When I go to crank the max, I get power to everything in the on position (radio, fuel pump, etc.). As soon as I try to start it, the starter makes a very rapid clicking noise and the engine doesn't even try to turn over. It seems like there's a lot of juice going to the starter, but it just can't make the flywheel spin.

At first I thought that it was just a bad starter so I went and picked up another one, installed it and it does the same thing. It's almost as if the flywheel is stuck and the starter can't move it at all. I would assume that the motor has seized or something except for the fact that this happened one other time and after fooling with it for a bit it started right up (I mean I just popped the hood and looked around for a second and disconnected and reconnected the battery, I didn't move the car) . No such luck this time. I've searched the org for a while and can't find anything on this. Anyone got any ideas? I'm stuck, literally.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

sounds like your battery is probably dead... try giving it a jump start. starting the car takes a lot of power so while your radio may still work it may not be enough to crank the engine.

do you have any corosion around your battery terminals? you may have a poor connection which may be why disconnecting and reconnecting your terminals solved your problem last time

 

Thanks for your response Feldman. I tested the battery and it read 12.2 volts, not the optimum 12.4-12.6 range so I don't know if that could be it. I have sanded all of the corrosion off of the terminals and connectors. The thing that is so weird is that I've had weak batteries before and it never made the starter sound like it was trying it's damnedest to push against an immovable object. I'll try to give it a jump tomorrow when I get the chance. Thanks again for the advice.

 

sounds like it might be time for a new battery for you. take a look at your battery, it should say on there how old it is. about 3-4 years is a pretty average life span even shorter if it is an oem nissan battery. you should also check out your voltage once the car is running to make sure your alternator working correctly

 

The battery is a optima red top I believe and it's about 4 years old. I'll def. look into it. Not to sound like a noob, but what's the best way to check the voltage once it's running? same way as checking the battery, just when the cars running? What should the range be? THanks again Feldman for the info.

 

yea, its just the same as checking it when the car is off. you should be around 14.4 v.

with the age of the battery i would say it might be losing its ability to hold a charge

 

Word. Glad it's good enough weather outside to ride the ninja, I won't be able to jump start it until tonight. I'll post what happens after all is said and done. I have a sneaky suspicion that my alternator might be a little bad. We'll see. Thanks Feldman.

 

same thing just happened to me last week....

Just to make sure, take the battery out and have Autozone test it.

I've had my redtop for 2.5 years and my car started acting up. My first thought was bad battery. I had autozone tested it and it passed. Turned out that my alternator was over charging the battery (so the regulator is bad) and for some reason, an overcharged battery wouldn't allow my car to start. Weird!

I don't know what your mods are, but I took out my grounding kit and it seems to be fine for now. It's still charging a bit high (close to 14 volts) but it's starting at least.

 

Yesterday morning, I try to start the car, nothing, not even trying to turn over, so I thought because the dead battery. I took it to auto zone and told me that the battery still good so I don’t know what the problem. Car won’t even try to turn on or try to turn over. All I hear clicking noise, lights still working. Do you think I need new starter or alternator? Or maybe bad coils?

What do you think?
I have '01 auto

Thanks,
D

 

I'd still get a new Battery and take it home. If it's not the bat, you can always return it within a few days, check with the store for policy.

I've had a bad battery pass their tests at autozone before...Not saying they can't test a battery to save their life, but...well, yeah I'm sayin' it.

 

I got new battery for free and still not working, not even trying to turn over. Do you think I need new starter?

Thanks,
D

 

I thought you said you already replaced the starter

 

i would have assumed it was the battery. hmmmm. I bought a new batter from walmart and it was on the shelf so long it was run down. Whats the sticker date on the new one? I had to jump start a kia..(lol)...the other day and it was ticking when starting. As soon as the jumper cables went on it started up no problem. Probably got a lemon of a battery

 

this is not OP...

 

Do you have auto or manual? If auto, try to start it in neutral instead of park. If manual, push the clutch pedal harder and/or check the floor mat underneath to make sure it is not preventing the clutch pedal going down all the way.

Flakey neutral safety switch could prevent the starter from engaging.

When you turn the key to start position and absolutely nothing happens i.e. no click, no sound etc, then 99% it is the interlock mechanism which would be at fault.

If that does not work, you need to put a voltmeter on the battery while trying to start the car. Monitor the voltage as you turn the key. I am assuming you have already looked at the battery cable and the connections etc for corrosion. Check the ground strap.

When the starter refuses even to turn, it should be not be too difficult to find out. The ignition coil does not come in to picture if the starter is not turning.

Here are the things to check

1) Battery condition
2) Battery cables
3) Neutral safety switch
4) Starter solenoid

- Vikas

 

I'm somewhat having the same problem. this started about 4 months ago where I would park the car at work or somewhere and then go back to start it up but nothing. I would wiggle the pos. wire around and it would start right up. I have a optima red top with both side and top post so i relocated all wiring to the side post and that had seemed to solve the problem until recently. the car has been having a slight hesitation when starting up for the past few days and finally yesterday it gave out and had to be towed home. theres power to everything(radio,lights, etc) but the car just makes one click and wont turn over. I installed a brand new optima and the car made that first attempt to start but there wasn't enough power to get the engine running. tried again with same results as first battery(one click and nothing else). both batteries tested out good so what could be the problem here, could it be my wiring, starter, or ingnition switch going out?

 

I have a starting problem and it is a hung starter solenoid. It fails to start and I have to tap the solenoid a few times and then it starts. I do not understand why.

I have replaced the starter, the solenoid twice, the battery, and the alternator, but still every few weeks the solenoid hangs.

Any ideas?

 

I have solved my starting problem and it was caused by multiple components but the issues to look for that are hard to trouble shoot are:

1) Intermittant failure of the Inhibit (starter) relay... nissan part-25230-c9962.
2) Rebuilt starter/solenoid with intermittant failures.

A new starter and relay has it starting reliably.

Also found in this fiasco that the battery was not always fully charged... the problem was an alternator that usually put out 12.1 volts instead of the 14.2 it should produce. A new alternator (and used new belts) silved this problem.