95 Q45 Will not start

[rpayton]

My Q45 would not start today after leaving the movies. Last month, I changed the alternator pulley, all of the belts and purchased a new battery.Now when I turn the key, I get nothing. I checked the battery... Okay.Suspect the starter but cant find it... Anyone knows where the starter is located? Anything else I should be checking??

[3Q Jay]

welcome to NICO.could you elaborate on 'nothing'? do the idiot lites come on? if so do they get dimmer when you go from 'on' to 'start'? try this with the headlights on, too.

starter is on passenger bank underside.

[rpayton]

Nothing: When I turn the key to the start position, the starter does not click nor turn over. The idiot lites comes on and do not get dimmer. With the headlights on, same thing. The only sound heard is a relay somewhere under the hood clicks twice.

Where on the passenger bank underside? (Looked and found the alternator only) Where is it in relation to the the alternator?Thanks

[3Q Jay]

back under the exhaust manifold [sorta], at the interface plane of the engine to transmission. down low about like the alternator.

so, you are not completing the current path thru the starter. i take it the accessories work fine?

i don't know conclusively where your circuit break is--offhand *guess* would be relay not closing. i'll research a bit. did you try banging the starter [well, once you find it that is]. might also check to see that the control wire [smallish one] to the starter solenoid is intact. do you have a dvm? it would help to know how much potential the battery is applying at the relays.

[3Q Jay]

oh, and how could i forget the obvious.... did you calmly move the shifter into 'N' with key on and then give her a go?

this freaked my daughter out on her altima once. unfortunately i couldn't articulate over the phone [my fault, not hers] and drove 1/2 hour to spend 30 seconds rescuing her....

[Q45tech]

Common to have to replace the starter relay every 6-7-8 years or so [near ABS module].

[rpayton]

The accessories work fine. Havent found the starter to bang it. I have a DVM (digital volt meter). Yes, Im old school, I tried in Neutral and nothing.

Im assuming the relay is the one that clicks twice when I turn the key to start from off. This relay is Blue and clicks twice. I assumed it was okay since it was clicking but can I test it.

Once I find this starter, do you have a link describing how to test the connections, wires, solenoid, relay and other related items? Is the starter easy to remove? Should I take it to my neighborhood auto electrical shop and have it rebuilt or buy a new one??

[rpayton]

The electrical shop is a very good one. They have rebuilt a starter for my boat (3 years ago), my Mercedes (4 years ago) and my Saab (7 years ago). All is working today. But, the Q has NOT done well in the past with many aftermarket items that I have attempted to use (water pump, MAS, alternator). Ive had to replace with OEM after only a short period of time (2wks on the Alternator).

[3Q Jay]

do you not have the 'bible' [fsm in the trunk?]pages EL-14 and EL-15 have the starter and circuit.

I just looked at 'em, and the obvious candidates would be neutral safety switch [you've ruled this out], starter relay [sounds likely, especially since Q45 tech has weighed in], and theft inhibit relay.

if your fsm is gone, you will want to invest $20 here and download the kit and kaboodle [aka 1-day subscription including access to all the tsb's].

http://www.nissan-techinfo.com/infiniti/

If it were me, I'd plunk down $15 for the relay before messing with the starter. We have great sponsors for OEM parts--mention you are a NICO member. If you do replace the starter, go OEM from the start. Amongst other things--you'll get your core charge back. If you go aftermarket and then OEM later, nissan won't credit you for your aftermarket core.

[Q45tech]

The point was YOU CHANGE THE RELAY before it starts to give trouble.......waiting until failure is often painful. Just like fuel pumps, filters, and FP Controller.Batteries, bulbs...........lots of things have accurate "known lives" after 15 years of experience with minimal design changes in systems of 90-95 Q.

Relays almost never fail in the activation phase [open coil]---------the contacts FRY from current and the resultant open spark when load field collapses. A clicking relay tells you nothing about output [contact resistance].

[rpayton]

Ive purchased a one day license. But, Im having problems viewing all of the Service Manual sections. I am working with the support desk to resolve this.

