Starter Issue

Nissan11

Nissan11

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 29, 2005
Location
Marston, NC
Hey guys, some of you know from my other thread that Ive been having a cooling system problem over the last few weeks. I think I finally got it fixed by replacing a sensor.

I went to test drive the truck (02 Nissan frontier 3.3L) for the third time yesterday and it wouldn't start. I just heard rapid clicking. I cleaned the battery terminals and then used my multi tester to take a reading on my yellow top battery and got 12.72 volts.
I then assumed it was the starter so I bought another one. When I put in the new starter this morning the truck still would not start. I removed the starter from the truck and tested it using jumper cables and it worked great.
So, I put the starter back on the truck and hooked jumper cables from my battery and put the positive clamp on the pos post of the starter and the neg clamp to the frame. I got nothing.

I then held the neg clamp against the starter body and the truck started. After that I assumed the started just wasn't getting a good ground. I took some 0 gauge cable and ran it from the neg starter post to the neg battery post. When I tried to start the truck it melted the insulation on the cable and almost caught fire.

I once again removed the started from the truck and tested it and it worked fine.

So, I've got a good battery, a good starter, but the truck still just clicks rapidly when I try to start it. What else can I do?
By the way, the multi tester shows that I'm getting full power at the starter.
 
imo sounds like wiring issues....like something from bat-starter isnt connecting... im assuming the solenoid is starter mounted.. try a screwdriver and bypass the starter like old school... maybe the solenoid is bad? i work at a local autoparts store. it happens..
 
I have had similar issues, do what jweezyferg said and jump it with a screw driver. Also check your started relay. Also try to start the truck both in park or neutral.
 
Just a thought but I'd say you have a bad engine to frame ground. The starter grounds through the housing so by running the ground from the neg post all the engine ground went through the one cable back to the batt. Check all engine grounds.
 
I'm not familiar with the bypass method, can you explain?

And yes the solenoid is starter mounted, but if it was bad then why does it work perfectly when I remove it from the truck and use jumper cables?
 
Mulishajoe said:
Just a thought but I'd say you have a bad engine to frame ground. The starter grounds through the housing so by running the ground from the neg post all the engine ground went through the one cable back to the batt. Check all engine grounds.
Click to expand...


Thanks, I'll check the grounds in the morning.
 
Nissan11 said:
I don't know what you mean by jump the solenoid.
Click to expand...

ive never looked at the end of a nissan starter, but if like most you can take a screwdriver and on the end of the starter where the posts are, touch the two longer ones (jump) them together. it should start. if its an auto start it in park, manual in neutral obv..
 
ok well avoid the neg lol.
 
Mulishajoe said:
Just a thought but I'd say you have a bad engine to frame ground. The starter grounds through the housing so by running the ground from the neg post all the engine ground went through the one cable back to the batt. Check all engine grounds.
Click to expand...

I owe you a beer! I removed, cleaned and relocated the engine ground cable and the truck started!
 
Back
Top