CAn anyone tell me if these are symptoms of me needing a new starter?
My car will jump if i roll it down a hill and leave it in gear
Lights are on and not dimming plus all the electrical equipment is working.
Took battery to autozone and they said it was fully charged.
Cleaned the battery post and plugs.

Anyone else have anyother suggestions? is there a write up to take it out so i can bring to a shop and get the selonoid replaced? Thanks.

 

Can you explain a little more about what you mean when you say the car will jump when it's in gear going down a hill?

 

I think he means he can jump start it rolling down hill.
Can you hear the selonoid dropping? Does that starter try to turn over all?
If the selonoid is working, but the starter is bad, you should see the lights dim slightly as the selonoid tries to build up charge.
Maybe somebody out there with a fsm can tell where the selonoid is?
With lots of cars, the selonoid is part of the starter. If it goes, it's easier to jusr replace the starter. It's not a big job on most cars but I have not had to do it on my max.

 

I can hear a clicking noise. I am trying to take the starter off right now but it loks like a pain in the rear. I dont even know where the bolts are that connect it to the engine... oh well i wil continue...

 

Ummm.....I take it the car's a 5-speed(chromese5..5 for 5spd?) If so then of course it'll jump start if you roll it and pop the clutch with the key "on". Still ....



o.k....read the next post above, if the car won't start with the key and you have to jump start it?

 

It wil start that way but it won't start while its at a stand still. I hope someone knows how they replaced a starter for this car. I felt two large bolts and i dont know how i am going to fit a socket over them with that little space.

By the way... I also tried jump starting it. I tried using my mom's 1.6 liter sentra and I thought it wasnt big enough so I used my brothers V6 camaro and it still is giving.

 

Yeah, you need to replace it. How? no clue. If there isn't enough space to fit a ratchet, you'll have to try to fit a regular wrench in there. That sux. Let me know when you get it out, mine's not doing too well either.

 

A quick check of napaonline + a couple other sites showed that the selonoid was not sold seperately. Thats unfortunate. If the car turns over, just not with enough force to start, that is almost certainly the selonoid (the selonoid is responsible for delivering a stronger charge than 12V can normally provide.)

I just took a look at the starter on my 2k. I bet it wouldn't be that bad a job if you took the airbox out. Get yourself a swivel head attachment and a couple of different length extensions and you should be ok. Napa had the starter for < $150. A breaker bar might come in handy as well. Getting those bolts moving can be a bear some times.

 

Oh yeah, soke the bolt heads with liquid wrench a couple hours before you start. They'll come loose much easier that way.

 

Lucky there is a shop bout 5 miles from my place that replace solenoids. So i will take it there... unfortunately i think they are closed on Sundays. Argh. Anyone else? Thanks

 

Are you positive the battery is not toasted? I have a 2000 and my battery went dead a month or two ago. When my battery went dead there was absolutely nothing coming on in the car (no lights and the key fob would not unlock the car). Then, I tried jumping it for awhile and I could only muster clicking after that.

Never heard of a starter or solenoid going bad within 5 years. Seems odd, especially since you can push-start it. It would not hurt to go ahead and replace the battery, since you're probably due for one now if you are still running the original battery.

 

What does being able to push start the car tell you about whether it is the starter or the battery?
It is possible the battery is bad. However, all the data points away from that. He said autozone tested it to be OK. All the lights come on and do not dim when he tries to start. Jumping the car from another does not yield any change in starter behavior.
Starters do wear prematurely some times. Change it. It is not a difficult job. A shop should be about to do it in about 1 hour. Don't mess with the solenoid. It appears to be part of the starter. If the starter is bad, then the shop will change then solenoid, put it back together, then have to take it apart again to change the whole starter. The labor will cost you more than the cost difference in a solenoid and a starter. It's likely you can't even buy just the solenoid.

 

How much is a starter? Im going to the junkyard tommorow. Oh yeah... do you think 99 maximas have the same starter? I know that some of the parts are interchangeable so i was just curious if this one was to.

 

Starter from napa is 140 + 50 core charge (you get that back when you give them the old one.) Napa also shows the same part number for 99 and 2k so they may be interchangable.

Good luck, let us know how it turns out.

 

Thanks... 99 look pretty common in the junk yards...

 

[QUOTE=Ben]A quick check of napaonline + a couple other sites showed that the selonoid was not sold seperately. Thats unfortunate. If the car turns over, just not with enough force to start, that is almost certainly the selonoid (the selonoid is responsible for delivering a stronger charge than 12V can normally provide.)

The solenoid does not increase the voltage from the battery. It allows the power from the battery to be converted into mechanical energy by engaging the starter drive with the ring gear on the flywheel. The electrical circuit is closed when you turn the key to the start position. 12 volts from the positive terminal of the solenoid is connected to the switch terminal on the solenoid. That allows to electormagnetic switch in the solenoid to engage the starter drive gear and spins the starter and flywheel. When you release the key, the power is cut off to the switch. The starter drive disengages from the ring gear by different means on different starters. Some by centrifugul force and some by spring action.

 

Looks like its both. I bypassed the solenoid and found that the starter did start turning but that was only sometimes. Then when i hooked up part of the solenoid the starter would engage but not spin. So I figure I have to replace both. Tommorow morning i am going to a place where they have refurbished electrical car parts. That is where my dad got a starter for our other car.

 

Just replaced the whole thing. The solenoid was broken and the thing jumped out of the armature (according to the mechanic). He hooked me up with a brand new one for only $125. Beats the Napa store which quoted me for $189 + 90 for the core.

The removal was a pain. Hoses were a big obstacle because I couldn't pull them out of where they were plugged in so i had to manuever around them. But I am satisfied with the fact that I did the job myself. Thanks everyone.

 

Congrats on your DIY job. What kind of warranty did you get with your new starter?