So Im getting power to the starter, but car wont start (noob) - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

MartyMcFly · 12-23-2008, 04:33 PM

This has been going on for the last 3 months or so. Every so often, Id say 1 out of 10 times, when you turn the key to start the car, the car does nothing, no sounds other then the fuel pump priming. It is so annoying because you never know when the car will start back up again. Ive been stuck at a Home Depot parking lot for 4 hours because of this problem.

On most occasions, the car fires right up, like nothing was ever wrong. This led me to beleive I wasnt necesarilly having a electrical issue, but possibly an ignition switch issue.

To make a long story short, I go out to my car today to go work out, what do you know, my car wont engage. I get so worked up over the issue I walk 2 miles to the local parts store and buy a test light. I had someone turn the key and hold it to the start position while I tinkered around with the test light. Come to find out the starter is getting power after all. I tryed tightening the leads on the starter solenoid, but no dice.

Does this tell me that my starter solenoid could be stuck or my starter is crap? Its just really weird because at times I could hold the key in the start position for up to a minute and then the car will just spring to life out of nowhere.

If you guys agree that this is a starter issue, how difficult is it to replace a starter in sub zero temps? Thankyou in advance.

reinvent · 12-23-2008, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MartyMcFly

This has been going on for the last 3 months or so. Every so often, Id say 1 out of 10 times, when you turn the key to start the car, the car does nothing, no sounds other then the fuel pump priming. It is so annoying because you never know when the car will start back up again. Ive been stuck at a Home Depot parking lot for 4 hours because of this problem.

On most occasions, the car fires right up, like nothing was ever wrong. This led me to beleive I wasnt necesarilly having a electrical issue, but possibly an ignition switch issue.

To make a long story short, I go out to my car today to go work out, what do you know, my car wont engage. I get so worked up over the issue I walk 2 miles to the local parts store and buy a test light. I had someone turn the key and hold it to the start position while I tinkered around with the test light. Come to find out the starter is getting power after all. I tryed tightening the leads on the starter solenoid, but no dice.

Does this tell me that my starter solenoid could be stuck or my starter is crap? Its just really weird because at times I could hold the key in the start position for up to a minute and then the car will just spring to life out of nowhere.

If you guys agree that this is a starter issue, how difficult is it to replace a starter in sub zero temps? Thankyou in advance.

hit the starter with_____.

veeates36 · 12-23-2008, 05:00 PM

How about a push start..?

Ceepo · 12-23-2008, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by veeates36

How about a push start..?

FTW!!!

MartyMcFly · 12-23-2008, 05:07 PM

forgot to mention that its an auto. sorry. I tryed whacking the solenoid with a heavy wrench, no luck

reinvent · 12-23-2008, 09:53 PM

ss sku jkljljalkjljm

pancho y onions the 2nd · 12-24-2008, 01:45 AM

Take out the starter take it to AutoZone get it tested. If it fail ya found the prob. If it passes then junk the car and buy a MG, Just playing haha. If its getting power to your starter you may have a dead spot so id say find a used starter. If not Check your N/P switch.

aardvark · 01-03-2009, 11:05 PM

my guess is the ignition. the contact points get old and work sometimes. quick $25 fix.

jorge1190 · 01-03-2009, 11:09 PM

clean your grounds make sure they are tight...had a problem similar to this and had to park on hill so i could pop the clutch everytime haha

socaldrifter13 · 01-05-2009, 02:20 PM

Try getting a new Starter Relay that can also be your problem

projectRDM · 01-05-2009, 03:26 PM

When you say the starter is getting power, where it is getting power? The large lug with the 4ga wire will always have power, it's the smaller 12ga lead that plugs into the lower harness you should be looking at. If it has power then the solenoid is bad. If not, the inhibitor switch on the transmission could be bad.

S14TEENZ · 01-05-2009, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aardvark

my guess is the ignition. the contact points get old and work sometimes. quick $25 fix.

THATS IT ^^^^^

s13Carlo · 01-05-2009, 08:28 PM

sounds like the starter solenoid or the relay could be either or

xsidewayzx · 01-08-2009, 01:55 PM

try shocking it. touching the pos and the neg together

MartyMcFly · 01-08-2009, 05:19 PM

Wow, didn't mean to ignore you guys, I just didn't know people would still be responding to this thread.

