The past few days, when I start my car it would crank in like slow motion, but it would start every time. The cranking would sound like its weak and struggling. Today, I went to start my car, but needed my keys to get back into my house, and when I came back, it wouldn't start at all. When the car is in the on position, all the dash lights are on, perfectly normal, but when I turn it over theres no crank at all, and obviously no start either.
Its raining like crazy so I'll have to wait until tomorrow to pull and test the starter

Just wanted to get opinions on what this could be. Is it definitely the starter with these symptoms?

 

Probably the starter.

 

I pulled the starter, and it tested fine 5 straight times at auto zone.

could this issue be the fuel pump?

 

check the battery thats what it sounds like to me

 

 

all the accessories work, like the radio and headlights. the car just doesn't start. could it still be the battery even if the accessories work?

 

Do you have a multimeter to measure voltage?

 

Yeah, check the battery voltage. Battery should read 12 to 12.5 volts. When you try to start the car, the battery voltage will drop, but it should never go below 10 volts in a good battery.

Last year my car wouldn't start, just barely cranked. New battery & jumper cables didn't help. Pulled starter, took it to an autozone about a half mile from the car and they tested it 2 times and said it was ok. Pulled the starter out of my other car and put it in and the car started like it's supposed to. Put questionable starter into my other car and it wouldn't crank over.

But autozone said there was nothing wrong with the starter.

 

yeah, i never trust autizm zone imo they dont know what there talkin about. and sometimes 11 volts isnt even enough to crank over the vq its not common but it happens

 

battery tested fine, i even tried jump starting the car and still nothing.

could this be the ignition switch? when i turn the key over to try and start the car, the dash lights do not dim, they stay the same brightness

 

whatb was your voltage on the battery

 

I guess I missed something. Is the starter trying to crank the engine? Do you hear a loud click come from the engine area but the engine doesn't crank?

If the answers are no and no, then the ignition switch is a very good suspect. A lot of us on the org have had that problem, me included.

You can check this with a voltmeter, either at the starter or under the dash. Under the dash might be a little easier. You have to take the plastic covers off (and a metal plate, I think) so you can see the bottom of the steering column. On the right side of the steering column by the bolt that holds it up to the dash, there is a flat electrical connector that has a screw holding it to the dash.

One of the wires is black with a white stripe. This is the one you want to test for voltage. It should read 12 volts (battery voltage) when you turn the key to start position. If you have 12 volts, the ignition switch is working.

 

i actually had/am having the exact same problem..maybe my progress can help you.

In the beginning the car struggled to start, and eventually stopped starting. I tried jumping it, no success. The lights and radio etc. all work fine. I bought a new battery (needed one anyway) and the car still wouldn't start. I got no crank and only a clicking noise.

I am buying a new starter this week and installing it with a friend. I'll keep you posted as to the status...

Question: What should a new starter cost me? $150-200?

 

here's my thread if it helps ya

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....=1#post7762897

 

Battery was a 12.5
Ignition switch was a 12.0

I got a new starter and still the same thing

I have an OBD code scanner coming tomorrow,
I'll check for any codes

 

There's 2 more things between the ignition switch and the starter - the vehicle immobilizer part of the car alarm and the "car is in gear" switch.

If the vehicle immobilizer is causing this, the security L.E.D. in the clock should be blinking.

The "car is in gear" switch is in the shifter linkage. Manual and auto trans have different switches. If automatic, try putting the shift lever in neutral and see if it starts. If not, try wiggling the shift lever between park and neutral while you turn the key. Keep your foot on the brake in case it starts.

 

i got my code scanner today, got 3 codes

p0325 knock sensor
p0130 02 sensor malfuntion
p0325 (again?)

could the 02 sensor code be causing my problem? i had the same code 2 weeks ago, i got a new front right heated 02 sensor installed, and the SES light went away

 

I think the car will start with a bad O2 sensor. I'm assuming the car started 2 weeks ago, didn't it?

Want to check another voltage? On the starter, there is a small wire with a plastic connector on it. This wire connects to the ignition switch and energizes the starter solenoid. See if you have 12 volts there when the key is in the start position. If you jumper 12 volts to this wire, the starter should crank the engine.

 

ignition switch could be ruled out, i tested a new one and still the same thing

i didn't mention before, but now that i look closely, the car looks like it was previously wired for an aftermarket remote start alarm.. not sure if that is relevant or not

 

any updates with this? im buying my starter today...hopefully that fixes my problem

 

i removed both positive and negative terminals and grounds and wire brushed and sanded them. i also tried tapping the starter while my friend was trying to start the car. i heard a buzzing noise under the hood and the rpm needle jumped slightly. tried tapping the starter and starting it for 20 minutes, but gave up. car is still sitting outside as i've been a little busy and unmotivated to fix it