1994 Q45 Battery / Starting Problem

[OvrKill]

I have searched yesterday and today and I can't really find anything that sounds like the problem I am having.

This last week when trying to start the car is sounded slow. Like it was turning over slower than normal. I thought it was odd but it still started and drove. It did this the next couple of days and I thought maybe I was having an alternator issue. On Thurs. of last week I let it sit for about 6 hours after getting home from work and tried to start it and it turned over very slow I actually had to pump the gas once and it started right up. I didn't drive it the next day. On Saturday I went to go out and now the car won't start at all. I thought from the symptoms that it might be a dead battery so I hooked it up to the charger. I let it sit about an hour and got nothing. Later I tried to jump it with another car and nothing. I went and bought a battery for it thinking it could be a dead cell or something and still nothing.

I am at a loss for what this could be. When I try to start it I hear something that sounds like it is running at the back of the engine but it sounded like fuel or something to me. I can lightly smell gas so I don't think it is the pump I don't hear the hum when the key is on. When I had my brother try it and I was under the hood I heard a click from the upper left hand side of the engine bay near the firewall. Maybe this is where the coil is or the ignition module, I am not sure. And it is just a light click, I could not hear it when I was in the car.

Other than that it never tries to turn over but all accessories have power. Last month I had the ignition switch fuse go out. It wouldn't start but it also didn't have any power to the radio or air conditioning with the key on. I was able to find out on here that it might be that fuse and get it fixed. I was pretty happy that it was fixed for $2.50 but this seems like a bigger problem. I really have no idea what would wind down like it did starting other than the battery. If you guys have any ideas it would be a great help.

One of the other things I noticed that if I now keep the key in the run position (trying to start it) I see the security light flashing. I don't know if it normally does that because it usually just starts right up. I also read and thought it might be the starter control relay but my symptoms don't really match that either. It seems like it could be a ton of different things so I hope you gys might have more insite than me.

[maxnix]

( It seems like it could be a ton of different things so I hope you gys might have more insite than me.

Well, without a maintenance history, your are correct, it could be a number of things, maybe even compounded.

First, check your fuel pressure.

Then check your battery and alternator. A bad/weak/dying battery can take out an alternator very quickly. If yours is thrre years old, be very concerned.

No mention of fuel filter, BG44K, or intake pathe or fuel system maintenance leaves us wondering what's been deferred?

[OvrKill]

Well, without a maintenance history, your are correct, it could be a number of things, maybe even compounded.

First, check your fuel pressure.

Then check your battery and alternator. A bad/weak/dying battery can take out an alternator very quickly. If yours is thrre years old, be very concerned.

No mention of fuel filter, BG44K, or intake pathe or fuel system maintenance leaves us wondering what's been deferred?

Okay, I will give as much detail as possible. I have not so far checked fuel pressure or anything to do with the fuel system because the car will not even attempt to turn over.

I know it is not the battery as I put in a new one yesterday and I would think at least before I get it started again it might not be the alternator.

It has had most of the hoses under the plenum replaced as well as the knock sensors. I have also had the #1 injector replaced. An Infiniti tech has done the ground to the mass air.

It pretty much happened as described in the first post. I know the starter has not been replaced. Trying to think of anything else that will help if you have specific questions please let me know.

*Edit - it has also had a can of BG44 through it.

[AZhitman]

Shouldn't be fuel pump related... sounds to me like it's a bad starter.

Starter solenoid is either "functional" or "dead", but not "in-between".

[goody90q45]

I know it is not the battery as I put in a new one yesterday and I would think at least before I get it started again it might not be the alternator.

Here's an easy thing to check. Take a look at the battery cable (clamp) connection to the battery post. I had to replace my positive clamp because it wore out and would not provide a tight connection. If you can move the clamp on the post after its been tightened this could be your problem. With a marginal connection all the accessories in the car will work but the starter wont turn over. Good luck.

[OvrKill]

Here's an easy thing to check. Take a look at the battery cable (clamp) connection to the battery post. I had to replace my positive clamp because it wore out and would not provide a tight connection. If you can move the clamp on the post after its been tightened this could be your problem. With a marginal connection all the accessories in the car will work but the starter wont turn over. Good luck.

Oddly enough the negative terminal had a lot of corosion on it. I clean all of it off when putting in the new battery and checked both cables. They both seem to be on and tight.

Oh one thing I forgot is that when I had the problem with that fuse a month ago I made sure to check them again this time. Thinking it might be the anti theft problem I pulled the anti theft fuse out and it didn't change a thing, still no start but all accessories were on.

[maxnix]

Check your under hood fuses for continuity and integrity. Especially the large ones.

[qsiguy]

The click you are hearing sounds to me like the starter solenoid. There are also a bunch of relays and without knowing exactly what clicking sound you are hearing it's hard for me to say. The starter solenoid is on the left side of the engine near the firewall. If the solenoid is clicking but the starter won't engage it's very likely you have a starter problem. I would check for voltage at your starter. You should have constant 12V on the large battery sized cable and switched 12V+ on a smaller wire that switches the solenoid when you turn the key to the crank position. If you have both I'd would be replacing the starter.

There are several threads that discuss in detail how to check the starter system. Try a search, if you are unsuccessful with that I'll see what I can find. I posted some detailed step by step t-shooting information with diagrams of the starter wiring to follow. I have to dig up some info again.

[OvrKill]

The click you are hearing sounds to me like the starter solenoid. There are also a bunch of relays and without knowing exactly what clicking sound you are hearing it's hard for me to say. The starter solenoid is on the left side of the engine near the firewall. If the solenoid is clicking but the starter won't engage it's very likely you have a starter problem. I would check for voltage at your starter. You should have constant 12V on the large battery sized cable and switched 12V+ on a smaller wire that switches the solenoid when you turn the key to the crank position. If you have both I'd would be replacing the starter.

There are several threads that discuss in detail how to check the starter system. Try a search, if you are unsuccessful with that I'll see what I can find. I posted some detailed step by step t-shooting information with diagrams of the starter wiring to follow. I have to dig up some info again.

Great thanks

I talked to an infiniti tech today and he thinks it is the starter. I went ahead and picked up a starter relay and I am going to replace that tonight to make sure that isn't the problem. Then check the voltage on the starter itself.

[draivar]

so did that relay fix the starting problem on your car?