I went ahead and purchased a used starter. I have yet to replace the starter with it though because the problem hasn't been occurring as much. I guess if it is the ignition switch that needs to be replaced, it wouldn't be a bad idea to have a backup starter.

My question to you guys is do I need to remove the ingition cylinder off the steering column to replace the ignition switch? I know I know...do a search

Project RDM - I checked the wire that was connected to the positive terminal on the starter solenoid. Im assuming this is the wrong place to check because it would activate the test light regardless of key position.

I will check the grounds indeed. For the meantime Im going to do a search for ignition switch replacement, as well as relay. I'll update yall on status.

S-Nation S13 · 01-08-2009, 10:33 PM

sound like a similar problem my brother had car would start cold just fine turned it off and no luck thought it was faulty cts changed it out help but still had problems startin when engine was hot we took it to nissan my homie works there diag the car although we changed out fuel pump and heard it prime that was the culprit it had "inadequate fuel pressure" basically faulty ass fuel pump :/ could be that imma idiot for not thinkin bout it just cause it was new...learned my lesson never doubt it!!

charlie321 · 01-09-2009, 01:18 AM

i had a wierd starter problem for a while. it would start up perfect, and fast, like it should. but every so often the car would not start, or slowly start, to the point where i had to push start. i was ready to switch out the starter, hey it comes back to life! eventually it started doing it again, but it would never work anymore. tried hitting it, checking connections. i ended up pulling it out to find out that it had seized up and a chunk of the starter broke off.

i say switch it out, its only 2 bolts, 1 nut, and a plug.

MartyMcFly · 01-09-2009, 02:20 PM

your right, shouldnt be that difficult to get to, my question is, do I have to take out the starter from underneath the car or should i be able to get it from the top of the engine bay?

alzahakar · 01-09-2009, 04:46 PM

Underneath for sure.

12-23-2008, 04:33 PM	#1
MartyMcFly Leaky Injector Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: htown Posts: 73 Trader Rating: (1) Feedback Score: 1 reviews	So Im getting power to the starter, but car wont start (noob) This has been going on for the last 3 months or so. Every so often, Id say 1 out of 10 times, when you turn the key to start the car, the car does nothing, no sounds other then the fuel pump priming. It is so annoying because you never know when the car will start back up again. Ive been stuck at a Home Depot parking lot for 4 hours because of this problem. On most occasions, the car fires right up, like nothing was ever wrong. This led me to beleive I wasnt necesarilly having a electrical issue, but possibly an ignition switch issue. To make a long story short, I go out to my car today to go work out, what do you know, my car wont engage. I get so worked up over the issue I walk 2 miles to the local parts store and buy a test light. I had someone turn the key and hold it to the start position while I tinkered around with the test light. Come to find out the starter is getting power after all. I tryed tightening the leads on the starter solenoid, but no dice. Does this tell me that my starter solenoid could be stuck or my starter is crap? Its just really weird because at times I could hold the key in the start position for up to a minute and then the car will just spring to life out of nowhere. If you guys agree that this is a starter issue, how difficult is it to replace a starter in sub zero temps? Thankyou in advance.

12-23-2008, 05:00 PM	#3
veeates36 Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: reseda ca Posts: 1,041 Trader Rating: (7) Feedback Score: 7 reviews	How about a push start..? __________________ Zombi_Army... Coming Soon

12-23-2008, 09:53 PM	#6
reinvent BANNED Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: illinois Posts: 104 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	ss sku jkljljalkjljm Last edited by reinvent; 12-24-2008 at 05:14 PM..

01-05-2009, 02:20 PM	#10
socaldrifter13 Leaky Injector Join Date: May 2008 Location: Santa Clarita Ca Age: 39 Posts: 127 Trader Rating: (7) Feedback Score: 7 reviews	Try getting a new Starter Relay that can also be your problem __________________

01-05-2009, 03:26 PM	#11
projectRDM Post Whore! Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Atlanta Age: 51 Posts: 13,812 Trader Rating: (12) Feedback Score: 12 reviews	When you say the starter is getting power, where it is getting power? The large lug with the 4ga wire will always have power, it's the smaller 12ga lead that plugs into the lower harness you should be looking at. If it has power then the solenoid is bad. If not, the inhibitor switch on the transmission could be bad. __________________ FORMERLY R240NA Learn what's really going on and protect your assets now before they're gone forever: www.paypalsucks.com

