every morning i wake up and start my 95 maxima, it sounds DISGUSTING. It sounds like its going to break down or something. I manage to turn on my car frequently. Its just that everytime i do, everybody around me, hears that nasty grinding sound when i start it up.

I think about changing my spark plugs and wires. But i doubt it'll smooth my start up.

Anybody with similar problems?

 

i have a 96 gle and mine is the same way. one of my friends is a mech. and he said it is proably my starter.

 

Sounds like a starter. Maxima starters can be a weak point. With a swap you should get a re-built one for under $200. There are only 3 bolts holding it in so it is a DIY change. Don't pay the dealership $500 for a starter.

 

I thought we don't have spark plug wires in the vq?

 

I'm pretty sure you can take the starter out and regrease parts of it and the sound will go away [try a search for the exact fix]. My car does this every time I start it, but I'm not sure if regreasing the starter will extend the life of it. Does anyone know if regreasing a noisy starter will make it last longer?

 

HEre is the fix

http://www.motorvate.ca/auto/maxima/starter/starter.htm

I just got a new one instead of rebuilding cause my shaft had way to much play.

 

every once in a while my max starts with a nasty grinding noise too.. but it feels like their is no oil in the engine rather then the starter.. i thought it had something to do with the oil.. but i donno..

 

How about timing chain...yes, no, maybe....

 

The problem is the starter, I had the same problem. The fix is onj the website listed in Gumby510's post above.

 

I had the same problem and it is your starter - as everyone has mentioned... I got one from a junkyard for $ 75....

 

I have a 97 Max SE.

I had to replace the starter for the same type of noise a few years ago. When I first heard the noise, it only occurred on occasion. After a few months, the starter would make this noise every time I cold started the vehicle. Usually the sound would go away once the vehicle warmed up.

Replacing it is a do-it-yourself job. Just slot about 1.5 hours on a Saturday and make sure you have a torque wrench and some patience.

I bought my starter at AutoZONE for about $140. The OE starter was $275 at my local dealer. My dealer wanted appx. $500 to replace it.

The AutoZONE part number for the starter that I bought is:

112265-17232 Import Starter $139.99

There are some nice photographs on replacing starters on VBX Maxima web site.

Check out:
http://vbxmaxima.8m.com/starter.html

(I'm not sure this link still works).

The starter on the 97 Max has 2 bolts. A long one and short one.

Torque the long one to 57-72 ft lbs.
Torque the short one to 22-30 ft lbs.

Make sure you have a LONG socket to remove the long bolt from the original starter. Mine was very difficult to remove.

 

If you figure out you want to regrease it pull the starter, check for any kind of play from the shaft. If there is any movement toss it and get a new one. If you can catch it in time you can just regrease it and it's a cheap fix. I rode around on a bad starter for over a year,by then the shaft was toast. My 2 coppers

 

our 95 maxima auto makes the same noise, it really bothers me, but its my brother's car so i dont worry about it too much, i just want to know what's wrong with it

 

Thats one of the most helpful links for 95-99 max drivers. What do you mean it had too much play?

 

Ok I wanted to grease my started over. I started doing so. I took it half apart, like took out the air ducts and stuff getting to the starter, I went in the house to look for more directions to do next , I end up connection the battery again , when I came outside I smelt a weird smell and I heard this buzzing sound. So I disconnected the battery again. I got the short bolt off but cant seem to get the longer one off so... and since I broke 2 extensions already I just want to put it back together. And bring my car to a friend’s house and use the impact wrench. But I forgot the wire that comes from the battery what bolt does it go on. So came someone please help me out before I destroy the max. Thanks