1988 Maxima. We've had a spell of cold weather up here (Toronto, Canada) with the mercury hovering around -10 to -15 celsius. However, I park my car in the garage, so I don't really know if this problem is weather related...

Anyway, the past few days whenever I start the car, the starter turns over really slowly, exactly as if the battery was weak. The battery, though, is only 1yr old - I took it back to the place I bought it and they load tested it and said it was fine. When I first turn the car on, the voltmeter reads 12 - after starting it reads 14. I park outside at work, and the problem is the same as when parked in the garage.

Any ideas? The starter? The starter solenoid? Gremlins?

Thanks

 

It's probably the cold that causing that. When the temperature is that low, it takes a lot more to start a motor. When temperatures warm up, see if the car still does it.

S

 

If it were my car I would pull the starter, clean it with electrical cleaner and use a synthetic high temp grease to lubricate it. The grease in our starters dries out and thickens, I mean really thickens! Also what weight of oil are you running? If you are not running synthetic I would consider it. There is a nice write up on starter maintenance on www.Motorvate.CA including some excellent pictures!

 

One note about synthetic oil, if your car has more than 100,000+ miles on it, and never has run synthetic, I would highly advise against putting synthetic in. I do agree with karguy that synthetic oil is good, but only if you have a newer, low mileage car. What will happen is synthetic will really clean your engine, especially if you got that gunk around seals and gaskets. On older cars, the seals and gasket rely a bit on the gunk to help maintain the seal. Synthetic cleans this gunk out and causes the engine to develop leaks. Though karguy is correct, there are some other considerations to keep in mind.

S

 

I agree,I focused on how cold it gets up there and not that it is a vintage maxima. I converted a 97 SE with 133,000 miles on it but it was a family car and I knew that the oil (Castrol GTX 5W-30) and filter had been changed every 3,000 miles. That was over a year ago and it is not burning any oil or leaking any but that was a unique situation not the norm.

 

Thanks for the suggestions. Since the car does the same thing even when parked in the garage (which is above zero), I'm not sure the cold is the problem. Once it does get warmer up here though (June or July, hahahaha), I'll definitely see if it does make a difference.

 

you'd be surprised what cold weather can do to a battery. ideal battery temperature is 80 deg. F where 100% of its power is available and the engine requires 100% of its power to turn. around 32 deg. F, you have about 60-65% of the power available in the battery and the engine needs about 150% of its normal power to crank. when it drops near 0 deg. F, you only have about 40% of the battery power and the engine needs about 210% of its power to turn. and finally, at -20 deg. F, there is a mere 18-20% of your battery power and your engine will need about 270% of its power to start.

of course those are only numbers and general figures, but mine's been sitting in 0-degree temps for the past week or so, being neglected because I'm taking the brand new Sentra out... I only run it every few days to show it I still care, and it acts the same way, so synthetic oil or not, 5W or 10W, cold temperatures will do a number on battery power alone.

Dan

 

Your post reminded me of something that used to be done when I lived in Ohio. Just place a lighted drop light with at least a 75 watt bulb in it under the hood near the battery. This will help keep the battery and engine warm. Then see if your car cranks better. Might give you a clue as to what is going on.

 

Maybe u should get rid of the old granny max and buy a new one! Yours are a little out dated if you havent noticed.

 

Funny you should mention that. I've been looking at replacing it with a 1991 Brougham with 135000 kilometres on it. Buying a new one (5th or 6th gen) is out of the question though - I just don't think they look as good as the 2nd and 3rd (especially) or 4th generation. In fact, ever since they deleted the cornering lamps things just haven't been the same.

 

That's odd. The 1st-3rd gens appear way too boxy IMHO. It's weird that you would like them and the smooth lined 4th gen, but dislike the 5th gens. I definatally think you should pursue getting a 4th Gen VQ!.

 

personally I like the second generations the best....they don't look too bad and they're much roomier than the newer ones....plus the features and the way things are arranged I kinda like, to the point where I don't want to sell mine. if I sell it, I don't know if the next owner will appreciate it and care for it the way it should be taken care of....

Dan

 

I agree. Sometimes people look down on a 2nd gen. Probably because they never got to chance to enjoy one. Its like all maxima's, you have to own one to know what it can do. Sure they don't put out hp like the 5th gens, but do realize, a lot of cars don't put out as much hp as a 2nd gen. 160hp was a lot at the time, and in most cases, it still plenty more than then hon-duh rice rockets. Now I wouldn't mind a newer max, but quite honestly, if I had one, I couldn't afford to live. Mine does me just fine, even though its not the newest thing on the block, I still get a lot of compliments about it consider its in fairly good condition, set a side a little body damage it still has from my accident. Nothing a car bra couldn't fix.

