No start. Whirring sound while car is off. Battery had to be killed.
06-04-2014, 03:45 AM
#1
Been having some car troubles as of late.
The other day I started having what seemed like head gasket issues. White smoke from exhaust, really rough idling, poor acceleration. Car died on me and wouldn't start.
So I bought a starter.
I changed the starter, cleaned the maf, replaced the fuel filter, air filter, oil change.
The engine started after all this but still had white smoke out the tailpipe as well as tough idling/car dying.
I left the car for a couple of days, came back to it today to try and add the blue devil head gasket sealer.
I tried to start the car up twice and she wouldn't start after taking my key out of the ignition. It started making a loud whirring sound from somewhere in the engine bay. This sound would not stop until I cut the battery off.
Here's a video of the sound.
98 Maxima - Off:
Sorry the video is upside down.
Edit: When I reconnect the battery cable, there is a spark at the terminal and the sound immediately comes back on.
The other day I started having what seemed like head gasket issues. White smoke from exhaust, really rough idling, poor acceleration. Car died on me and wouldn't start.
So I bought a starter.
I changed the starter, cleaned the maf, replaced the fuel filter, air filter, oil change.
The engine started after all this but still had white smoke out the tailpipe as well as tough idling/car dying.
I left the car for a couple of days, came back to it today to try and add the blue devil head gasket sealer.
I tried to start the car up twice and she wouldn't start after taking my key out of the ignition. It started making a loud whirring sound from somewhere in the engine bay. This sound would not stop until I cut the battery off.
Here's a video of the sound.
98 Maxima - Off:
Edit: When I reconnect the battery cable, there is a spark at the terminal and the sound immediately comes back on.
Last edited by SPER; 06-04-2014 at 04:08 AM.
06-04-2014, 03:55 AM
#2
I don't get why you think you have a blown headgasket just because the car won't start? 
When you say, "The engine started after all this but still had white smoke out the engine as well as tough idling/car dying." This could very well be one or more bad fuel injectors. You have the exact symptoms I had.
As far as it not starting, it could be a clogged or malfunctioning FPR. Happened to me as well in conjunction with my injector issues.
I think you're barking up the wrong tree thinking the head gasket is the cause of the no start issue; possibly the white smoke out the exhaust, but not the no start.
As for the noise, sounds like your new starter is malfunctioning. Just a guess though really.
When you say, "The engine started after all this but still had white smoke out the engine as well as tough idling/car dying." This could very well be one or more bad fuel injectors. You have the exact symptoms I had.
As far as it not starting, it could be a clogged or malfunctioning FPR. Happened to me as well in conjunction with my injector issues.
I think you're barking up the wrong tree thinking the head gasket is the cause of the no start issue; possibly the white smoke out the exhaust, but not the no start.
As for the noise, sounds like your new starter is malfunctioning. Just a guess though really.
06-04-2014, 03:59 AM
#3
I don't get why you think you have a blown headgasket just because the car won't start?
When you say, "The engine started after all this but still had white smoke out the engine as well as tough idling/car dying." This could very well be one or more bad fuel injectors. You have the exact symptoms I had.
As far as it not starting, it could be a clogged or malfunctioning FPR. Happened to me as well in conjunction with my injector issues.
I think you're barking up the wrong tree thinking the head gasket is the cause of the no start issue; possibly the white smoke out the exhaust, but not the no start.
As for the noise, sounds like your new starter is malfunctioning. Just a guess though really.
When you say, "The engine started after all this but still had white smoke out the engine as well as tough idling/car dying." This could very well be one or more bad fuel injectors. You have the exact symptoms I had.
As far as it not starting, it could be a clogged or malfunctioning FPR. Happened to me as well in conjunction with my injector issues.
I think you're barking up the wrong tree thinking the head gasket is the cause of the no start issue; possibly the white smoke out the exhaust, but not the no start.
As for the noise, sounds like your new starter is malfunctioning. Just a guess though really.
I must have skipped a couple details, I edited my initial post. Sorry about that.
The car started up just fine the other day. The starter is brand new.. I don't know what it could be.
Last edited by SPER; 06-04-2014 at 04:11 AM.
