SR won't start

[S14mc]

How’s it going guys? I haven’t really posted much here and I don’t mean to post only when I have a problem. I just can’t figure this one out.

I haven’t drive the 240 in about a week 1/2 cause I was out on vacation. When I got back home I attempted to start the car. Turned the ignition and nothing. I checked the battery and it still has life. I cleaned the battery terminals, checked the positive going to the alternator and to the starter. The small gauge wire connected to the starter was a bit loose so I tightened that. I checked the negative wire and the ground is securely on the chasis. Also checked the CAS and that is fine. I have not checked the clutch relay but I don’t think that would be the problem. I jumpstarted the SR and it fired right away. After driving it around the block for a couple of minutes, I parked turned off the car and I was able to fire it up right away. I did it again, and it would crank but no start. Tried it again and it wasn’t cranking. It seemed it lost power everytime I would try to start it.

Do you guys think it’s my alternator? When I use jumper cables the car does not hesitate to start. I searched and a suggestion was to disconnect the battery once it the car has started. Do I disconnect the battery right after or do I wait for the alternator to be “charged”?

[mRclARK1]

I'd put my money on your alternator. Since it's easy to pull off on our cars, I'd just pull it, and take it to get tested.

[Canaduh]

When you try to start the car,do you just hear clicking from the engine bay? I as well just got back from vacation and my car sat for 2 weeks, and it did the same thing as you.

It was my starter. Give it a little tap on the end with a hammer and see if it starts.

[S14mc]

When you try to start the car,do you just hear clicking from the engine bay? I as well just got back from vacation and my car sat for 2 weeks, and it did the same thing as you.

It was my starter. Give it a little tap on the end with a hammer and see if it starts.

I know my friend had to tap his starter before could start his car? Why do you have to tap the starter? Does it move something back into place? I'll try to do that when I get home and see if that makes a difference. But would it be the starter if I jump start the car and it turns on right away?

[jayeighty]

i have the same prob, and trying to figure it out too. when you leave your car alone, does the battery die? I did the jumper cables too, but now it doesn't even wanna finish cranking over.

[S14mc]

i have the same prob, and trying to figure it out too. when you leave your car alone, does the battery die? I did the jumper cables too, but now it doesn't even wanna finish cranking over.

I don't think the battery dies, but for sure it does not want to crank. I would jumpstart the car, run it for awhile, then turn it off and then turn it back on and it would fire up. I would do the process again, turn it off and then try to turn it back on, but it would only crank. I would do it again, but now it wouldn't even crank. It seems like it was losing power to turn the car on. Which makes it seem like it the alternator. I'll try messing with it later.

[Sileighty_85]

Easy test
1) Turn car on
2) Diconnect battery

If engine dies the your alt is bad

[Canaduh]

I know my friend had to tap his starter before could start his car? Why do you have to tap the starter? Does it move something back into place? I'll try to do that when I get home and see if that makes a difference. But would it be the starter if I jump start the car and it turns on right away?

haha now i feel like a moron, completely didn't ready that. More than l;ikely your alternator.

Like sileighty said, try boosting the car, than disconnect the negative terminal, and if it dies, count on your alternator being shot.

[S14mc]

Isn't it bad to disconnect the battery when the car is running? I know that on older vehicles (muscle cars ie mustangs, corvettes) they cannot test their alternator by disconnecting the battery because of the fear of breaking fuses or diodes or transistors (or something of that nature)? Not sure if this holds true for nissans.

[DJ_Sunrise]

You sir.. should be smacked. No, it won't break shit. Disconnect negative. Car runs = Alternator = Good. Problem? Battery or starter. Theres a gear that pops out, sometimes called a bandex... spins your flywheel. Well, you don't drive your shit and whatever makes it kick.. sez it's too fucken lazy. So it wont. Tap the starter, it gets off its ass, fires bandex and your shit starts. Voila. If none of this shit helps you, call me 609 802 2449.

-Bart

[drkidd22]

Might also be a short somewhere that could be causing the battery to drain out slowly after leaving the car sitting for a while. I remember my uncle had an Altima and went for vacation when He came back no start. Battery was good, altenator was good, he later found a slight short between a hot to ground.

[S14mc]

No need to be smacked, but thanks for your input. Wasn't able to get to it yesterday, but I'll try it out today.

Thanks

[DJ_Sunrise]

Give it a shot, shouldn't be too much to figure out. Post up what happens especially if you get it working.

-bart

[S14mc]

I got to work on the car last night. I jumpstarted the car and disconnected the negative battery terminal and the car was still running. So the alternator is fine. Now I'm assuming it could be the starter. I ran the car for a good 15-20 minutes. turned the car off and was able to start it 3 more times, but each time it seemed it as it were losing power to start. So I guess it's the starter. What you guys think?

[johngriff]

BAD BATTERY.

Buy a new one.

[S14mc]

BAD BATTERY.

Buy a new one.

I jumpstarted the car with a brand new battery. Maybe its because I'm using a tractor battery. But the cca is 370. I never had a problem with those batteries before. Maybe I should relocate and use the norm battery or use a slim braille or equivalent?

[johngriff]

cca should be more like 700

[Koopa Troopa]

If you can start the car by jumpstarting it and then when you turn it off and it won't start again that's usually because your battery isn't holding a charge....

[Canaduh]

BAD BATTERY.

Buy a new one.

Your alt is fine. Either a bad cell in your battery, or like yuou said, your battery just doesn't have enough juice in it.
Get a decent battery so you don't have to change it for a LONG time.

[S14mc]

Your alt is fine. Either a bad cell in your battery, or like yuou said, your battery just doesn't have enough juice in it.
Get a decent battery so you don't have to change it for a LONG time.

Yeah, I'll probably get a decent battery then. I thought the normal battery for our motor should be around cca 470-550? I know it may not mean much but isn't 700 like for a truck or suv? I'll probably replace the battery with my gf's car and see if it starts.

If I relocate the battery to the trunk, can I just extend the +/- wires all the way to the back, run a fuse, and ground the neg on the rear of the chasis?

[DoriftoPnoy]

If I relocate the battery to the trunk, can I just extend the +/- wires all the way to the back, run a fuse, and ground the neg on the rear of the chasis?


Yes you could. But since you're grounding the neg at the rear, the only wire you'll be extending is the positive :cool:

[Canaduh]

You'll want a lot heavier gauge wire as well, for the positive wire

[DJ_Sunrise]

My vote is the battery.. 370 is not enough. 550 minimum

-Bart

[S14mc]

Yes you could. But since you're grounding the neg at the rear, the only wire you'll be extending is the positive :cool:

So basically run a wire from neg terminal to the chasis right? Cause I know the the neg right now is bolted onto the engine.

[DJ_Sunrise]

ground the negative anywhere you feel like. positive runs from the starter directly to the positive on the battery.

[S14mc]

ground the negative anywhere you feel like. positive runs from the starter directly to the positive on the battery.

Thanks, hopefully I just need a decent battery

[johngriff]

negative to the chassis junction, then to the intake manifold, sand the body where you are making the junction.