12-23-2008, 05:07 PM	#5
MartyMcFly Leaky Injector Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: htown Posts: 73 Trader Rating: (1) Feedback Score: 1 reviews	forgot to mention that its an auto. sorry. I tryed whacking the solenoid with a heavy wrench, no luck

12-24-2008, 01:45 AM	#7
pancho y onions the 2nd Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: wisconsin Posts: 8 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Take out the starter take it to AutoZone get it tested. If it fail ya found the prob. If it passes then junk the car and buy a MG, Just playing haha. If its getting power to your starter you may have a dead spot so id say find a used starter. If not Check your N/P switch.

01-03-2009, 11:05 PM	#8
aardvark Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: dark smokey cafes of Bolsa, CA Age: 25 Posts: 346 Trader Rating: (22) Feedback Score: 22 reviews	my guess is the ignition. the contact points get old and work sometimes. quick $25 fix.

01-03-2009, 11:09 PM	#9
jorge1190 Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Culpeper, Va Age: 34 Posts: 593 Trader Rating: (12) Feedback Score: 12 reviews	clean your grounds make sure they are tight...had a problem similar to this and had to park on hill so i could pop the clutch everytime haha

01-05-2009, 08:28 PM	#13
s13Carlo Leaky Injector Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: 805 Posts: 105 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	sounds like the starter solenoid or the relay could be either or

01-08-2009, 01:55 PM	#14
xsidewayzx Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Sandbox Posts: 573 Trader Rating: (5) Feedback Score: 5 reviews	try shocking it. touching the pos and the neg together

01-08-2009, 05:19 PM	#15
MartyMcFly Leaky Injector Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: htown Posts: 73 Trader Rating: (1) Feedback Score: 1 reviews	Wow, didn't mean to ignore you guys, I just didn't know people would still be responding to this thread. I went ahead and purchased a used starter. I have yet to replace the starter with it though because the problem hasn't been occurring as much. I guess if it is the ignition switch that needs to be replaced, it wouldn't be a bad idea to have a backup starter. My question to you guys is do I need to remove the ingition cylinder off the steering column to replace the ignition switch? I know I know...do a search Project RDM - I checked the wire that was connected to the positive terminal on the starter solenoid. Im assuming this is the wrong place to check because it would activate the test light regardless of key position. I will check the grounds indeed. For the meantime Im going to do a search for ignition switch replacement, as well as relay. I'll update yall on status.

01-08-2009, 10:33 PM	#16
S-Nation S13 Post Whore! Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: LAND of the LOST Posts: 4,083 Trader Rating: (92) Feedback Score: 92 reviews	sound like a similar problem my brother had car would start cold just fine turned it off and no luck thought it was faulty cts changed it out help but still had problems startin when engine was hot we took it to nissan my homie works there diag the car although we changed out fuel pump and heard it prime that was the culprit it had "inadequate fuel pressure" basically faulty ass fuel pump :/ could be that imma idiot for not thinkin bout it just cause it was new...learned my lesson never doubt it!!

01-09-2009, 01:18 AM	#17
charlie321 Zilvia Addict Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Long Beach, CA Age: 33 Posts: 989 Trader Rating: (4) Feedback Score: 4 reviews	i had a wierd starter problem for a while. it would start up perfect, and fast, like it should. but every so often the car would not start, or slowly start, to the point where i had to push start. i was ready to switch out the starter, hey it comes back to life! eventually it started doing it again, but it would never work anymore. tried hitting it, checking connections. i ended up pulling it out to find out that it had seized up and a chunk of the starter broke off. i say switch it out, its only 2 bolts, 1 nut, and a plug. __________________

01-09-2009, 02:20 PM	#18
MartyMcFly Leaky Injector Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: htown Posts: 73 Trader Rating: (1) Feedback Score: 1 reviews	your right, shouldnt be that difficult to get to, my question is, do I have to take out the starter from underneath the car or should i be able to get it from the top of the engine bay?

01-09-2009, 04:46 PM	#19
alzahakar Zilvia Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: San Antonio, TX Age: 43 Posts: 196 Trader Rating: (4) Feedback Score: 4 reviews	Underneath for sure.