i posted this under another section, but im not sure if its maybe something to do with gen. 4 so im posting it here too..

About 3 weeks ago my maxima (97 SE 5 spd) started sounding weak when I would start it up. It was struggling to turn over. Then about 2 weeks ago it wouldnt start...the engine was turning over, but it didnt have enough power to turn on...i let it sit for a few mins and tried it again and it started.

since then, its still been having trouble starting. today i went to start it and it sounded real weak, was barely turning over and never turned on. i tried about 5-6 times, then eventually it wouldnt even start to turn over...all i heard was a little click

i dont know too much about the inner workings, but does this sound like i need a new starter or alternator? please let me know what you think and if this is something i can easily fix myself without being a know-how... can you point me to any good threads regarding this? thanks

 

Check the voltage on your battery first. If that checks out, then replace your starter.

 

get a jumpstart and go buy yourself a new battery

 

god damn, I wrote my life story and it never posted.

-Check and make sure your battery terminals are clean and tight.
-Clean all the ground connectors and where the connectors meet the frame.
-Possibly add another ground to the transmission (that's where the starter gets its closest ground)
-Try to boost your car, see if it starts. Might hint towards a bad battery or alternator. If it starts right up see if the battery gets charged (drive around to get it going faster).
-Do you have fuel? Does your exhaust smell like unburnt gas, is there alot of white smoke when you crank and crank? Check your spark plugs see if they are wet.
-Do you have spark? Remove a coil (easiest is from the front) Take the spark plug out (you can check if its wet, means you have fuel) put the spark plug in the coil. Then touch the thread of the spark plug onto a metal surface and get someone to crank the car over. If you see spark your good.
-If you have spark and fuel check/clean (forgot the name of the sensor) but its dead center on the transmission facing the radiator. This sensor tells when to fire the number 1 cylinder. Sometimes its fouled (covered in metal shavings). It also should read a specific ohm when the car is being cranked (again not sure the number, check around the forum).
-Assuming all those are good change the starter....

Might of missed something so if anyone can pitch in or unless i'm telling some bs things, please correct me as this is from personal experience.

 

thanks for the input...i have no smoke or funny smells coming from my car. I take good care of it and havnt had any issues like that...and any issues that I have had, I've been sure to take care of them.

I had my battery replaced last winter...maybe 8 months ago or so...I guess I'll try a jump from my other car and see if that re-juices it...

any other ideas?

 

deffinately sounds like starter, from experiences with many cars and the explanation sounds the same.

 

i have 160k miles on my car now. If I remember correctly, I had the same issue happen about 5-6 years ago when my car had roughly 90k miles...does that amount of time seem normal for a starter? about 70k miles?

is this something I can easily fix myself? any threads someone can point me to? i dont have much money, but i need my freakin car lol

 

little click????

its the starter.

2 bolts, wicked easy to remove. Its under the TB on the tranny housing sorta

 

if its starter they are very easy to do on the maxima.

 

I don't have a very high opinion of the starter on our cars. As the lubrication for the planetary gearset inside the starter dries up, the starter can't turn as fast. This happens slowly so you don't realize that the car is cranking slowly. Sometimes you can open the starter and re-grease the gears and the starter will be ok. Not always, though.

 

i had the same problem too. i made sure i checked all elec. connections and come to find out it was a loose alt. connection

 

is there anyway to test to see if it def. is the starter? how much should that roughly cost me to buy?

 

again jump start it first, but you can pull the starter and take it to autozone and have them bench test it, just make sure they do it a couple times to verify, this will let it heat up if it doesn't fail the 1st time. then you dont have to pay a core charge. normally i wouldn't recommend autozone but it soooo easy to fix and lifetime warr.. so if it breaks its a fast fix!

 

thanks for the help...ill keep you guys posted as to what i find out

 

so i tried jumping my car today and here is what I noticed...my battery is from 2005...ive prob. added roughly 80k miles since then.

I also noticed by the positive terminal there was a blue powder build up that looked like an ant hill on my pos. terminal. I also noticed a yellow powder residue building up where my battery is fastened in...any ideas?

With trying the jump, my engine was only clicking...it would not even start to turn over. Does this seem like it is def. the starter?

I prob. should get a new battery too right? 5 years, 80k miles on it?

 

Wait, what? So your battery is 5 years old and not less than a year? Absolutely have it checked first. Either bring it to Autozone or a similar store and have it load tested or jump the car, drive it there, and have it load tested. No sense in throwing money into the car...diagnose first then spend money.

 

well i tried jumping it today to no avail...engine wouldnt even turn over...all i heard was a little click

 

and disregard my comment about replacing my battery last winter...i have to find my receipt because I know I had a battery related issue and thought it was replaced....but i have to be wrong..either that or i got blatantly ripped

 

Go to wal mart and pick one of their everstart batteries. They are made by johnson control IIRC, the same company that makes interstate. I just bought a battery from wal mart last month...they had the best price, warranty, and CCA's available for the money. Optima is way overkill IMO.

 

any ideas about the powder build up on the battery terminal?

 

Read the part under Sulfation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead-acid_battery

 

If all you get is a click when trying to start it, chances are the contacts (brushes?) inside the starter are dirty. I had the same issue, no start only a click, I took apart half of the starter (where the wire comes out and bolts to the solenoid) and sanded all of the gold/copper colored contacts inside of there. I Put it back together and starts up without a hitch. Before taking it all apart try pushing/pulling on the wire running from the starter to the solenoid and see if it starts after adjusting that wire. If it does start after the adjustment, then take it apart and clean it.

 

most of the time when all you hear is a clicking sound when trying to start the car, then the battery needs replaced. Several cars that I've worked on (mine and friends) started right up after replacing the battery. Check the battery first! IF that isn't the problem, then explore other options (new starter, etc.)

 

well my battery is from 2005...granted it says 84 month warranty, i think im just gonna go out and get a new battery and see what the result is after that....either way i should prob get a new one

 

Have you cleaned the battery cables yet? All the "powder" that you said you have prevents the flow of electrical current in and out of the battery. You need to take the cables OFF the battery and clean the connections with baking soda, water and a wire brush and than re-connect the cables. If the battery is under charged because of the corrosion, you may still have a starting problem after you've re-connected the cables.

 

does it make sense that if the problem is with my battery, when i go to start my car it just "clicks"? There is no engine rumble or anything....all i get is a click.... and now that i think about it, my radio etc.. works... so do you think that means it def. is my starter and not the battery?

is it possible for the radio etc.. to still go on, but battery doesnt have enough juice to get the car going?

keep in mind, i only hear a click when i try to start it.

 

If you tried to jump start the car and your still getting a click id go with a starter. Jump starting the car is like using a good battery. Your battery is good. Try getting someone to hit your starter, see if it helps. Heck swap batteries with your other car if your not convinced.

 

brilliant idea lol...seriously

 

What about hitting the starter? If it's stuck or seized hitting it with a block of wood while someone cranks may help the starter get going.

 

i tried smacking it while starting the car..no luck... buying a new starter this week and installing with a friend

 

I am here to report a happy ending....bought a new starter, installed it, car is back to running great!

 

same here man. just bout it a week ago too