S13 - Electrical starting problems

Post by **Phax** » Mon Jun 02, 2003 1:56 pm

About half a dozen times over the last couple of months, I have gone to start the car and it refuses to start. The electrical system starts to come alive, but as soon as I click it over to start, all the power drains. Even the clock goes out. Returning the key to the off position and attempting to restart does not bring the car back to life.

Through half assed diagnostic techniques, I think it's some where in the ignition system. Removing the 30A ignition fuse and wiggling the battery cables seems to "fix" everything. Yet the situation continues to occur, so I'm in search of a more permanent solution to it.

Have any of you ran into similar symptoms? What's the best way to track down an electrical starting problem?

There are two "strange" electrical symptoms that I have noticed. One is that the clock resets itself to 1:00 every time I turn the car off. The second is that after turning the car off, the automatic shoulder belts will not go forward when the door is opened. Is that normal for Nissans? My 87 Starion had nearly identical automatic belts, and they would go forward even after the key had been removed from the ignition.

Post by **yellow_jacket** » Mon Jun 02, 2003 1:56 pm

Sounds like you have bad battery cables or a dirty connection to the battery. Make sure the terminals are not cracked and they have good clean contact with the battery. The symptoms you are describing almost always are because of dirty connections or broken terminals.

Post by **Phax** » Mon Jun 02, 2003 1:56 pm

yellow_jacket wrote:Sounds like you have bad battery cables or a dirty connection to the battery. Make sure the terminals are not cracked and they have good clean contact with the battery. The symptoms you are describing almost always are because of dirty connections or broken terminals.

Now that you mention it, the negative terminal does look a bit corroded <sp?>. What can I use to clean the corrosion off? I mean, other than my tongue... :ylsuper

Post by **yellow_jacket** » Mon Jun 02, 2003 1:56 pm

Remove the battery cables from the terminals and use a batter brush to clean the battery side and the cable side. Battery brushes are cheap and have both a male and female end so that you can clean the battery and the cables easily. If you have temporary ends on the cables, remove them, clean the piss out of hte wires with a wire brush and reasseble. Personally I would spray all of this with battery terminal protector AFTER it is all reassembled.

Website · Post by **quiksilvia** » Mon Jun 02, 2003 1:56 pm

doesnt baking soda and water or something like that loosen up the corrosion?

Post by **Paul_Ward** » Mon Jun 02, 2003 1:56 pm

I have the same starting problem, I have replace battery terminals and ground strap and starter power cable. I think its the wire going to the solenoid, may have a short in it.

Website · Post by **quiksilvia** » Mon Jun 02, 2003 1:56 pm

are u listening to the radio in the sig pic paul ward?

Post by **Paul_Ward** » Mon Jun 02, 2003 1:56 pm

quiksilvia wrote:are u listening to the radio in the sig pic paul ward?

huh no

Website · Post by **quiksilvia** » Mon Jun 02, 2003 1:56 pm

ur attena is up...

Post by **Paul_Ward** » Mon Jun 02, 2003 1:56 pm

quiksilvia wrote:ur attena is up...

It never goes down, its like a good little church girl

Website · Post by **quiksilvia** » Mon Jun 02, 2003 1:56 pm

he he he, unless she is mormon, those freaks...

S13 - Electrical starting problems

S13 - Electrical starting problems

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