TrentM

Had to remove the starter because I thought it was causing an electrical problem with the pathfinder. Took it to autozone to have it tested and it tested good.

When I got it back in the pathfinder the starter would initally engage then would just spin. So I took it back out and checked to make sure that I had re-assembled the solinoid correctly...everything looked fine so I re-installed it and it did the same thing. It would initally engage then would just spin. OK I pull it back out because it has to be bad and take it back to Auto-Zone to retest. It tested Great, we even compared it to a new one and it performed as well as the new one. So I take it home re-installed it and its doing the same D_mn thing!!!! Can anyone help..Why is it doing this?

If I bump the ignition it engages and sounds firm, but if you continue to start it desengages and just spins. What in the H_LL is going on with this starter?

It is mounted flush and is not loose.

HELP PLEASE this thing is driving me insane and I am to stuborn to take it to a mechanic. I am about to push it off of a cliff!!!

Thanks
Trent

 

96R50

It sounds like your starter is good. How is your battery? Do you have a DVOM attached so that you can see how the battery is handling the load of the starter? I suggest taking a reading at the battery while trying to start the truck. Then take another reading at the starter to rule out a corroded or faulty lead to the starter. If the battery is dropping to <10V while the starter motor is engaged you really should consider a new one.

TrentM

Battery is brand new, so are the cables. I know someone out there has an idea of what is going on with this thing. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Spddracer

If the starter is spinning and not engaging the starter is bad . Its getting power if its spinning .

__________________
1990 300ZX Twin Turbo
Nissan/Mitzu/Ase Mastertech/South Bend DXD Clutch Dealer

96R50

It sounds like for some reason your solenoid isn’t getting enough power or it gets intermittent power. I suggest disconnecting the solenoid power lead. Then run a test with a wire from the solenoid terminal through a momentary switch that is connected to the battery positive terminal. Turn your ignition to ‘on”, put the truck in Park or neutral, set the parking brake and flip the switch. If the truck still won’t turn over, get yourself a replacement starter.

 

lewisnc100

Just had this same problem with a friends Chevy Blazer. In our case the starter would engage and start to turn over the engine, then it would slip and keep running but the engine wasn't turning over with it. Sorry for the non-technical terms but the starter has a gear on it that when torque is applied gets pushed onto the mating gear on the engine. When this gear doesn't move freely or if either gear is messed up they won't engage and turn the motor over, or in this engage partially and then slip. So that might explain why you're starter motor tests just fine, but I'm betting the gear isn't moving correctly or isn't mating up with the engine correctly. Just a guess, but in my friends case he still had to replace the starter motor and everything was back to normal.

The really funny thing was I couldn't figure out a way to get the engine running but when he called the mechanic he said the gears weren't engaging and told him to just hit it with a small sledge. Thing started right up and he drove it over to get the starter replaced.

__________________
1997 Pathfinder XE
Air Lift Air Bags, Warn Hubs

aaronford

Replace the starter.

PS If you roll it off a cliff, let us know. Some of us need parts!

__________________
Aaron Ford
95 2WD Nissan PU E
2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue GX
"The hard part about playing chicken is knowing when to flinch" Scott Glenn in The Hunt for Red October

br2an

TrentM

If you have the starter off again (and it sounds like you might) check the ring gear to see if the teeth look ok. The starter "might" be fine but there may be a bad spot on the ring gear that causes the starter to disengage.

Brian