S

 

Not only is the 4th gen ugly, it only has a meager 30 more horsepower than the 2nd gen. I'd just as soon as buy a much better looking Chrysler 300M with 250 ponies and blow the f*cking doors off a 4th gen.

Well, that's just my humble opinion.

-C-

 

Narrow-minded 2nd Gens...I think if you owned a 4th Gen you would like it much better its not boxy and ugly its rounded and very comfortable inside plenty of room..you said it yourself you guys have a meek 160 hp and you compete with rice rockets and plus you guys have not to many things you can do to your car..I look at ur threads and there title like CAI coming soon for the 2nd GEN!!!!! like its the biggest thing in the world...and I would like to hear from any of you that have a Supercharger or a Turbo on your 2nd gen max..ha..just stating my opinion! VQ is the best you cant argue with that.

 

To Aide with cold starting, get a battery with higher Cold-cranking amps.... I used Diehard gold in my old max, very nice.

 

You're the moronic turd with the narrow mind. How would you like it if someone with a Ferrari came into the 4th gen forum and started ripping into you because of the car you owned. There's a lot a Ferrari owner can say to someone who owns a family sedan and thinks that it's some kind of high performance sports car. Chances are though, a Ferrari owner would have enough class and decency not to do something like that.

You know, just because you're unsatisfied with the pathetic size of your d*ck, doesn't mean you have to make yourself feel better by flaming other people over a stupid car.

Get a life you f*cking loser.

-C-

 

haha man you need to get the stick out of your ******* so you can think straight..hmmm a 1988 maxima or a 1998 maxima tough decision......riiite and my d*ck is plenty big enough, now I think your just a little self concious of your own. have fun cruising with the ricers!

 

WTF do you give a sh*t what f*cking car we drive for? Like I said, you need to find something to preoccupy your time, maybe you should go to school since you don't even know how to f*cking spell properly, you stupid f*cking retard.

Since it bothers you so much that I drive an '88, give me your piece of sh*t '98 then, you f*cking a$$hole.

-C-

 

My mistake. I didn't mean to include the 4th gen. Nice car, but looks wise from the 4th gen up reminds me of a bar of soap left in the bath too long. Fifth gen's rear tail lights too funky for me.

 

There is a guy with a turbo on his 2nd gen...KALSC...talk to him. As for VQ, sure its a nice motor, but remember the VG gave you the VG30DETT that would do circles around a VQ before it even got started. To top that, VG has been the backbone of Nissan V6's for almost 19 years, you can still find it in Xterra and Frontier, so it isn't too bad of a motor either. Be nice to see the VQ30DETT or VQ35DETT, wonder what nissan has in mind for that.

 

VQ POWER BABY!!!!

 

DAYUM! I can imagine a VE beating a VQ, but a VE auto...against a 5-speed! I am just in awe. Excuse me while I go worship the VE Auto now....

S

 

The battery is fine. It was actually the starter. I threw a new one on today (very easy to do actually) and the car starts no problem now. $140 CDN for the part.

 

Lemme guess, either the bearings were shot, or the brushes were pretty much worn out huh? I totally forgot that could be a possibility. Thanks for posting it!

S

 

I'm no expert so it could have been either. The gear inside still turned by hand so maybe the brushes? I think it's the original starter, so it's 15 years old with 200000km on it. The symptoms were really slow engine turn over when starting from cold. One funny thing though, was after shutting the car off after highway driving (20-30 minutes), and then immediately trying to start it, I would get nothing at all. After the car sat for a while it would start no problem OR if I boosted it, it would start right away (but it definitely wasn't the battery - I think the battery was run down each time this happened by trying to work the wonky starter). I would also get a smell from the engine compartment like something electrical burning out. After I removed the old starter, it smelled the same inside.

 

Yeah, sounds like those brushes were melted to the point of no return.
S

 

The stuff about the other gen Maximas isn't relevant, just a waste of space. It made it hard to get through to what is being said about the problem with starting.

I usually check my battery connections for that white corrosion. I had a starting problem with my 85 this week, and I took the battery cables loose, scraped the white crud off, and sanded the connections a little. And it starts great. I had a good battery and it still wouldn't start. I also have an original starter and it was pretty cold (+5 F).