Starter not working

Tiny
TEAM ILBT
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
  • 1999 INFINITI I30
  • V6
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 274,000 MILES
I have had this car for 3 years. 2 months ago the anti thief/immobilizer shut the car down. I tried everything. Three days later and after many attempts the car started I drove it around for about 10 minutes and parked it. As soon as I shut it off I tried to start it again but nothing happened. After 10 days of trying to start the car it finally started again and everything was great until yesterday. I did replace the battery yesterday morning drove it about 10 miles shut it off and now no start again. Any other suggestions you might have would be very appreciative. Thank you
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Friday, October 18th, 2019 AT 3:42 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SCGRANTURISMO
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,897 POSTS
Hello,

This could be a problem with the connections to your vehicle's battery. In order for your battery to work properly the connections to the terminals must be clean and tight with no corrosion. A weak or so-so connection could work some of the time, and then stop working. Here is a link down below for you to go to:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/everything-goes-dead-when-engine-is-cranked

Please go through this guide and get back to us with what you are able to find out.

Thanks,
Alex
2CarPros
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Friday, October 18th, 2019 AT 3:42 PM (Merged)
Tiny
TEAM ILBT
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
The battery cables are fine. All the fuses are fine. Someday soon I'll be messing around inside the car and try to start it and it starts and drives great with no issues for a couple of months then it stops again. It's stupid crazy stuff. Maybe it's the alignment of the planets or swamp gas I don't know. I'm a good backyard mechanic but I've never come across a situation like this.
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Friday, October 18th, 2019 AT 3:42 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SCGRANTURISMO
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,897 POSTS
Hello again,

In the diagrams down below I have included a wiring diagram for your vehicle's starting system. I have also included guides on how to find intermittent electrical faults and how to inspect grounds. If you could could you please inspect Ground #120, which is located on the right side of the engine. Please get back to us with what you are able to find out.

Thanks,
Alex
2CarPros
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Friday, October 18th, 2019 AT 3:42 PM (Merged)
Tiny
TEAM ILBT
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Thank you for the diagrams. Yes, I have checked all wiring and connections the last time the car stopped and I checked everything again yesterday. Still nothing. All the dash lights come on but that's it. I just don't understand why the car does this. There has to be a way to fix this. Do you have any more suggestions I might try out? Thank you
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Friday, October 18th, 2019 AT 3:42 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SCGRANTURISMO
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,897 POSTS
Hello again,

Did you check Ground #120 on the right side of the engine yet? This ground is responsible for grounding the neutral safety switch, which if not working, will not allow your vehicle to start. Please get back to us with what you are able to find out and we can go from there.

Thanks,
Alex
2Carpros
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Friday, October 18th, 2019 AT 3:42 PM (Merged)
Tiny
TEAM ILBT
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Yes no corrosion good connection.
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Friday, October 18th, 2019 AT 3:42 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SCGRANTURISMO
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,897 POSTS
Hello again,

Intermittent electrical issues are probably the most frustrating thing you will have to deal with with a vehicle. The problem is that the problem never rears it's head when someone is doing diagnostics on it. Okay, you have the complete starting circuit for your vehicle in the two wiring diagrams I sent you earlier. In the diagrams down below I have sent you a guide with how to track down an intermittent condition in an electrical circuit. Please go through the guide and apply it to your vehicle's starting circuit and get back to us with what you are able to find out.

Thanks,
Alex
2CarPros
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Friday, October 18th, 2019 AT 3:42 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MWTOVEY
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Thank you for the diagrams. I checked everything possible with no luck. I hope one of these days the car will start like it did before. Like I said before I have no idea what causes this and how to prevent it from happening again. I know there can't be much more to do and I can't afford to take it to the dealer at this time. I thank you guys for all your help. I will continue to check this, that, and the other.
Stay cool my friends
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Friday, October 18th, 2019 AT 3:42 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 47,512 POSTS
If I can jump in here does the security light flash when you try to crank the engine over?
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Friday, October 18th, 2019 AT 3:42 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MWTOVEY
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
No.
I've got another issue. As I was unscrewing the last screw to take the cover off the steering column this loud buzzing sound came out of the speakers and wouldn't stop. I put the key in and turned it to all positions and it only stopped when it was in the start position. I disconnected the battery and continued with the cover. I took the radio fuse out and reconnected the battery and checked all the connection. Everything checked out fine. I put the fuse back in and turned on the radio but nothing came out of the speakers.
What do you think has happened?
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Friday, October 18th, 2019 AT 3:42 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 47,512 POSTS
Hello,

It sounds like the BCM has shorted out. To be sure we need to do a CAN scan. Here is a video that shows how to do it with instructions in the diagrams below to help show you how the change out the BCM and its location:

https://youtu.be/InIlnsjOVFA

Remove the electrical connector from the BCM to check for corrosion. Check out the diagrams (below). Please let us know what happens.
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Friday, October 18th, 2019 AT 3:42 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MWTOVEY
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Thanks for the information. No corrosion. As far as the can scan goes I just can't afford to rent a scanner at this time, but as soon as I can I will. Thank you anyway guys.
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Friday, October 18th, 2019 AT 3:42 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 47,512 POSTS
Please let us know what you find. We are interested to see what it is.
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Friday, October 18th, 2019 AT 3:42 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MWTOVEY
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Sorry I took so long to reply.
Here's what happened in a nut shell. Nothing worked. I tried everything. So I quit playing with it. 2 weeks ago I got back in to it. I turned the key to see what would happen and I heard a single click from the starter and every time after that(about 5 times). I took the starter out had it checked it was bad. Bought a new one started right up. Runs great again. Don't know how long it will last this time.
I can't thank you guys enough for all you have done for me. You guys rock.
I have one more problem though. When I take my foot off the gas the car jerks to the left not real bad but enough to notice. I had CV axles installed about 18 months ago and right after that I replaced just about everything on the front end. I don't want to sink any more money into this car. (I'll be buying a new truck in mid November). I would like to know what is going on though. Any more help from you all would be awesome. Thank you in advance. 1 more question I would like very much to donate a couple bucks to you guys as you totally deserve it. Let me know
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Friday, October 18th, 2019 AT 3:42 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SCGRANTURISMO
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,897 POSTS
Hello,

We appreciate it, but no donations are necessary. I would check the tire pressure on the side it is pulling to. Please get back to us and let us know. We can go from there if it is not the problem.

Thanks,
Alex
2CarPros
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Friday, October 18th, 2019 AT 3:42 PM (Merged)

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