06-04-2014, 04:36 AM
#4
Here's a video of the battery terminal being connected and then immediately the sound comes on..
Again:
Not sure what this could be, I've pulled the anti theft and ignition fuses. And still the sound comes on.
I can't seem to find the starter fuse. I'm going to pull more fuses to try and troubleshoot this..
Again:
Not sure what this could be, I've pulled the anti theft and ignition fuses. And still the sound comes on.
I can't seem to find the starter fuse. I'm going to pull more fuses to try and troubleshoot this..
06-04-2014, 10:03 AM
#6
The starter is brand new, and meets oem specs. No idea why it would be malfunctioning...
I bought the starter here.
06-04-2014, 11:34 AM
#7
We're just using logic here. You just replaced the starter, and the noise is coming from that area so... if it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck, it must be a ... 
Disconnect the electrical connections to the starter, then reconnect your battery and tell us what happens.
Disconnect the electrical connections to the starter, then reconnect your battery and tell us what happens.
06-09-2014, 04:35 PM
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Central AR
Posts: 3,041
Hey Sper. I had the same thing happen with a new starter that I bought at Advance Auto on Thursday. When I went to their web site, I saw a new and a rebuilt starter. The core charge on the rebuilt was $42 and for the new it was $12. Now I've used rebuilt alternators and starters from Advance Auto several times over the years and never had a problem. This was my first new starter purchase.
So figured I would go for a new starter since the net cost was about $10 less than a rebuilt. When I opened the box I saw "Made In China" on a sticker. I thought about your video and cringed. Sure enough it happened to me too. The same wining noise happened and I had to disconnect the battery to make it quit.
So I went to the AA site and ordered the rebuilt starter. I used the TRT41 coupon code and got 40% off. Next I boxed up the new starter, returned it, and picked up the rebuilt. The next day I returned the core and got $42 credited to my card.
It turns out the rebuilt starters sold at Advance are from Remy. Also I noticed the rebuilt has the same type of gears as the original where the China version had shorter different looking gears.
About 3 years ago I purchased a Remy Rebuilt starter from a wrecked car in salvage yard for the I30. The starter didn't look too old so I figured I would snag it for $30 and keep it on hand. It turned out that I did need to replace the I30 starter a couple of months later so I installed the Remy Rebuilt from the salvage yard. That was 3 years ago and it works great to this day. The rebuilt starter that I picked up from Advance Auto last week works like a new (rebuilt) starter should. The rebuilt starter has a lifetime warranty.
So for less than $100 I replaced an old starter that was on its last leg with one that works great. I guess I will always buy rebuilt starters from now on.
So figured I would go for a new starter since the net cost was about $10 less than a rebuilt. When I opened the box I saw "Made In China" on a sticker. I thought about your video and cringed. Sure enough it happened to me too. The same wining noise happened and I had to disconnect the battery to make it quit.
So I went to the AA site and ordered the rebuilt starter. I used the TRT41 coupon code and got 40% off. Next I boxed up the new starter, returned it, and picked up the rebuilt. The next day I returned the core and got $42 credited to my card.
It turns out the rebuilt starters sold at Advance are from Remy. Also I noticed the rebuilt has the same type of gears as the original where the China version had shorter different looking gears.
About 3 years ago I purchased a Remy Rebuilt starter from a wrecked car in salvage yard for the I30. The starter didn't look too old so I figured I would snag it for $30 and keep it on hand. It turned out that I did need to replace the I30 starter a couple of months later so I installed the Remy Rebuilt from the salvage yard. That was 3 years ago and it works great to this day. The rebuilt starter that I picked up from Advance Auto last week works like a new (rebuilt) starter should. The rebuilt starter has a lifetime warranty.
So for less than $100 I replaced an old starter that was on its last leg with one that works great. I guess I will always buy rebuilt starters from now on.
06-09-2014, 04:51 PM
#11
Disconnect the pos cable from battery. Disconnect from starter and tape good for isolation. Reconnect to battery. Noise should ne gone.
Last edited by asand1; 06-09-2014 at 04:53 PM.
