95 Q45 having starting problems

[alex1223]

I have a 95 Q45. About a week ago i noticed that it started to strain while starting. This would last about half a second. Then it would speed up for about half a second and finally start. I parked it and rarely drove it. A few trips to the store. But i left it running the last couple of times. Today i drove it to Advance Auto to have the alternator and battery tested. The test showed that the alternator and battery were fine. And also the starter. But the guy doing the test told me that something was putting a load on the system. It was suggested that my amplifier was responsible. This amp is aftermarket and i use it for my 12 inch subs. I disconnected the amp and about a minute later the test showed that there was no longer a load on the system. But this is odd since my amp is wired to shut off when i turn my radio off. I left Advance and drove to O Reilly's to get a second opinion. When i went to start my car for the test it would not start. I tried several times but nothing. The woman tried to jump the car with one of those portable jumpers but nothing. About 20 minutes later a guy in a pickup tried to give me a jump but nothing. Just to be sure...i took my battery inside to recharge. Even though i bought it 2 months ago brand new. Went back out and hooked up the battery. But nothing. Then we noticed a flash of light coming from what we believe to be the starter relay. Its housed in a blue box. Is it normal for a flash of light to come from there? I tried a few more times but nothing. I left the car there around 8 P.M. Then i decided to go back about 2 hours ago (2:30 A.M.). It strained very badly for about a second. Then it sped up a little and finally started. It was my worst start so far. I brought it home and parked it. Can anyone tell me whats wrong? Could it be the relay?

[maxnix]

If your amplifier is not isolated from your charging system, it may well be pulling too much from the cars electrical system. Most cars are designed to be just barley able to supply a car with all accessories on with a perfectly working alternator and battery.

You don't mention battery capacity nor age, nor alternator maintenance.

[Q451990]

First of all, to NICO!

No a spark is not normal from the starter relay, and it is a fairly common failure item. I would try replacing it and see what happens. I would also re-check all of the circuits for your aftermarket audio to be certain that they are on a circuit that drops out while starting - like the factory radio. As Brian mentioned, the electrical system is barely adequate for the factory-supplied accessories, so you have to be careful not to stress it - especially during starting.

Heath

[alex1223]

maxnix i dont believe its my amp. I disconnected it when i got stuck at O Reillys auto parts. And it still wouldnt start. I was able to start a few hours later. But it just barely started. The battery was purchased brand new about 2 months ago. And both tests at Advance Auto and O Reillys showed that the battery was fine. And also the test at Advance Auto showed that the alternator and starter were fine. q451990 im starting to suspect that its the relay. Theres a flash of light coming from the inside of the relay. I cant directly observe it because it is coming from inside the relay. I can only see the glow through the blue relay housing. Is it a spark? Is there a light inside that briefly flashes during start up? I went out earlier today and tried to start it. It turned over about 2 times then went completely dead. I tried again and nothing. I will try replacing the relay since its not that expensive. Then see what happens. I will repost after i replace the relay. Hopefully its the relay. I love my Infiniti. I cant see myself driving anything else.

[maxnix]

Well, have you ever changed the fuel filter? OHM tested the injectors? Fuel pressure at idle and WOT?

No mention of alternator maintenance nor battery specification. Deep cycle test? Stress test?

[qship96]

the "light" you see through the plastic relay case is just a spark produced from the relay closing and electricity flowing through the contacts and is NORMAL. I would suspect a failing starter or possibly bad corroded connection of either positive or ground connections between starter and battery or ground- measure voltage at battery, then measure voltage at starter where the positive cable is attached to check for voltage drops, inspect and clean all connections including grounds to rule out a problem....if all checks out,probably starter is failing.

Might be worth paying the half hour charge to have it diagnosed by a professional, then decide if you want to tackle any needed parts replacement yourself if you are trying to save $$$$$.

[alex1223]

No maxnix i have not performed any of those tests. And have no idea how i would go about doing so. I went to Auto Zone today to buy the relay. But i got to talking to the clerk and he told me that the flash of light coming from the relay is normal. So now im not sure what the problem may be. He advised to take out the starter and or alternator and bring it in for testing. I looked online and it seems to be a daunting task. But thats the direction that im leaning towards now. I also tried starting earlier but nothing. I can hear 2 different hums. I believe one of them is coming from the back and i suspect its the CD changer. The other one is harder to pin down. Everything else seems to work fine. Power windows, sunroof, seats, locks. I had a bad battery 2 months ago (which i replaced with a brand new one) and i remember the windows and sunroof moving very slow and struggling. But now they move as if the car was running. And i see no dimming in the headlights or interior lights. Thats one of the reasons why im not suspecting the battery. I tried to take a look at the alternator earlier and i saw no fluids that had leaked onto it or any build up of dirt or debris. But i could not get a good look because its a tight space.

[Lokim]

I'll tell ya what to do.

The passenger side of the engine under the exhaust manifold is where your starter is.

You'll need to whack it a few times with something solid. (Yes, I'm serious.)

Ideally a broomstick or something along those lines. You can carefully thread it under the exhaust manifold and tap on the body of the starter.

If you're using something made of wood, don't be shy, give it a hearty thump. If using something metal, be a little gentler, and watch out for the positive cable that bolts to the starter.

