99 SE, 106k miles.

After NO problems at all my car wouldn't start this afternoon. Here's what happening:

I turn the key and the dash lights all turn on. I get a SINGLE click from under the hood, and that's it. I tested the battery and it reads 12.65V, should be more than enough to crank the car. I tried to jump it with a friends explorer, and that didn't make any difference.

Ideas? Think its a dead starter?

 

Could be the starter. If your a 5 speed, try poping the clutch and see what that does, or tap the starter then try to crank.

 

I think its the starter.

 

Ok, an update.

I got the car back to my house and took the intake manifole and intake tubing out. After taking the starter out of the car I set it on the ground and connected it directly the the battery and it turned just fine...

Still think its the starter? Soleniod maybe?

 

Put it back in the car, and connect it back, but dont connect the little single wire, thats the signal to start the car, get a peice of wire and hook that wire up directly to the positive of the battery, if the car doesnt crank, its ur starter...

 

Ignition switch?

 

ejj:

I bet it would be the ignition switch. I had the same thing happened to me about a week ago.

 

Did you hear a click when you turned the key? It was hot out yesterday when this happend, but I thought the click that I could hear under the hood indicated that the ignition switch was working.

 

I did hear a click from the hood, near the starter area. I thought my starter was dead too, but it was not it. It was the ignition switch.

 

Costs less than a starter...I guess I'll try that first. Got a part number by chance?

 

48750-1E411 SWITCH-IGNITION

 

I've had symptoms exactly like that many times over the years when corrosion builds up at the battery terminals. The battery will be at full voltage and there is enough juice to turn the lights on, but the corrosion won't allow enough amps for starting. All you get is clicking from the solenoid.

 

True....when I heard that clicking from the starter's solenoid, I thought my starter needs replacement (that one is only 2 years old). BTW, the starter was replaced because I originally thought it was the culprit of this "no-starting issues".

The battery went after that, and shortly the alternator decided to quit. So, when I changed the switch, everything else was new so I was very confident that it was the weakest link.

This is the excellent thread describing how to change the switch:

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....6&goto=newpost

Good luck!

 

Well, when I tested the starter it was through the terminals in the condition that they were in when there was no start.

I'm going to put the starter back in tonight and try a few things before I buy a switch...cleaning the battery terminals will be one of those!

 

But under a no-load condition, right?

 

Correct. I'm going outside (if the rain holds off) to put the starter in and try to get it to crank a few different ways.

 

You sir, once again are correct. Put the starter back in, cleaned the battery and it cranks just fine.

No I've got to finish the rest of the projects I started...fuel filter, plugs, stock intake manifold, valve cover oil leak and a smaller pully!

Any way to prevent corrosion build-up? Just stay on top of it and keep the terminals clean?

Thanks again Steve!