300zx Starts only When I Slam the Hood!

[akhan63]

I have a 92 300zx N/A, that i bought right before summer. given me nothing but problems! So far i have changed the battery, new relay switch, new starter, new alternator, and new fuel filter. A few months ago it stoped starting. It would start most the time but sometimes it wont. I could hear the fuel pump turning on too. but it wont start. Recently i discovered that if i open the hood and slam it shut, it usually instantly starts. about 90% of the time it will start just from that. sometimes however it wont. I shake the car, move around the wires i see on top of the engine an after about 10 min. of messing around with everything it will start. But what mainly starts it is slaming the engine shut. i know its a wiring issue, but i dont know which wire. The Local Nissan people are trying to rip me off an dont know sh*t! they had me replace the starter. Please Help me, this is soo frustrating!! Thaks

[robomatic12]

Check the positive and negative battery cables going to the battery, ensure they are tight and clean of any corrosion.

[akhan63]

yea, ive tried that too when i put in the new battery. Even when it wont start I will check the connection an make sure its good.

[Anthonysflying]

Sounds like a classic loose connection at the starter motor. Other location is a loose connection in your steering column at the ignition switch. Try getting under your car, when you know it wont start, without touching anything else, tap on the starter motor & just plain check the connections(clean, tighten etc.). It should start right up. If you just added something electrical you may have run a wire tight that is pulling on another, check that.

[marty1mc]

What do you mean by not starting? Is it not cranking? Or, is it cranking but not firing? Each troubleshooting method is different based on the failure.

For cranking, then check the entire starting circuit including your safety items (clutch switch, auto lockout, loose wires, starter relay and even the security system). Do a point to point check of each circuit and wiggle the wiring harness as well. Look for differences in the ohm meter readings.

If it's cranking and not firing, then start with checking the wires on the PTU (especially the harness, they tend to fail). I doubt all 6 injectors aren't working, so I would check spark first, especially since you can hear the fuel pump.

[akhan63]

Its not Cranking, I hear what i think is the fuel pump starting, but nothing from the engine. Ill try to do some of the trouble shooting suggested, but it always happens when i need to get somewhere quick so i dont get a chance to do all that. But Ill keep you guys updated. Thanks!

[NolimitZ32]

underhood alarm sensor. if the hood isn't shut the car wont start, at least that's how mine is

[camlbi]

Could be a sticky starter try hitting the starter with a hammer while someone is holding the key in the start position if it starts cranking it means the starter motor is sticing

[marty1mc]

Since it isn't cranking, start with the basics. Pull off the little connector on the starter. Use a DVM set on DC volts. Put the red lead into the connector that runs TO the starter, and the black to ground. You may need to use some wire to extend the length so the meter can be read from above if you are doing this by yourself. Next, turn the key to start. The meter should read +12v. If it does, then your circuits from the ignition all the way to the starter are working. If not, step back through that circuit.

If it does read 12v, then you need to look at the wiring from the battery to the starter itself. It is one wire and a straight shot from the battery to the power connection on the starter. Look for corrosion or weakness in the wire. If that has 12v to ground, then check the ground connections from the motor to the battery. The main connection is on the top of the transmission where it meets the motor. It's possible that bolt isn't tight and you aren't getting a good ground.

If all of that checks out, then it may be as suggested above, a stuck starter solenoid.

[akhan63]

So I figured it out, Kinda. It was a wiring issue. One day it just didnt start no matter what i did. so i was able to narrow it down. It was a bad wire somewhere between the ignition to the starter. So i bypassed it and ran a whole new wire and now it starts everytime.

[awesomekasim]

I would go ahead and replace your battery harness. It fits perfectly and has the protective heat wrap. Your old one is probably completely corroded.