In a perfect world, you'd have a helper turning the key repeatedly while whacking it. If a helper is not available, just whack it a few times, then go turn the key.

Try this several times and see if the car will start.

This is the oldest starter testing method in the book, and in my opinion the most reliable.

If this successfully gets the starter going, replace your starter.

If not, look elsewhere.

Good luck!

[Lokim]

You get a chance to let that starter know who's boss yet? Keep us posted...

[LYDS]

I need some major help trying to diagnose what is troubling my car. My car cranks but will not start and will only start once a day. The car has fuel pressure and spark. I have changed the mass air flow sensor, bad injector, cooling sensor, O2 sensors and gas filter. There is no check engine light on reading any codes.

Please help

Lyds

[Ace2cool]

If it has fuel pressure and spark, I would look to the injectors. If a car has fuel DELIVERY and spark, it WILL start. it might run like hell, but it will start. Have you verified that the injectors are spraying fuel?

[LYDS]

I have replaced the bad fuel injectors, and tested and confirmed they are working properly. The car will only start once a day and will not start again for at least another 8 hours. The car cranks like it wants to start but wont. This is not a battery issue.

[LYDS]

Someone please help me to get this issue resolved, I have tried everything I can think of and running out of ideas and $$$$. I love this car and do not want to give up it.

[maxnix]

What is your furl pressure? Amplifier circuit disconnected?

[Lokim]

Do a compression test and give us the results.

[LYDS]

Thanks for the assistance, I will check on these and get back to you. Sorry Im new at this car stuff and learning as I go. (females go figure)

[LYDS]

We just checked the newly installed spark plugs and they are soaked in gas and seems as the car is flooding and that is why it will only start once a day. Is seems as though it takes that long for the gas to dry up and allow the car to start again. What can cause the car to flood???? When the car first starts it also blows white smoke for a few seconds and idles high.

[alex1223]

Well i was never able to hit it. Its parked on a slight hill. And the starter is well hidden. I couldnt even see it. But i finally managed to get it out. I took it to Auto Zone to have it tested. The guy ran it 3 times. It actually turned all 3 times. He said my starter was fine. I decided to get a second opinion. So i went to O Reillys. It ran on the first try. Failed on the second try. Ran on the third try. Failed on the fourth. I was confused. So i went to Advance Auto. He ran it 3 times. And all 3 times it turned. Im still confused. Was O Reillys testing machine not running properly? I dont want to buy a new starter for nothing. Does anyone have any ideas?

[maxnix]

Radical action! So the starter relay is known to be good? And the stater solenoid works consistently, or is this what you saw to be intermittent?

[alex1223]

Well today i went to a diferent Advance, O Reillys, and Auto Zone. The woman at Advance tried to get it going about 10 times. Nothing. But i have a feeling she was doing the test wrong. She seemed confused by the wires. She stopped several times to ask a co worker how to hook up the machine. She just seemed lost. So i went straight to O Reillys. It ran all 4 times. He said my starter looks good. So i go to Auto Zone. It also ran all 4 times. He also said my starter appears to be fine. He suggested i check the battery cables for corrosion. By the way all 3 places told me they dont test relays. So what do i do? Put the starter back in and take a chance? It was pretty hard to take out. I would hate to have to do it again. I found a place that will open up the starter and tell me exactly if its good or bad. But its a small shack and the old man looks like the type that will try to swindle an unsuspecting customer. He may just say that its bad just to make some money. Im gonna take the battery to get tested again. Even though i strongly feel its not the battery. And gonna take a good look at those battery cables. If theres some corrosion than it must be down the cable somewhere. I looked last night with a flashlight. From what i can see everything looked fine.

[Lokim]

It's your starter. I have pulled so many starters and had them bench test OK, but they won't work in the car. The problem is there is no load on the starter on the test bench. It doesn't have to turn the motor over, just spin it's own gear. Plus, all the handling of the starter and the removal of it from the car = banging it w/ a stick.

Replace the starter.

Guaranteed.

[alex1223]

Well i guess ill let that guy take it apart and see what he says. But im gonna feel soooooo stupid if i put a new starter in and it still wont start.

[alex1223]

He took it apart. Said it was the brushes. He showed me where they were wore down. He fixed it for 34 dollars. Slapped it back on. And it started up right away. It actually seems to start faster than at any time since ive had the car.

[Lokim]

You shoulda had him do the solenoid, too...

[Lokim]

Glad you got it started.

[Lokim]

You're welcome. and "I told ya so!"

[broskie1953]

Can some help me with my starting problem with my 1994 Q45? I am having a problem when I try to start the car all I hear is the fuel pump. I replace the starter and it started but the day after I had the same problem for a few turns of the ignition then it started fine for a couple of months then went back to not starting or engaging for a few weeks at a time. Then it would start again. About a week ago I drove to the store it started fine but later that evening I went to start it ant back to nothing but the sound of the fuel pump... Today I was told that it might be the starter relay switch so I replace it but still the same problem... can some one please help?

[Lokim]

Either your connection is bad or you got a defective starter. It's a lot more common to get defective parts than the parts store would like you to believe...