrosion that i can see on the battery terminal or on the starter. Now that doesn't mean that there isn't any corrosion somewhere in the wire bundle between the starter and battery.
What voltage does the battery show when it will no longer start?
03-20-2009, 06:56 AM
#5
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03-20-2009, 07:00 AM
#6
03-20-2009, 07:10 AM
#7
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No, how do you get jumper cables down there? I cant hardly fit my hand down there. I could try but I'd have to remove the stock air box.
03-20-2009, 07:14 AM
#8
You don't use jumper cables, just jump the two posts on the starter. If it still won't crank over, it's most likely the starter or the signal.
03-20-2009, 07:14 AM
#9
IIRC...Maybe your crankshaft/camshaft POS/REF sensor is bad. I had that issue on my 97. Replaced all three sensors (preventive maintenance - not sure which one fixed it) and car fired right up.
03-20-2009, 07:18 AM
#10
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I don't see how that can cause the problem I'm having.
03-20-2009, 07:19 AM
#11
03-20-2009, 07:20 AM
#12
03-20-2009, 07:21 AM
#13
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03-20-2009, 07:31 AM
#15
Yeah they are all pretty easy to change and not very expensive (each one is under $100 if I recall).
I don't know which one exactly I needed, but my car had 160k so I replaced all three (some of them as preventive maintenance most likely).
I don't know which one exactly I needed, but my car had 160k so I replaced all three (some of them as preventive maintenance most likely).
03-20-2009, 08:34 AM
#18
The pic shows it pretty well, but it's mounted to the left side of the block right next to the bellhousing.
03-20-2009, 09:25 AM
#19
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03-20-2009, 10:22 AM
#20
when you replaced the starter, did you replace the solinoid too ... did it come with a new one? How is your Gnd cable looking ??? Check where it meats the block (common problem area). Take it off and clean that post, and the end of the wire, slap it back on and see if it helps. Can't hurt and will only take a 10mm ratchet (w/ extension or a 10mm ratchet wrench is even better) and 2 min's.
03-20-2009, 11:26 AM
#21
03-20-2009, 11:38 AM
#22
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when you replaced the starter, did you replace the solinoid too ... did it come with a new one? How is your Gnd cable looking ??? Check where it meats the block (common problem area). Take it off and clean that post, and the end of the wire, slap it back on and see if it helps. Can't hurt and will only take a 10mm ratchet (w/ extension or a 10mm ratchet wrench is even better) and 2 min's.
03-23-2009, 12:59 PM
#23
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After working on it this weekend I found the problem to be the starter. I tapped on the starter with a long breaker bar and the car started right up... The OEM starter lasted me almost 12 years, the aftermarket starter lasted me less than 5 months. I guess I will go buy an OEM starter. NAPA sucks!
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