Hey Guys

I have a 2000 se with about 125k on it. New plugs, tranny fluid, timing belt, battery (less than 2 year old) fuel injection cleaning within last year.. The last week it seems its been more effort than usual to start the car up. Its not cold out yet either. Today I tried to start it up and it cranked very very slow. I couldnt get it to turn over 3-4 times. I finally turned the key quickly and it started up (struggling). Anyone have any ideas? I took it to Midas, as I dont want to get stuck anywhere and have to get it towed. I dont think its the battery, and Im guessing maybe a weak starter? or maybe its starting to go? I know a friend of mine said before a "cell" in the starter could be going, which is why it was dfficult to start up. I did the light trick to see if my battery was weak and the lights come on no problem and dont dim when i start it.

Any advice is appreciated. I didnt want to take it to the dealer as it would cost an arm, a leg, and then some. And anyone have any thoughts of what a starter would cost if that was the case?

thanks guys

 

might be grounding
or surprisingly the fuses (that happend to me and my car died) luckily i bang on the box and pulled/reinsertted the fuses and the car started back up

but if its cranking slow def your starter. it wouldnt be the alt or your battery would be so dead in like 2 days on non-use. but obviously its pointing to a power force issue.

or maybe a carbon buildup somewhere on your fuse or starter if its the starter youd pretty much be better off replacing it instead of trying to clean it though
fuses iuno you may be able to clean those out..

 

yea im thinking starter too. i would def just get it replaced. i just need it to start 1 more time so i can get it there tomorrow (haha). im just hoping its nothing more serious.

 

well if you get a huge piece of pipe or a crowbar or long wrench just have someone try starting the car while you bang o nthe starter alittle.. dont go ape on it just hit it kinda dropping the wrench or w/e on it.. again do not brutally beat the thing off lol

but that has helped me in the past with failing starts.


gl brother and a free bump

woohoo 100

 

Max2000SE, Did you figure out what the issue is? My car is having similar symptoms (couldn't start it even after banking on the starter).

 

Whoever found and replaced timing belt on the car has to be honored .

Check the battery at Autozone or whatever works for you. If it checks out fine then it's the starter.

 

Ehh hehehehe is that a VG30DE in there?, Its a weak starter, i have had the same issues, slow cranking sometimes nothing, sounds like it tries to start and then sounds like its spins backwords, It takes like 15 mins to replace the starter on these, Did mine and it lights right off every time,. btw i have a 2000 gle

 

You mean he did the swap the first thing since he couldn't let his beloved 3rd gen go? Perhaps, then this would be the only Max in the world with reverse swap and it would require timing belt maintenance according to the old owner manual. I wonder if his stock engine is for sale?

 

Had the same problem and the wife was stuck at a shopping mall parking lot.

I had it towed to the dealer (wrong decision), they changed the starter and charged me $600. I was raped if another feels it takes only 15 minutes to change.

Avoid the dealership like the plague.

 

it only takes 15 mins if you have taken everything apart before and know how it all fits together. I spent 4 hours from opening the hood, to removing the starter, driving to pepboys, testing the old one, the installing the new starter. Silly things like how to remove the intake temp sensor threw me off since i have not done any of this before. Also ended up bending my breaker bar because the bolts were too tight. I could probably do the r and r again in less than an hour.

I had similar symtoms, longer cranks to start, thought it was battery. After 3 failed jump starts figured it was the starter

 

I thought we had chains instead of belts??? So he means the chain was replaced? If we have belts I better check into getting mine replaced....i thought I read where since we have chains they really never have to be replaced??? I'm confused.

 

I was kidding .... You will be honored for sure if you replace timing belt as it is not there to begin with. Sometimes this is an innocent misreading: invoice software is not detail oriented enough and dumps everything possible to the final bill so the myth is born: "2k Maxima has timing belt, I had one replaced". OTOH chain(s) does not have to be replaced and if OP indeed had that replaced he'd put it on a separate line at least for the amount charged .

 

ok let me correct myself. "some belt". haha im almost positive the 2000 doesnt have timing chains, i think they started on the 03's.

anyway, it was not the battery, or anything else they could check for. everything checked out ok. he said it could be the starter, but i havent had the problem in the last week. im guessing i have to just wait till it goes completely.

 

Not likely but check you battery posts. If they look tight and clean I'd say starter as well. Trouble is it is a 'towing offence' - it might not give you a chance to fix. I'd just replace it - depends what is more expensive for you towing or starter replacement (or both). From other members here it looks like Autozone is capable of testing starters. Try that before buying the replacement.

 

problem came back worse this weekend. had to take it to the shop and luckily i got one more start out of it (after 20 mins of trying). when i got there, neither I nor the mechanic could get the engine to turn over. they are putting a starter in it tomorrow and hopefully this fixes the problem. *prayers tonight*

 

Did you ever actually remove the battery cables, clean the battery posts and cable clamp IDs of corrosion and reinstall, before assuming it's the starter? And as someone alluded to above, your engine has chain driven camshafts.......you do have a serpentine accessory drive belt and an alternator drive belt, which I assume is what got replaced.

 

yes and yes. i cleaned the battery cables myself and they were tested as putting out more than enough power to the car.

and yes, it was the serpentine belt that was replaced. i just liked everyone going crazy over me saying my timing belt was changed.

 

What a lame attempt to cover your a**....

Btw, no ones buying it....

 

As for your problem, dont forget to check the Crankshaft Position Sensor.

Could be the culprit.

 

A light note on having starters tested at Autozone; make sure the gear comes out when the test is performed. If it doesn't, but still spins, it is a "good" starter as far as the machine can tell, althought it will not start the vehicle if the gear does not come out when cranking. I had to point that out to the Autozone clerk two weeks ago when my starter went bad and it was still under warranty. Then I had him test the new one to make sure those gears come out.
Just my 7 cents.

 

new starter, everything works fine..............for now. thanks for all the input

 

problem is back again, even after a new starter. i put in a call to DAVE B to get some input.

 

I hope we didn't overlook an ignition switch issue here. I remember having to replace that electrical part on my previous 98 maxima. I think the problem I was having was the car not making a sound as the key was being turned. It did that randomly, though, but that problem completely disappeared as soon as I replaced that part.

 

i told the mechanic i thought it was the ignition switch, but they did not think so. ill see what else i can come up with. hopefully this doesnt cost me an arm, a leg, then some. how much was it to replace the ignition switch?

 

I don't remember exactly how much was the part. I wanna say no more or around 10 bucks and I replaced it myself. It wasn't really all that difficult; just a matter of disconnecting the bad part from the steering column and connect the new one.

 

DAVE B suspects possible fuel pump issue. will take it in this week to see what we come up with. (get the lube ready)

 

Did you ever Find out what it was, I seem to be having the same issue only I thought it was the sparkplugs and now it turned into a no crank just one click issue

 

if you are getting the click with no crank then its 100% the starter. in my case, my engine would crank and crank but wouldnt turn over. they replaced my starter and everything has been fine.

**just a piece of advice, make sure a nissan oem starter is put in. i had a local shop put in an after market, and i had nothing but problems, and had to get it taken out within 2 weeks.

good luck

 

I had put a Pepboys brand new starter in my car (cost ~240ish for parts). So far no problems...knock on wood!

 

I just replaced my starter as well for 200$, I also just replaced all my coils and spark plugs. Now having issues with clutch, been driving my mom's Equinox for past couple of days... Maxima's FTW