First off, sorry if I'm asking any redundant questions. I tried a couple of searches for this problem, but not really sure how to pose the search term. Anyway, here goes.
The vehicle in question is a 1995 240SX SE. Everything is stock. Never had any major problems in past. Mileage is at (approx) 102k. Alternator replaced around 5-8k miles ago. Car came from Houston, Tx, to Seattle, Wa, about 8 months ago. Haven't had any problems till now. (Alt. was replaced in Denver en route)
Saw post earlier this eve on how to find the computer to retrieve codes for self-diagnoses and would appreciate any more specific info on doing so. I.E. - code lists, where they could be found on-line, or to be found any where else for that matter, and which direction to turn the screw(?) that was mentioned.
Ok, here goes, car has started fine since before the move, during the move, and for the past 8 months while we've been here. Today, great. No problems at all. Till this evening anyway. Started the car as normal. Started right up. Drove about 5 miles to our storage unit to retreive some items. No problems, car started fine after I got done rooting around for the crap we needed. Then drove into and out of Seattle back to where we live (about 50 mi. round trip and never turned car off during). Found out we needed some more stuff (go fig) from storage. Car has been off now for about 20-30 minutes. Slight hesitation when car starts. Not enough for any warning bells to go off in my head though. Thought maybe just enough fuel in the line to cause it to think it might be flooded, but it was less than a second that it hesitated. Drove 5 miles back to storage. Turned car off. This time for about 25 minutes. Got done. Started car. Wait. Nothing. No click, no sputter, no klik-a-klak, no nothing. Been that way ever since. Waited for car to cool down for 3 hours thinking maybe coolant sensor that I saw on the forums here. Nope. Still nothing. Lights, int. and headlights, strong. All power to everything. Go to turn the key again, absolutely nothing. No noise at all. I once had a problem in my '77 Camaro similar to this. It was the starter switch inside the column that time. This, I have no idea. Never worked on a Nissan before, much less any car with this much electronics involved. Any ideas? Has this happened to anyone else before? Times have been real tough and can't even afford a Chilton's manual on this, much less a trip to the dealer. Would really appreciate any and all tips and/or assitance with this.Thanks,Mark:(
OK, newb here, have a cpl of ques. on '95 240sx
if its a manual trans,possibly the switch near the clutch pedal or the clutch relay in the relay box under hood or possibly the starter it self. have someone hold the key in the start position while you crawl under the passenger side of the car just behind the tire. smack the starter with a hammer it is mounted at the end of the engine block just above the oil pan mounted to the trans bellhousing. if it starts your starter is bad. if not then try jumping the pedal switch that is pushed when the clutch pedal goes to the floor,if it starts replace the pedal switch. If niether of these do it try swapping the clutch relay with another relay of the same color and pin configuration,if it starts then replace the relay.
try the starter hitting thing then thats likely it. it could be your inhibitor adjustment too. try wiggling your shifter in park if smaking the starter doesnt work. also the inhibit relay in the relay box do the same thing as you would do with the clutch relay. Do these tests in the order I mentioned as that is the order of common failures.
Ok, that's the one I was thinking of. Cool. Here's an update. Checked the ECU and got a code "55". My understanding of that after reading other posts is that it means "All OK". When I got back to the car, I tried the key to see if it would turn over. I was met with the old familiar sound that I was use to hearing if the battery was drained on my old muscle cars. Kind of a tired sort of noise as the engine tried to crank. I immediately thought of the battery again, but not even the dome light dimmed when this was happening. Right after that, again, nothing. No noise whatsoever. I'm still not sure which relay in the box is the inhibitor switch though. Like I said before though, is that I got no indication from it that it could be the switch. You had mentioned the clutch in your first response though, and there is a relay switch named "Clutch/ACSD Out" there. Would this be it? I wasn't able to try and "smack" the starter as I was by myself, but I am leaning that way at this point. Your thoughts on this?Again, thanks for the help.
Nistech, seeing as how it's a 5 mi. hike to where my car is, could you offer up some pointers on what to do if smacking the starter doesn't work? I.E. - which relay do I look at for the inhibitor? how do I know if it's the starter or the solenoid (are they connected, or seperate, I can't afford to buy both if they're seperate)? is there anything else remotely possible that I could/should look at?
Addendum to previous post; I also wiggled the shifter in the park position (and also in neutral just to be safe), no help.
Thanks
Addendum to previous post; I also wiggled the shifter in the park position (and also in neutral just to be safe), no help.
Thanks
The relay box should identify it. It may be labeled clutch but it will have a line below the word clutch and below that line it should say "inhibit" not ASCD. ASCD stands for "Automatic Speed Control Device". Which would be unrelated to any clutch relay. only time those 2 circuits are connected is through a switch on the clutch pedal of a manual trans vehicle. I suspect you relay does not say ASCD under it.
The starter and solonoid are sold as an assembly. they are not sold seperatly.
The starter and solonoid are sold as an assembly. they are not sold seperatly.
All right. Finely got someone to hold the key in start position and smacked the starter. It made some kind of whirring noise. So my guess is that it is definitely the starter 
. Couple of questions about this. I saw the bolt on the bottom, I am assuming there is another bolt on top, correct? Tell me Nistech, what is the easiest way to remove/install this starter? I don't have the pleasure of having a lift and will be on my back under this car. Any tips to make this go smoothly? Oh, I checked all the fuses under the driver's side kick panel and found one named "Meter", 7.5 amp fuse, and it was listed under IGN, not as an accessory. What "meter" would this be, and what might have caused it to blow? I did replace the fuse btw. Appreciate everything you've helped with so far.
P.S. - Roommate wants to know something, you stated earlier that by smacking the starter, if it starts then it is bad. He wants to know if the car would actually turn over, or if the starter was just suppose to make that "whirring" noise. I say the latter. Why he wants to know is if it will turn the car over, we should be able to drive it back here to work on it vs. paying for a tow. Thanks again.
. Couple of questions about this. I saw the bolt on the bottom, I am assuming there is another bolt on top, correct? Tell me Nistech, what is the easiest way to remove/install this starter? I don't have the pleasure of having a lift and will be on my back under this car. Any tips to make this go smoothly? Oh, I checked all the fuses under the driver's side kick panel and found one named "Meter", 7.5 amp fuse, and it was listed under IGN, not as an accessory. What "meter" would this be, and what might have caused it to blow? I did replace the fuse btw. Appreciate everything you've helped with so far.P.S. - Roommate wants to know something, you stated earlier that by smacking the starter, if it starts then it is bad. He wants to know if the car would actually turn over, or if the starter was just suppose to make that "whirring" noise. I say the latter. Why he wants to know is if it will turn the car over, we should be able to drive it back here to work on it vs. paying for a tow. Thanks again.
sometimes it will start sometimes it wont. It depends on how bad the starter is. If you try it a couple times you might actually get it to engage and start the car.
The meter amp is for numerous things but your gauges are what its labled for. It could be any number of things that caused it to blow. if it didnt blow when you replaced it It could of been something you installed in the car and during the install you touched something to ground.
Yes there is another bolt on the top of the starter you could do it from the top by the feel method,feel for the bolt put the socket or wrench on it and remove it. dont forget to disconnect the battery when you go to do it.
The meter amp is for numerous things but your gauges are what its labled for. It could be any number of things that caused it to blow. if it didnt blow when you replaced it It could of been something you installed in the car and during the install you touched something to ground.
Yes there is another bolt on the top of the starter you could do it from the top by the feel method,feel for the bolt put the socket or wrench on it and remove it. dont forget to disconnect the battery when you go to do it.