06-10-2014, 12:20 PM
#12
Hey Sper. I had the same thing happen with a new starter that I bought at Advance Auto on Thursday. When I went to their web site, I saw a new and a rebuilt starter. The core charge on the rebuilt was $42 and for the new it was $12. Now I've used rebuilt alternators and starters from Advance Auto several times over the years and never had a problem. This was my first new starter purchase.
So figured I would go for a new starter since the net cost was about $10 less than a rebuilt. When I opened the box I saw "Made In China" on a sticker. I thought about your video and cringed. Sure enough it happened to me too. The same wining noise happened and I had to disconnect the battery to make it quit.
So I went to the AA site and ordered the rebuilt starter. I used the TRT41 coupon code and got 40% off. Next I boxed up the new starter, returned it, and picked up the rebuilt. The next day I returned the core and got $42 credited to my card.
It turns out the rebuilt starters sold at Advance are from Remy. Also I noticed the rebuilt has the same type of gears as the original where the China version had shorter different looking gears.
About 3 years ago I purchased a Remy Rebuilt starter from a wrecked car in salvage yard for the I30. The starter didn't look too old so I figured I would snag it for $30 and keep it on hand. It turned out that I did need to replace the I30 starter a couple of months later so I installed the Remy Rebuilt from the salvage yard. That was 3 years ago and it works great to this day. The rebuilt starter that I picked up from Advance Auto last week works like a new (rebuilt) starter should. The rebuilt starter has a lifetime warranty.
So for less than $100 I replaced an old starter that was on its last leg with one that works great. I guess I will always buy rebuilt starters from now on.
So figured I would go for a new starter since the net cost was about $10 less than a rebuilt. When I opened the box I saw "Made In China" on a sticker. I thought about your video and cringed. Sure enough it happened to me too. The same wining noise happened and I had to disconnect the battery to make it quit.
So I went to the AA site and ordered the rebuilt starter. I used the TRT41 coupon code and got 40% off. Next I boxed up the new starter, returned it, and picked up the rebuilt. The next day I returned the core and got $42 credited to my card.
It turns out the rebuilt starters sold at Advance are from Remy. Also I noticed the rebuilt has the same type of gears as the original where the China version had shorter different looking gears.
About 3 years ago I purchased a Remy Rebuilt starter from a wrecked car in salvage yard for the I30. The starter didn't look too old so I figured I would snag it for $30 and keep it on hand. It turned out that I did need to replace the I30 starter a couple of months later so I installed the Remy Rebuilt from the salvage yard. That was 3 years ago and it works great to this day. The rebuilt starter that I picked up from Advance Auto last week works like a new (rebuilt) starter should. The rebuilt starter has a lifetime warranty.
So for less than $100 I replaced an old starter that was on its last leg with one that works great. I guess I will always buy rebuilt starters from now on.
I actually had my car towed to a shop today and told them about the problem. Told them I installed a new starter myself etc, and then asked where I got it from. I told them I bought it from amazon and it had good reviews and says that it meets OEM specs. He then told me "Made in China?"..
I wonder if I should buy this remanufactured one at advance and have them install that for me, and then return the "Brand New" starter that I installed myself?
06-19-2014, 04:12 PM
#14
Got the starter replaced, computer analysis, the fuel pump replaced, spark plugs replaced and the #2 Fuel injector replaced as well.
The cost came to a total of $870 with everything. I think I paid a fair price for all of these services. If I had done all those things myself I probably would have paid about $300-400. Unfortunately I did not have the space to do so..
The car is driving great now and the smoke is no longer an issue.
Thank you for the feedback guys
And a special Thank you to asand1
You were correct in both of your assessments. The POS new starter did malfunction. (I bought a rebuilt one from Advance and the shop installed it for me)
Thankfully I never went through with the Blue Devil crap, I could have messed everything up.
06-19-2014, 04:23 PM
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: SoCal
Posts: 472
Thank you for listening to the guys on this site. They know their stuff. They have helped me greatly. Come back as often as you need too. I have not had any of these issues yet, but now I am prepared for them.
06-19-2014, 05:39 PM
#17
06-23-2014, 03:10 AM
#21
Is this needed?
My engine is idling rough again and accelerating rough too.. Gonna have to take it back to the shop tomorrow, always something with this car...
06-23-2014, 05:38 AM
#22
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