95 max : squeaky belts

[s13EastTN]

My mom's maxima has been real tempermental about it's belts and starter after it recently left the shop. It squeaks like a mother when you first start it in first gear, so obviously I tried to tighten the tensioner(?) to tighten the belts, well that stops the squeaking but only for a small amount, and if I over tighten it squeaks just as bad. In other words there is a "sweet spot" that stops the noise altogether. Any ideas on why it is so picky about this?

Also, the start is really strange, it's slowly progresses where you have to turn the key multiple times with your foot on the break to make the car start. Seems a little easier when the car is hot, but it's tempermental about that. Possibly a loose wire, or just a bad starter (just been replaced)

[NISTECH]

are you tightening both belts? The P/S belt is the usual culprit for belt noise. That belt is no fun to adjust either.

As far as your starting concern I am unclear on what you are stating its doing. does it crank slow or does it not crank at all?

[s13EastTN]

It doesn't crank at all, if you turn the key about 4-5 times and pump the brake it turns over with no problem whatsoever, it's just getting the starter to...start is the problem

and how in the whole do I tighten the PS belt, I saw what looked like a tensioner, but that could just be an idler pulley

[NISTECH]

the tensioner you adjusted from the top next to the motor mount was the ALT,A/C belt. The power steering belt is done from the bottom near where the axel tunnel is in the body/frame area. you will see a 12 mm bolt going straight up that is attached to the pumps upper mounting bracket. You need to loosen the 12mm bolt going into the pump upper mount then adjust that bolt to take up the tension. You may need to loosen the 14mm lower pivot bolt [sit down for this] from the back side of the pump against the engine block. You know where the exhuast and engine cross member is in the way. The best way to get to that bolt is use a long 3/8 drive extension and a wobbly 14mm socket and go from right next to the trans ,over the crossmeber and exhuast, infront of the motor mount on the cross member. WHEW!!

[NISTECH]

now the start condition, if this is a manual you may have either a floor mat caught under the clutch pedal not allowing you to push the clutch fully to the floor. or the switch itself has a problem ignition switch or clutch switch. next time you try to start it and it doesnt turn over hold the key in the start position and push up and pull down on the key while in the start position if it works you have bad contacts in your ignition switch. If its an automatic and the moving the key doesnt work try wiggling the shifter if it starts your inhibit switch may be out of adjustment.

[s13EastTN]

I thank you sir, the squeek has now gone away, but it still has trouble starting, I tried those 2 things you mentioned, but they did not seem to improve the situation much. Any other ideas?

[NISTECH]

is it a manual or auto?