1990 Nissan Maxima

Tiny
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  • 1990 NISSAN MAXIMA
Well I had just bought this car from someone recently. And thus far ive had a few problems.
First the battery in the car wasnt even the right one that belongs in their(boguht a new one) Then after doing that the car woudlnt start after it has been started 2 times after that. After researchiung the problem I foudn it was a bad alternator I had the guy come out take it out and go replace it *it was still under warranty* Then the car was running fine until me and my room mates took a drive across town. The car started shaking and what not and I decided to pul into a parking lot. Sure enoug after I killed the engine and tried to resatrt it, it woudl not start. We looked into the engine to find the alternaotr belt broke. Ok no big deal cost about 10 bucks to repalce and was semi easy with a alligator grip wrench. And sometime and alot of dirt. Well its been 4 days since we repalced that and the car has been driving realy find. We went out earlier today to pick a vaccum up we got home with the car having no problems. But as I was heading out to pick someone up I tried starting the car. And nothing is hapening. The engine isnt trying to turn over or anything. The liughts all work and when I try starting it nothing dims. We lifted the hood and listened while it was trying to be started. The battery lets off kind of a hummimg/humming noise that alsts maybe about 10 seconds then stops and wont do it again until about a minute or so*when trying to start* and the right side of the engine has a clicking noise that is heard while turning the key. Weve tried to start it while hitting the starter with a peicie of wood and it wont start still no turn over or anything. So if anyone who knows what the asnwer is to this can u please get back to me realy soon cause this is our only car and is much needed for work. Thanks
Wednesday, April 4th, 2007 AT 9:21 PM

28 Replies

Tiny
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Sounds like a very bad connections involved here-triple check it. Start there before I get complicated.
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Wednesday, April 4th, 2007 AT 10:06 PM
Tiny
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Well im not quite sure what I should be checking this is my first car and already ive learned quite a lot just from the stuff I have had to do so far. So lol I need more of a walk threw
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Wednesday, April 4th, 2007 AT 10:23 PM
Tiny
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When you turn key to start do you here the starter engaging the engine-Also when you hit the lights do they come On. And when key is in On-do you see all the idiot lites
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Wednesday, April 4th, 2007 AT 11:02 PM
Tiny
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When you turn key to start do you here the starter engaging the engine-Also when you hit the lights do they come On. And when key is in On-do you see all the idiot lites
well I hear a clicking noise when I do turn the key, and when its in the on position all the old lights are on
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Wednesday, April 4th, 2007 AT 11:08 PM
Tiny
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What is this Auto or Manual Tranny?
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Wednesday, April 4th, 2007 AT 11:30 PM
Tiny
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Try this-get a jumper wire put an alligator clip on it-on this end take it to the little terminal at the starter solenoid the othe end tap it to the postive terminal of the battery-did the starter kick over. If not we got a starter control circuit problem-could be a clutch switch or neutral safety switch also known as inhibitor or the ignition switch itself.

Good Luck-Man you working me but its okay this is my job helping people like you. Hmmm! Its getting complicated I love it-bring it On amigo. Freddy is ready lol.
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Wednesday, April 4th, 2007 AT 11:40 PM
Tiny
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Ok so although I knew nothing of what you just said I did some investigating. ANd found the starter haha. I then moved the lil rubber thing protecting the *what I think to be the postivie* connect it to the battery nothing happened. Then after I conect the other end of the jumper to the neg side I was shocked hahaha. But anyways so I removed the jumper from *what I then figured to be( the negative part of the start and connect it to the battery and it started making a whirling noise liek something inside was spinning so im gonna guess that was it kicking over. So if it kicked over what does that mean? The guy who sold me the car after I called him left me a message saying it might be the battery is no good? But if the liughts arnt diming and what not woudl that be the case? Im still hearing that damn clicking noiuse coming from the other side of the engine though *not from the starter* so I dont know. As for the wiring it looked like this guy might have done it himself cause theirs electrical tape everywhere. But I dont think its a bad connection I made sure evrything was connected and still nothing. Thanks for having patience with me I know im not exactly car savey
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Thursday, April 5th, 2007 AT 1:57 AM
Tiny
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Okay-get a wire like a speaker wire put both together end to end-now go find the starter. At the starter there's a little small terminal hook it there and take the other end tap it over the positive terminal of the battery NOTE: this should be done on a small period of time-not to long at least 2sec interval you should be hearing the starter engaging the engine. What you are doing is bypassing the starter circuit-if the starter should crank the engine with the jumper wire-your problem is one of these ignition switch/neutral safety switch or the wire itself.

With a good battery and tight connections and when key is turn to start position the engine should crank-if not then go check the ones I've listed.

In the event that you have no knowledge about electrical-I strongly recommend you take it to the pros-this is not a DIY thing I told you earlier its gonna be complicated.

Get something going and get back with me

Good Luck
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Thursday, April 5th, 2007 AT 2:23 AM
Tiny
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With a good battery and tight connections and when key is turn to start position the engine should crank-if not then go check the ones I've listed.