Can you please email the two referenced pages?

[rpayton]

Thanks for the relay contact info. I will just blindly purchase the relays tommorrow. Now, all I need to know is "Where are the old ones located?" so I can install the new relays... I know its near the ABS module, but I dont know where that is either..

[DAEDALUS]

In the back of the engine bay, near the firewall, on the passenger (right) side. The ABS is a standout, with metal brake lines; relays are near it.

[rpayton]

Thanks.. I found the blue relay (thats my two click starter relay). Okay, now for the theft inhibit relay... Dont see another relay back there...

[rpayton]

found a black relay near the ABS.. Is this the theft relay?

[3Q Jay]

black one passenger footwell kick panel. EL-177. not from personal experience.

[maxnix]

You need to download the FSM and TSB as Acrobat files so you can print and/or view the pages as needed.

Email Nissan and explain your problem and they will extend your subscription. It is not the most intuitive website to navigate.

Get everything downloaded.
Modified by maxnix at 7:32 PM 6/3/2005

[Q45tech]

The starter inhibitor relay only works when the alarm is going off so rarely fails since few try to crank with alarm going off...........either Main BLUE starter relay or ignition lock set.

We must have replaced a 50 blue relays in 10 years on Q45.

[metaverse3]

One simple way is to interchange relays, color for color only, of course. See if there is another blue relay and flip them over. Sometimes, that will help. Paying $25+ for a standard $3 relay in a custom plastic body is a ripoff to me, however, you have to do what you have to do.. Good luck..

[elwesso]

Thres no other relay like it in the Q, than the starter relay. If memory serves its got 2 harness connectors and its big... $14 from Joe

[rpayton]

Purchased a black inhibit relay and a starter relay from dealer-rip today $65. Hopefully,the car will start before I go after the starter.I will remove the negative cable before changing the starter relay (per dealer instruction).

[rpayton]

Wes.. Who is Joe? I needed Joe today if $14 is the price for a starter relay.

[DAEDALUS]

Joe's one of our sponsors--he's the parts manager at Scottsdale Infiniti and gives us wholesale prices with factory warranties.I just gave them a good chunk of change today. Thanks to Ralph who stayed late last night after closing to input my order.

Call them at 1-888-216-5328Ground shipping is cheap, and they can overnight things if needed.

[rpayton]

Thanks Daedalus.. Just called Ralph. He has a starter for $290 which is 50% less than my local dealer. If these expensive relays I purchased today dont fix my problem, then its probably the starter.

[DAEDALUS]

Heck, you could probably order a relay from Joe and return it to your local dealership, though expect a restocking fee.

We have other sponsors too, also with good prices/service, but I'm just partial to Joe 'cause he's been hooking me up for so long. This was my first order in about a year, and is likely the first installment of several for the summer. Baby needs a new set of almost everything under the car.

[Q45tech]

As part of my in car kit, I carry all relays [1 of each], fuses including the big links, and 1 of each type bulb. AND A VOM! .....and my jumper wire with alligator clips for FPCU and a can of fixaflat [to give away] never had to use it on my tires. Gallon of water would be good at times. I carry distilled and end up drinking it.

[rpayton]

No luck on the relays.. Turn the key and nothing..... Any other test to determine where my problem could be??

[rpayton]

Update.... Starter was dead. Replaced with new OE starter and now starts like old times.Thanks for everyones help...

Note: Good thing that Q45 starter dont fail often. If it did, it would be a machanic only job for most people!! Placement is a killer to access for DIYer's.

[3Q Jay]

glad to hear you're back in business. Looking at the bright side, with the new relay as well as OE starter, you should be good in that department for another 10+ years [maybe longer if you change the blue relay again in 7-8 years].

can you hear your fuel pump when running? another common failure item aound the 10 year 120k mark.

[rpayton]

GQ Jay - The fuel pump failed in Feb.. Replaced it and the fuel control unit then.. But before 10 years, I hope to have maybe a Infiniti M..

For now Im in business until the next thing goes... What else should I expect??