Help Car won't start.
 

So, for the last couple of days my car has been having a little trouble starting, like it would click twice before the engine actually started. Then today it wouldn't even start at all. At first it would seem like it might start, but after a few more tries nothing happens at all, except you can hear the click when you turn the ignition. I know the battery isn't dead because all the lights still go on inside my car. I was at a car audio shop and they came outside quick to look at it and they said that the starter coil or something like that was fried. Does that sound right? If so is how hard is that to replace, like could someone with a little more than basic knowledge of mechanical work on cars replace it? Also how much would one cost/where can i buy it.

Secondly my passenger window has had trouble going up, I know this is a pretty simple question, but I figured I would just ask it here while I'm making a thread. Now it barely goes up by itself, is it just the motor thats dead, because my driver side window has been having trouble going up too.

Thanks everyone for the help,

-Tav303

First out-what year is the car? About the window not working...I've replaced a few window switches in my 2001 Maxima myself. 2 master switches. 1 slave switch. Each door has it's own window motor-so unless it's slowly working/straining, I would doubt the motor. Intermittant operation-replace the master switch.
Non-starting? And all you hear is a click...after a few clicks-it starts? Starter. Not too unlikely for a Nissan starter to go bad. A couple of hours, 10 mm wrench, and a 14 mm socket/ratchet-you should be good to go.
You post was kinda vague-so I hope I was able to offer some help. Or at least rule out some possibilities.

Betcha it is your battery, your interior lights don't pull much current, where as your starter pulls a ton, and you windows take somewhere in between which would explain why they are working slowly.

Did the audio shop test the voltage of your battery?

Did you try and jump start it?

starter goimg bad... change it fast.. it happened to me hrs before going on vacation....

Check your cables, My truck had a broken cable under the insulation at the post clamp. It would would lose conection intermitantly. Also, many auto parts stores will test your charging system for free. If it checks out fine, buy a starter while your there.

its a 2001 se, and when I was there they hooked up an external battery to it, and still nothing. So from what flatcat said the starter doesn't sound too hard to replace myself? Does someone have some instructions I can look at? Thanks again for all your help.

Hit the starter with a hammer that may get it back to working again. If that works replace the starter. What happens to starters when they get old is they start hanging up because they in essence arc weld themselves together. The click you are hearing is the starter solenoid (Basically a big relay) engaging power to the starter. Also check your cable going to the starter. If it's coroded or loose replace or repair it then see if that helps. Starter motors won't engage unless they have a minium 9 volts going through them.

I had the same problem this past Tuesday night and Wednesday morning and figured it was the starter. Took a small wrench and tapped the starter. Car started so I took it to the shop where I got my alternator replace cuz they do starters too. Glad i got it fixed!

Ya I tried hitting it and it still doesn't work, but I do want to check that cable. Where does the cable run and what does it look like? Any pictures would be extremely helpful.
Thanks

If you are to replace the starter-remove negative cable first...take out air box/intake pipe-whatever you're sporting. About 6-8" below the throttle body is your starter. It sits above the back of the tranny. It should just be 2 14mm bolts, maybe a 3rd. Disconnect those cables before you go tugging on it. Pull out, put on floor. Open box, reverse procedure. As I said, it's not uncommon to need to replace an OE Nissan starter. Hope that helps.

This is your starter as many pointed out. The most likely reason - its brushes are worn out. Can be easily replaced if you can find them at nearby electric car shop and if you're into this sort of things. Otherwise - replace the whole thing. It is held in place with 2 bolts of very different lengths, impossible to mix up.

Alright, I think I'm going to try and just replace the whole thing myself, it sounds pretty straight forward and quick. Can I just buy the starter, its just called the "starter" right?, from napa or autozone?

yup, just go down to napa or autozone and tell them you need a starter. You might want to take the old one out first and take it in with you, there might be a core charge on it. I'm not sure about napa but i know autozone will test it for you to so you know it actually is the problem.

Don't buy it at Autozone. I bought one for my old Accord there and after putting in the 3rd one (all under warranty) and having each one grind every 3rd or 4th start, I went to Honda Heaven (Honda wrecking yard), got a used starter, put it in and got my money back from Autozone. The only alternator I got from them (for a Celica I used to have) lasted about 35,000 miles. Never had any luck with their parts other than radiators.

I'd go to NAPA or Pep Boys.

alright, ya I was thinking of going to napa because there is one close to me and the nearest auto zone is pretty far away. Thanks.

Napa, napa, napa...Let us know how it turned out...I'm with ya through this.

So, did it end up being your starter?

yup, just replace the starter and it fires up easily, but my window still has trouble going up, but i've been getting some help, and we think its just that I need to lube it, and if not its the motor/regulator.

Thanks everyone for your help!

was gonna say starter too but u fixed it :)

ok, its been a few weeks now since I bought and installed my BRAND NEW starter, and now on cold starts my car is doing what it did last time like a week before my starter completely died. It will like turnover then stop, then turnover again and start. I bought the starter from NAPA. Did I just get unlucky and need to install a new, new one? Or do I need to get new sparkplugs, because I'm pretty sure these spark plugs are extremely old.
-Tav303

Do you mean it starts cranknig but then stops after few revolutions and then continues cranking again as you're holding key in START? Or does it fire and dies right after and then you have to start it again?

It starts cranking then stops after a few revolutions then continues cranking again as I am holding the key in the START the whole time.

anyone have any feedback?

starter for sure...my 2000 GLE did the same thing; lights and sound system worked, but she just wouldn't start...she has almost 94,000 miles

You might have got a sh$@ rebuilt starter...I personlly got a brand new one...pricey though $600 for parts and install at firestone

Since you already replaced the starter it is hard to speculate about anything. You can try starting your car with shifter in N instead of P. The idea is to test Parking position switch for bad contact - car should crank/start in both positions. If this won't change anything then this might be Park/Neutral position relay or bad rebuilt starter. I assume your battery is good - you either checked it or at least your lights don't go off when you're trying to start and car is not cranking. I would pull that relay just to inspect visually and clean its external contacts. You can diagnose intermittent problems but it takes time to eliminate possibilities.

Try moving the shifter from P to 1 various times, and pay atention to the display in the gauge cluster, for when you shift from D to N that it registers, your shift cable might need to be reajusted. This happened to me the car woudnt start after filling up at a gas station after moving the shifter couple of times it worked. Also lubricate the shifter.

alright thanks everyone for the input, I'm gonna check relay and try what everyone else suggested. So no one thinks its the sparkplugs?

The car quits cranking before the engine fires up so it doesn't reach the moment where spark plugs/fuel/etc matter. I'm not saying you shouldn't change spark plugs if they're due to be changed, it's just completely separate matter.

No it wouldn't be the plugs. If it was there is very little chance that they all would go out at the same time. I suggest getting your battery tested for one, maybe you have a dead cell. It happens. Also check to see if the starter is still bolted in. Sometimes the bolts will back out causing a short in the ground.

tav303, did you end up figuring out the issue?