In the event that you have no knowledge about electrical-I strongly recommend you take it to the pros-this is not a DIY thing I told you earlier its gonna be complicated.

Get something going and get back with me

Good Luck[/quote]
Ok well last time I didnt try it with the key in the on position but this time I did. I heard the starter kick over but the engine didnt crank. So then its woudl be one of the 3 u listed how would I go about checking them *again use dumb asnwer please haha
Much appreciated
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Thursday, April 5th, 2007 AT 2:55 AM
Tiny
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Now we're getting somewhere. NOTE: when the starter is kicking over and engine not turning its a sign of the overrunning clutch slipping on the starter-but 1st double check all connections to and from the starter-connections clean and tight-sorry to say the **starter** when south of the border on you.

Good luck-Amigo-laterz
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Thursday, April 5th, 2007 AT 5:39 AM
Tiny
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Gah so the asnwer is a bad starter I now haev to replace? I think thats one of the parts not under warranty /sad face
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Thursday, April 5th, 2007 AT 1:39 PM
Tiny
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Well Amigo

It pays the cost to be the boss-sorry for the bad news-

You have a Happy Easter-Good Luck
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Thursday, April 5th, 2007 AT 4:37 PM
Tiny
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Bad news.
Well as it turns out its not the starter. I took the starter out and took it to pep boys and they ran the test it passed and they ran the test 2 more times just to be sure. Aparently one of the teeth on the starters gear is chipped so they think if might be the flywheel teeth are missing in some parts which caused the starter to chip in some places. But after I looked at the flywheel teethit doesnt look like anything is missing. Battery problem? Even if the lights arnt dimming when it trys to start? Or can it be something else besides the flywheel. Cause I dont know how to replace that. I was lucky enough taking the starter out. But they wanna charge me 70 for a towing fee. 80 to run a no start diagnostics. Then ordering the part from a place cause they dont carry flywheels. Then pay labor. I dont have that much money at all. So any advice?
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Friday, April 6th, 2007 AT 6:39 PM
Tiny
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Relax Amigo and concentrate

Okay you did an inspector gadget on the flywheel looks okay -is it bent/warped double check before you leave the flywheel now either we do or die-get another starter and go from there.

Makes sure all connections down there are nice and clean and tighter than a drum. To include the battery side.

Do you have a voltmeter?Cuz we're gonna take out this bad ghost at your command.

Happy Easter
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Saturday, April 7th, 2007 AT 1:57 AM
Tiny
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No I dont have a voltmeter. I did check the connections and it seems likes its all tight, ill being bringing a voltmeter to it day after tomo or tomo to check the voltage on it. But the flywheel doesnt look bent or warped. I talked to my friends grandpa and hes a mechanic he said if it was the flywheel I woudl have heard it trying to spin the flywheel though if it wasnt catcxhing which isnt the case. He thinks its the battery or the connection also. So ill replacing the battery which is under warranty then checking it from their and if the wiring is corroded maybe have to buy a new set of wiring. I guess. But still not sure if that will be the problem illcheck the battery and the connection again and get back to you on it
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Sunday, April 8th, 2007 AT 2:29 AM
Tiny
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I asked you earlier is it an Auto or Manual tranny

Manual tranny has a starter relay its probably the one you hearing-find it and substitute it and see what happens.
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Sunday, April 8th, 2007 AT 5:29 AM
Tiny
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Ok well I took the volt meter to the battery and its reading about 12 volts exactly. But for some reason when I tried to start the engine today I didnt hear any noise not the clicking or humming or anything liek I usually do. I will probably go to pep boys and get replacements wires for the battery to the starter just in case its corroded and is being eaten away. But now im at a lost as for it being a manual or auto its an automatic transmission
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Monday, April 9th, 2007 AT 5:07 PM
Tiny
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My specs calls for 12.4 or better at no load test-try the CX replacement-makes sure everything is clean and tight and report back your findings.

Good luck
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Monday, April 9th, 2007 AT 8:32 PM
Tiny
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Well I took the battery back for an exahnge but they tested and cahrged it and it came otu perfectly fine put it back in the car and still nothing. Except the clicking and what not.
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Monday, April 9th, 2007 AT 11:33 PM
Tiny
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:ets restart

Does the lite come On when you hit the switch? And when you turn the key to start did the lite when out. If it does we're dealing with connections.

If it has a relay-put the voltmeter on the relay battery terminal/cable going to the starter. Now turn key to start, do you have voltage there-if not the relay is bad. Also make sure the wire coming from the ignition switch has power when key is at start position. No power coming from the switch could mean the neutral safety switch is bad or the ignition switch itself.

If the battery and connections are good-the components left is the starter/relay/NSS/Ignition switch.

You sure the engine is not seized. Check it out by turning the crankshaft over.
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Tuesday, April 10th, 2007 AT 12:50 AM

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