madmax8

Hi,
I have been having some problems starting my 98 Maxima. A few months ago every once in awhile when I went to start it I would hear a grinding noise(rarely). This last week it started to happen more often and I figured it was probably the starter. I went to pull the starter, figured I would look at the teeth and have it bench tested. I could not get the bolt on the inside towards the firewall to turn at all. whoever put it in obviously did not read the caution in the manual about overtightening it. I could not get enough torque on it to even break it loose. I had to got to work so I put it back together and went to start it and it was totally dead. The clock came on but barely, inside lights were on but it would not crank at all. Totally dead. I disconnected the neg. battery cable and cleaned it before I started working on the starter. Anyone have any ideas about what is going on with this? Any help appreciated.
Thanks,
Madmax 8

brianw

Sounds like a dead battery.

Possibly a dying starter as well. Put a cheater bar on it, or borrow some air tools.

madmax8

Thanks Brian,
I've got it on a trickle charger. I need to get a larger(1/2") socket to use the cheater bar and I didn't have time. It looked like it would be pretty easy.
Thanks again,
Madmax 8

vvslavavv

You might want to take apart your starter and regrease it ... i did mine last weekend ... works like a charm now! Also, as for it not starting at all, are you sure you reconnected the controlling wire to the sollenoid (it's a small thin wire that has a clip).

Oh and yeah ... that long bolt is a pain to get out ... get a breaker bar or a pipe to put around your wrench.

Write up about regreasing the starter http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~microso...ter/index.html

madmax8

Thanks for all the info. I did get the car started but I will probably still do the starter cleanup/ regrease as they want $140 for another one. Do they sell the methylated spirits at auto stores and what kind of grease did you use?
Thanks again,
Madmax 8

vvslavavv

Methylated spirit is denatured alcohol it is sold in Home Depot/Lowes in the paint section. I used Throttle Body cleaner instead, as I had it laying around.

For grease, just get any high-temperature all-purpose grease. I got it at Autozone, I think it was the wheel bearing grease (something like $2.50 for a huge jar of it).