Gotrice4

My starter has just recently sounded pretty weak when starting the car. Today I went and got the battery checked and it is pretty good, still showing >12 volts. When starting the max while trying to pull out of murray's auto, it barely started.

I was wondering if there is anything I can do to prolong me using this current starter. I have to work the rest of the week and I really can't be without my car. I remember my dad hitting his starter when it didn't work, can that work with a dying starter? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

Micah95GLE

Supposedly, hitting the starter will get it going again, but the Maxima starter might be difficult to hit since it's buried under the intake tract. You should replace it yourself. It takes an hour or less, depending on how long it takes to break the starter bolts free. I changed mine a couple months ago and broke 2 ratchets using a breaker bar before purchasing a crank pulley removal bar to get the job done. Aside from loosening the bolts, it's fairly easy.

njmaxseltd

iTrader: (19)

You can't check a battery by just measuring it's voltage, you need to do a current draw test to see if it's capable of providing enough power (Amps) for the starter.

You could have a bad battery and still show 12Volts.

sean05

iTrader: (13)

im not sure if this will help but it could be that the old grease has just got old and stickey like mine did. I opened mine up yesterday and clean/re-greased and now it works like a charm. Follow this directions: http://www.motorvate.ca/mvp.php/516

Gotrice4

Tom, you are so correct. I am sorry that I only provided some of the information. The test I got was the "charging system test." It tested the battery when the car was off and it showed sufficient amps and the >12 volts that I stated before. While on, the voltage read 13.74 volts, which I believe indicate an alternator that is in decent condition.

Right now my starter is hit or miss, sometimes it sounds worse than others. I'll have it swapped this weekend, if I can make it that far.

Thanks guys for your help.

NCSUpilot

I have replaced mine twice, the first time took long to break the bolts, but the second time took like 30 mins.

Gotrice4

Now I'm confused...

I get another full charging system test, they tell me that the only thing wrong is that my battery, so I go get a new battery. But, my starter is still not sounding right. It once again is hit or miss, sometimes it sounds normal other times, sluggish.

I really wish these diagnostics were more consistent so I wouldn't have to buy all kinds of stuff to fix a problem. But I guess that is life.

eilison

What does that tell you, Gotrice4?
I think you need a new starter.

I replaced my old starter too last month.
That big bolt was so hard to break free that it also broke one ratchet.

And since my car is a 98 I30 which is a little bit different from max, even though I removed all of the airbox stuff, I still found some wires(maybe ABS) in my way which I didn't expect. At least I didn't have as much room as some online toturial indicated.