Emergency!!! Please help...

[black0ut]

Anyone-

I just replaced my fuel filter, and now my car won't start!! And I need it right now <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/nervous.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':nervous:'>

I went by the instructions in the 240sx.org FAQ, and pulled the fuel pump fuse and turned the engine before I started. It did die like it said it would. Then I pulled the old one off ( ugh! ) and put the new (93 300zx TT) one in. Yay!!

But wait... NOW IT WON'T START!!!! <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/crazy.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':crazy:'>

It's almost as if it is re-energizing. When I first turned the key, the lights barely came on. No engine turn. After a minute or so, the lights are getting brighter and it clicks once every couple turns, but no turn over. After another minute or so, the lights are full brightness and the radio is coming on, and now it is clicking multiple times when I turn the key, but it still isn't turning over.

My positive battery wire is cracked where it tightens to the terminal, but it has been running fine like this for a while, so it doesn't seem like that would be it. Please advise!!!

Thanks!!

Nathan

[geeaj]

I know it sounds so obvious, but did you plug the fuse back in?

[black0ut]

Unfortunately, yes &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/hmmm.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':hmmm:'>

And to make things worse, I came back up to the apartment and let it sit a while. Went back out and tried to start it and it's back full circle! The lights are all dim and it won't even click. Argh!!

[JamesC89]

When that happened to me, I had a dead battery. &nbsp;But i wasn't changing my fuel filter. &nbsp;I just went in the house for a few minutes, came back out and bamb, plenty of clicking but no starting. &nbsp;So i'd check your battery connections maybe or the battery itself.

[black0ut]

How about this...

I let it sit for a while again. Then I disconnected the negative terminal, wait a minute or so, reconnect it. Turn the key on, lights are bright, depress the brake pedal and they barely dim. Turn the key to start and it clicks once, everything dims. Now if I hit the brake pedal, the lights go completely out.

Any new ideas?

[black0ut]

Thanks for the help James... I am thinking it might be the positive battery cable that is cracked, or possibly the starter solenoid. Anyone else have any input? Thanks!!

[w0o0rd]

its ur battery thats the same thing that happened when my battery died when u try to start ur car everythin' dim's right well.............i say its ur battery

[black0ut]

w0o0rd up!!! &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':p'>

Thanks for the input... I think the consensus is the battery, maybe the battery cable. I'll test all of that. Thanks guys!

[black0ut]

Just in case anyone is wondering, it was the cracked battery cable. Thanks for all of the suggestions, guys!! I rigged it up for tonight. Tomorrow I'll pick up a real one &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'>

Nathan

[JamesC89]

Sweet! I'm glad you could figure out what the problem was. My neighbor helped me out when my battery died. He's a real nice guy. &nbsp;He said it was either the battery or something else. &nbsp;It turns out that he was right. &nbsp;It was the battery.

By the way, my real name is Nathan too!!!

[s13cruzer]

this is kinda off this particular subject , but what is the benfit of getting a 300zx TT fuel filter , does it only help when you have a turbo or does it do anything with the N/A engines??

thanks

[transient]

There's no power increase or anything with the 300zx fuel filter. People actually use it because it's a couple dollars cheaper than the stock filter.

As far as the battery cable goes, I know how you feel. A friend of mine had that happen on his mazda 626. We came out of school (I got rides from him then) and the damn thing wouldn't start. Didn't even click or anything. Finally we realized (after trying to push start it) what was going on. Luckily he had jumper cables in the back of his car, and we ran a cable from the battery's neg terminal to the chassis of the car, lol. It's not something I'd suggest doing for a long trip, but it got us home <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'>.

[black0ut]

Thanks for the help everyone. And yeah, there's really no noticable difference in the TT fuel filter. It is a bit wider than stock, and it is cheaper.

As for the battery cable. EVERYONE LISTEN - DO NOT CRACK YOUR POSITIVE CABLE!!! &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':p'> &nbsp;It turns out that to replace the positive cable, you have to buy the engine harness which is about $300 from Courtest Nissan!!! So BE CAREFUL when messing with the positive cable &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/crazy.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':crazy:'> &nbsp;Now I am stuck with a rigged up battery cable until I rip one at the junk yard or swap my engine &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'>

Nathan

[camppain]

uhh why not just buy a battery relocater kit from summit and ust pu the battery in the back since your gonna swap the engine anway? so this way you dont need to salvage anything

just a thought. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/thumbs-up.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':thumbsup:'>

[black0ut]

How much would the relocation kit run, generally? How difficult of a job is it? Thanks!!