1998 I30 auto starting issue

[zul8tr]

After searching I could not come up with this answer but some suggestions like maybe internals of starter need cleaning? Some mention of the starter relay that is my prime question below.

The car does presently start and run great, the issue is the starting.

Problem: When starting the car the starter sometimes has a lazy sound and not sharp and crisp sound like it used to have. Sounds like the starter solenoid is laboring a bit with a spring rewinding sound when the car finally starts.

These items check OK on car: alternator, battery and starter. Had them checked at a shop that rebuilds huge amounts starters and alternators here in Orlando. However, they said to definatively check the starter would require pulling it out and get it on the bench for inspection and testing. I am willing to do that but not until I exhaust other simpler possibilities.

I had what appears to be the same kind of problem with my 1992 300zx manual. Turned out the starter relay had burned contacts even though it bench tested OK but it wouldn't pass adaquate current needed to properly excite the starter solenoid. This failure happened slowly over several weeks with lazy starter until no starter engagement just dead.

Car has received excellent maintence with NGK plugs, oil changes for transmission and engine, fuel filter, air filter, clean and solid battery terminals and connections, have used dielectric grease on many connections, etc.

Question: What about the 1998 I30 start inhibitor relay at location E58 on the engine room harness in the relay box just to the left of the radiator where the coolant fan relays are located? Could this relay have somewhat burned contacts for cleanly activating the starter solenoid?

Maybe the internals of the starter need cleaning or slight wear is starting to show up?

Other possibilities appreciated?

Thank you
Modified by zul8tr at 4:47 AM 12/3/2009

[Q45tech]

Since you forgot to supply mileage and number of starts and total cranking interval over past 12 years hard to guess. But one ALWAYS starts by replaceing relay and testing battery under load vs temperature before replacing or removing and cleaning starter.

[qship96]

Just replace starter with a rebuilt genuine nissan part..... for $200-250 it is not worth risking a no start and tow procedure.

[zul8tr]

Since you forgot to supply mileage and number of starts and total cranking interval over past 12 years hard to guess. But one ALWAYS starts by replaceing relay and testing battery under load vs temperature before replacing or removing and cleaning starter.

e

I will be doing the relay first.

BTW car has 91k but # of starts ??? a lot.

Thanks

[zul8tr]

For future searches it was the starter. Replaced with a rebuilt unit. BTW the relay was replaced but it did not solve the problem. So after testing the battery and alternator and replacing the relay all that was left was the starter. To adaquately test it required pulling it out and bringing it to a shop for bench testing.

[Q45tech]

Not really a properly trained technican/engineer would just use a dc amp probe and a digital oscilloscope to VIEW the current trace [clamp on line to starter].

http://www.picoauto.com/tutori....html

http://www.picoauto.com/wavefo...rrent

After all a starter is just a motor like the fuel pump, window,seat, hvac fan, etc.

Just a difference in current draw.

After 12 years of use [1998] I would always check starter first regardless of mileage.

[zul8tr]

Interesting

Not really a properly trained technican/engineer would just use a dc amp probe and a digital oscilloscope to VIEW the current trace [clamp on line to starter].

http://www.picoauto.com/tutori....html

http://www.picoauto.com/wavefo...rrent

After all a starter is just a motor like the fuel pump, window,seat, hvac fan, etc.

Just a difference in current draw.

After 12 years of use [1998] I would always check starter first regardless of mileage.

---------------------

Thanks Interesting info. When the starter was removed and bench tested I do not know what equipment they used to diagnose it but they were right. BTW my 93 300zx has the original starter and no issues just the starter relay was replaced due to burnt contacts I suppose inside the relay?