Starter Problem?

[SirZyrion]

Ok it's not necessarily a Sport Compact or tuner car, but screw you guys LOL

Jessican's Malibu wouldn't start this morning. AC blows and dash lights up until you turn the key, then all goes DEAD. Obviously a dead battery, but there's no reason for it to already be dead. It's about 9 months old.

I noticed a while ago that it took a little more than normal to startt eh car, like the starter wouldn't catch right away. We'd have to hold the key at crank for a few seconds, and even though it made noise, the car would hesitate then start. It'd been getting worse every week, and now this. Could a bad starter have killed the battery? If I just put a new battery in it, will it make it to trade-in this weekend for a 3.5 SE Altima? Or will that be a noticable witch for the dealer to spot? Is there an easy way to test the starter?

[MyBlackS14]

Moving this to Troubleshooting. :P

[rickjamesd]

Just dont let them test drive it and they will not notice it. When I traded my truck in for my Spec I didn't let them drive the truck at all. If they ask why tell them you don't want to mess with insurance if something were to happen. More and likely they won't have a problem with them not driving the thing. If they do tell them you will take them for a drive and when you go to the dealership park a little distance so when they want to test drive it you can say no and then go and get the car and start it away from them so they dont hear the starting problems.

[melly mel]

Never heard of a starter draining power.

There is a way to test a starter. Connect the positive and negative posts on the starter itself with a small screwdriver and if it turns, it usually the battery.

[DarkRex]

if anything, i would be concerend with the alternator, its the alternators job to recharge the battery, so if your battery dies prematureley, its most likely the alt. Check all wires for any corrosion, if its loose or bad/poor connection.

[SirZyrion]

Thanks Eric!

I've never heard of a dealer test-driving a trade in. Strange.

Thanks Mel. I knew there was a way, but I wasn't sure what it was. Never had starer problems. Those seem common on domestics though. LOL

Couldn't the starter drain the battery by taking too long to catch when she holds the key to crank the shit out of it? She holds teh key for a really long time. Makes me cringe when I hear it.

[MyBlackS14]

Check both terminals on the batterie , Thats what my 240sx did allot. Clean the terminal and the connectors.

[SirZyrion]

Cool. I'm already planning on checking the battery connections, altenator, and starter. I knwo the water pump leaks, the Ac sucks and her suspension and steering are acting funny now. I'm just trying to get it to be less niticable so we can go buy a new Altima this weekend. I don't wanna fix it all and keep teh car. It's past dead.

[DarkRex]

Couldn't the starter drain the battery by taking too long to catch when she holds the key to crank the shit out of it? She holds teh key for a really long time. Makes me cringe when I hear it.
eh, possible, but not likey in this situation. The starter doesn't draw that much power to start the car, i can't remember how much but its not much. if you can, get a hold of a multi meter, put the leads on the batter negative and positive terminal, turn the car over and see how much the starter draws. its not much. a healthy battery should be at 12.4... i believe ite drops to like 8v when cranking.

[MyBlackS14]

Yeah my car did that same thing Z, everything would turn on in the car but when I turned the key DEAD, I would have to get out of the car and clean the terminal and the wire and the it would turn on. Pretty sure thats your problem.

[jamezpaull]

When we traded in my wifes car in May, the dealer wanted to test drive it but when we took it to another dealer they never even looked at it.

[DEFYF8]

i feel sorry for power nissan, i limped my blue SE-R to them to trade for the spec, that thing was FUCKED up when i gave it to them

[AJSPECV]

I'm with Chris on this one check your terminals and clean them / tighten them. That was the most recent problem on my car and I had all the accessories working and lights just no juice due to a loose connection. Best remedy for battery corrosion.. Baking Soda and water. Keep it clear of any paint though the resulting reaction will eat away paint skin etc...

[SirZyrion]

Happened to my car too once, and I tightened the cables, so we'll see.

[az03g]

There is a way to test a starter. Connect the positive and negative posts on the starter itself with a small screwdriver and if it turns, it usually the battery.
i wouldn't do that. all it's gonna do is spark and arc weld the screwdriver to the starter terminals :lol:

[SirZyrion]

Changed teh battery yesterday. Tested bad at checker. Screw the rest of the checks/problems. It's time for the Altima. We're gonna do a new budget tonight and then buy the car.

[MyBlackS14]

Thats good that it was only teh battery. Can I get a w00t w00t ?

[SirZyrion]

W00t w00t

Now I'm trying to talk her into the 6 altima with th e350z twin turbo kik :twisted:

[melly mel]

Didn't you say you changed the battery like 9 months ago? The battery could've shown bad but that could also be caused by the alternator not charging it.

[SirZyrion]

Yeah I said that. It was actually June. We checked teh warranty paperwork. Couldn't have been a bad altenator cause after I jumped it and drove it to Checker, when I started it again to test it in teh car, it started right up, so it's getting charged. THe abttery tested fine in the car: 13.xx volts during crank even, but inside, it failed. Dead core. Alty is good though. i don't wanna replace it anyway. Just another reason to get a new car. V6 Altima or Fusion FTW!

[DEFYF8]

Now I'm trying to talk her into the 6 altima with th e350z twin turbo kik :twisted:

please tell me you are kidding. You know that if you tried to hook up a 350Z kit to a FWD 3.5L you will have your turbos sitting in your drivers wheel, don't say things like that again. I know you are the king of rice, but this about made me want to choke a bitch.

[SirZyrion]

I'd never seriously turbo the Altima. She needs the warranty for the kids. Besides, it's an AUTOMATIC. what a waste. i could twin turbo my Eclipse for teh cost

[DEFYF8]

i wasn't talking about turboing the altima, go for it, i was talking about you thinking the 350Z kit will fit, cause it won't

[SirZyrion]

Oh ok. Yeah I know it won't fit. I was just talking shit cause it was funny to imagine a twin turbo altima with 400+whp and 2 kids in the back seat singing songs from the Wiggles during a street race to Albertsons LOL