I think I broke my car tonight :(
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Mass_Media™
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 2,812
I think I broke my car tonight :(
so I am going to see my friend at the mall and I haven't driven my car all day because it has been snowing....so anyway I am going to start my car and I start it but it won't start.....the starter just keeps going my car won't fire up....so finally after about 5min it starts but there is this thick white smoke is coming from my exhaust pipe....and it is running fine after that....is this something I should be worried about? Thanks for the help
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 295
I do not think there is anything wrong with your car per say, if I am correct, the reviews of the 5th gen maximas said that it had problems with cold starts, but nothing to worry about. As for the thick white smoke, it may have just been steam.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,361
If I put money on it, it sounds like the starter ans specifically the starter solenoid. If you say that the starter was turning over but was not engaging the flywheel, the soleniod or it's relay is just about the only thing it can be.
As for the smoke I wouldn't worry too much about it. Chances are that you got some oil in the cylinders with all that cranking and it just burnt off. If it keeps doing it then you may have a problem. A few rules to remember:
- blue-white smoke: burning oil, not a big problem.
- black smoke: running too rich, not a big problem.
- white smoke (sweet smelling): coolant is getting in to the system: head gasket, cracked block... not not a big problem!
As for the smoke I wouldn't worry too much about it. Chances are that you got some oil in the cylinders with all that cranking and it just burnt off. If it keeps doing it then you may have a problem. A few rules to remember:
- blue-white smoke: burning oil, not a big problem.
- black smoke: running too rich, not a big problem.
- white smoke (sweet smelling): coolant is getting in to the system: head gasket, cracked block... not not a big problem!
Thread Starter
Mass_Media™
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 2,812
Originally Posted by bert
If I put money on it, it sounds like the starter ans specifically the starter solenoid. If you say that the starter was turning over but was not engaging the flywheel, the soleniod or it's relay is just about the only thing it can be.
As for the smoke I wouldn't worry too much about it. Chances are that you got some oil in the cylinders with all that cranking and it just burnt off. If it keeps doing it then you may have a problem. A few rules to remember:
- blue-white smoke: burning oil, not a big problem.
- black smoke: running too rich, not a big problem.
- white smoke (sweet smelling): coolant is getting in to the system: head gasket, cracked block... not not a big problem!
As for the smoke I wouldn't worry too much about it. Chances are that you got some oil in the cylinders with all that cranking and it just burnt off. If it keeps doing it then you may have a problem. A few rules to remember:
- blue-white smoke: burning oil, not a big problem.
- black smoke: running too rich, not a big problem.
- white smoke (sweet smelling): coolant is getting in to the system: head gasket, cracked block... not not a big problem!
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,361
Burning plastic?
Before you go anywhere, open the hood and take a look at the alignment of the main belt (alternator, main crank pulley, A/C, etc...). Compare the the alignment of the main crank pulley (way down at the bottom) to the tentioner. Everything should be in a straight line, a very straight line. Look at the main belt and make sure that it's not touching the power streering belt.
2 months ago my main crank pulley cracked, forcing the main belt to rub with power steering belt. When I started it that morning it cranked once, stalled for 2-3 seconds and then cranked again and started. I had never seen that before. There was a distinct smell of burning rubber. Tooling down the highway doing 75, the battery light and hand brake comes on, traditional "your alternator is dead" sign. Well it wasn't the alternator. The main belt and the power steerning belt had rubbed so much that the main belt broke and there was only 1/3 left of the power steering belt!
Before you go anywhere, open the hood and take a look at the alignment of the main belt (alternator, main crank pulley, A/C, etc...). Compare the the alignment of the main crank pulley (way down at the bottom) to the tentioner. Everything should be in a straight line, a very straight line. Look at the main belt and make sure that it's not touching the power streering belt.
2 months ago my main crank pulley cracked, forcing the main belt to rub with power steering belt. When I started it that morning it cranked once, stalled for 2-3 seconds and then cranked again and started. I had never seen that before. There was a distinct smell of burning rubber. Tooling down the highway doing 75, the battery light and hand brake comes on, traditional "your alternator is dead" sign. Well it wasn't the alternator. The main belt and the power steerning belt had rubbed so much that the main belt broke and there was only 1/3 left of the power steering belt!
Thread Starter
Mass_Media™
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 2,812
Originally Posted by bert
Burning plastic?
Before you go anywhere, open the hood and take a look at the alignment of the main belt (alternator, main crank pulley, A/C, etc...). Compare the the alignment of the main crank pulley (way down at the bottom) to the tentioner. Everything should be in a straight line, a very straight line. Look at the main belt and make sure that it's not touching the power streering belt.
2 months ago my main crank pulley cracked, forcing the main belt to rub with power steering belt. When I started it that morning it cranked once, stalled for 2-3 seconds and then cranked again and started. I had never seen that before. There was a distinct smell of burning rubber. Tooling down the highway doing 75, the battery light and hand brake comes on, traditional "your alternator is dead" sign. Well it wasn't the alternator. The main belt and the power steerning belt had rubbed so much that the main belt broke and there was only 1/3 left of the power steering belt!
Before you go anywhere, open the hood and take a look at the alignment of the main belt (alternator, main crank pulley, A/C, etc...). Compare the the alignment of the main crank pulley (way down at the bottom) to the tentioner. Everything should be in a straight line, a very straight line. Look at the main belt and make sure that it's not touching the power streering belt.
2 months ago my main crank pulley cracked, forcing the main belt to rub with power steering belt. When I started it that morning it cranked once, stalled for 2-3 seconds and then cranked again and started. I had never seen that before. There was a distinct smell of burning rubber. Tooling down the highway doing 75, the battery light and hand brake comes on, traditional "your alternator is dead" sign. Well it wasn't the alternator. The main belt and the power steerning belt had rubbed so much that the main belt broke and there was only 1/3 left of the power steering belt!
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