My 92 240sx won't start

[benzydad]

Hello members. I have 92 240sx se, with manual transmission. It has about 135000miles on odometer. I've got it recently from my friend. It's been running well till today. The problem start after I cleaned up the battery terminals. I saw quite dirty battery terminal. So I decided to wirebrush it. After that, I run the car, it started right away as usual. Then I ran it for about 5 min (just idle) and shut it off. Then after about an hour later, I started the car but the car won't start. So I though it might be the battery. So I tried to jump start it. I waited about couple of minuites to be charged. Then started again, it won't work. Tried several time without success. Checked the fusebox(in the engine room) and found nothing is blown.

When I turn the key, I heard click at the on position, then heard another click when I turn further to send signal to starter. I think it is the click sound from the relays (Is that right?). I'm now suspicious about the starter assembly. But before I remove and inspect it, is there easier way to figure out faulty starter? I read some articles about this but I don't know exactly what to start with.

If there is any pictures or drawings, that will help me understand much easier. Thank you for reading and hope you can help me. I appreciate any advise.

[benzydad]

I took some pictures of realated parts.In the second picture (marked in red), I checked voltage on the terminal(directly put the probes on each bolt in the red mark) and it reads 12.5V without key on.Is it normal?

[benzydad]

Well, no reply yet. But I figured out how. First thing I did was the battery test. I brought the battery to the locar autoparts shop for free test. The guy at the shop said the battery is fully charged and it is OK. He also told me that check the volt at the battery terminal while ignition key to start see if the voltage drops or not. He said if the voltage doesn't drop, that's probably fauty starter. As I checked what he told me to do. The voltage doesn't drop at all at the terminal. I also checked voltage at the starter solenoid terminal(not sure is this correct name?). It was 9.99V.

So I thought it might be the starter problem and removed the starter. It seems intimidating. since one of the mounting bolt was even hard to see. But it was quite easy with articulating wrench( is it right name?) It may take about less than 30 min. It is much easier if you remove passanger side front wheel.

I brought the starter to the same shop and ask the guy to test. Surprisingly it worked just fine. What a waiste of my time. So I decided to replace my battery hoping that this would work. He said it is very weird.

But after I replaced the battery, it work just fine now. ^^

[vancouverbc]

bad starters are always intermittent. you should have hit starter to see if that solved the problem. sounds like it is the starter from what you describe. may as well get one because it will go sooner than later if it is the oringinal. it's also possible that you did not tighten battery connection enough after cleaning.

[NISTECH]

For future reffrence. 1) when you post it may take up to 24hrs to get a response. I can usually hit most in 12. Faster then most boards.2) The wire you have circled in your picture is the other end of the positive battery cable so it stands to reason you get battery voltage there. But right next to that is a small wire coming off that same component. go to that wires connector and check for voltage when the key is held in the start position. If you get battery voltage and the car doesnt crank= the starter is junk. If you dont get voltage then something else is bad. either the clutch switch ,the relay or the ignition switch. OR 1 of the 2 connectors plugged into your positive battery cable at the battery is not properly seated= what your problem likely was.

[benzydad]

Thank you vancouverbc and NISTECH. Like what you guys wrote, the starter is finally dead. After I replaced the battery, car started and ran strong. But couple of days later, it didn't start again. So like you guys wrote to see if the starter working, if I hit that thing. It worked if I hit it with a wrench gently. It lasts about 3 days and the starter runs like it runs with low battery. So I replace the starter. It was great experience for me to learn something with this problem. Thank you guys.