SR20DET Starter issues Clicking noise but starter is not spinning

[footin616]

The title pretty much says everything.

When I turn the key the starter gear pops out but does not spin. Does this mean that the brushes are bad and the starter needs to be replaced or rebuilt?

[GTS4-R]

it could be a semi dead battery (not enough power to spin the starter) or it could be a seized engine (maybe hydrolocked, etc) or it could be the starter amature/windings in which case u would need to replace the whole starter anyways

[doridori23]

Charge you battery first then if you have a friend have them hold the key in start and give the starter a love-tap with a hammer. If you can not get to it use a pipe on the starter and smack the pipe. Usually if the starter solenoid clicks but does not spin AND your battery is charged the armature is sticking due to the field winding being damaged, fused, cut, corroded, etc etc and needs to be free'd up. If you stored it over winter this is fairly normal for the armature and field windings to corrode however if it is a daily driver it probably isn't corrosion and needs to be replaced. Another thing to look at is the starter's ground wire. If it is corroded or cut it will not carry enough current to turn the motor over.

[nspjosh]

You can test your starter by hot-wiring it. I had this same prob today on a 300zx tt. One position on the plug will cause the gear to pop out, another position will cause it to spin. Just touch a 12v from a battery or jump pack to both positions (seperate, not simultaneous) and if it still wont spin when the gear is not engaged, you need to replace the starter. If it does spin, could be a more serious problem, such as 93Niss240 suggested.

[Kalypso]

Charge you battery first then if you have a friend have them hold the key in start and give the starter a love-tap with a hammer. If you can not get to it use a pipe on the starter and smack the pipe. Usually if the starter solenoid clicks but does not spin AND your battery is charged the armature is sticking due to the field winding being damaged, fused, cut, corroded, etc etc and needs to be free'd up. If you stored it over winter this is fairly normal for the armature and field windings to corrode however if it is a daily driver it probably isn't corrosion and needs to be replaced. Another thing to look at is the starter's ground wire. If it is corroded or cut it will not carry enough current to turn the motor over.

i tried the hammer trick but it didnt work, i have a green wire going of my starter but i dont think that is the ground - my wires are worn and the ground wire could be corroded but how do i find it?

------------ whats your evaluation,

I've been having similiar problems except that i can get the starter to work on some occasions

here is exactly what happened.

I have 93 coupe with an sr motor with about 65,000 miles. I just bought the car from a friend who did the swap himself. for the most part its well done, it could use a rebuild in the engine bay, and some work, for now it runs like a beast.

one month ago it started acting strange. I would turn the key and hear one click. and a faint humming sound but no cranking.

then after a break or so i would try again, and success.alternator works battery is tested good. terminals are in good shape and they're tight. battery was draining quickly for a while and i did get a few jumps but it tests effectively.

i took it to a shop, and they put it on the lift and removed the starter.I looked for a 93 sentra Se-R starter because i was told by my friend who built it, it might fit, but they were both smaller.

i put the starter back in and for 2weeks if worked beautifully. fired up with no hitches

one evening i left the fog lights on accidentally, came back after an hour to turn them off and it wouldnt start....

now it starts on occasion but only when I am in first gear.

thats everything i know... but whats causing this?

[doridori23]

It will only start when in first gear and clutch is depressed? There is a neutral safety switch feature however I have almost never seen it working and if the above is true your is working but only in gear (the ecm knows not what gear it is in just that it is in gear).

Next thing though I would either have the Starter rebuilt OR get a starter from http://www.sr20store.com and have your rebuilt as a backup/ebay it. New ones can run $600 so I would just buy used. I have used SR20store in the past with success so no worries there.
Modified by doridori23 at 3:07 AM 8/3/2007

[ILikeMy240sx]

gentlemen, if you need a starter I have one for sale. Please email me at [email protected]

[PhopsonNY]

How much are you selling your starter for?

[austins240]

there is no ground wire to the S13/14 starter!!! it grounds through the body of the starter itself. DO NOT GROUND THE TERMINALS ON IT!

if you have replaced the starter and have the same issues, jump the relay that is behind the battery. the thing is blue and has two plugs going into it. the big wires need to be jumped. cut/solder the two big wires together. you can also check your clutch switch and/or bypass that too by connecting those wires.

that relay goes bad. if you hear the starter engage (louder click/clunk) it's not the relay but your starter. make sure the big ground wire to the intake mani is connected well too. THIS is how your engine/starter get the best ground path.

[blackmagic]

how do you tell if your engine is seized or hydrolocked? the reason im asking is because i just finished the sr swap and went to try to start it and all i hear is a click coming from the fuse box i read on the forums someplace that i could have a bad starter.

[iluvdrifting]

you can try and turn the crankshaft, that will tell you if it is seized or not, if im not mistaken correct me otherwise

[blackmagic]

thats what i was thinking but didnt wanna sound like a complete dumbass if it was wrong