starter grind, good flywheel 3 bad starters?

Post by **nissanconvert** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 7:18 pm

I just replaced the starter for the 2nd time and it still grinds on start.

I have tried 2 AutoZone premium remanufactured ones. It only grinds when the car is cold i.e. its below freezing here and that's when the issue happened.

This is a Florida car and it's first winter in Ohio.

After driving for about an hour it starts fine with no grind for a few hours until it cools. Any ideas? I'm lost.

Post by **tmorgan4** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 7:33 pm

I have to ask the obvious...has the car ever had the transmission changed?

Post by **nissanconvert** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 10:46 am

Nope, It's all original and it worked fine all summer long.

Can electrical problems cause this kind of problem?

Post by **zin999** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 10:58 am

The only thing, that I can think of, mite be a sticking relay not engageing the starter all the way, untill the engine bay warms up. Swap around the relays should be a 5 min check.

Post by **jordanmullen** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 8:05 pm

I have personal problems with any part that comes from autozone. one thing that you can check is pull the starter and make sure that there is no slopp in the gear that spins the fly wheel. if no, get a jumper pack and cnnoect the neg to starter housing and pos to the other large term on starter, not one of ther trems you need to disconnect. the starter should spinn, not how far the gear projects, if not all the way, replace starter.

Post by **kapower240** » Tue Dec 25, 2007 9:39 pm

yo i been having this same problem with my Z and have tried changing the starter but still does grind about once a week. I was thinking maybe i could solve the problem by getting a new battery since the one i have might be old and weak?

Post by **evildky** » Wed Dec 26, 2007 7:14 am

is the spacer the bolts to the engine in place? there is a big bracket the bolts to the engine and it pretty thick, it spaces the starter out a bit, you grind could be a clearance issue doe to this plate missing, I bought a Z31 years ago someoone lost the plate so they couldn't get a starter to work , in this case it allowed the starter body to compress completely against the flywheel

Post by **prophecyZ** » Wed Dec 26, 2007 8:35 am

I would at least pull the starter and have a NAPA store test it to see if the bendix is actually engaging like it should. I have had bad parts off and on from places like advanced auto and auto zone. So I pretty much go to NAPA from now on.

Another way to test it, which it similar to the NAPA store and any other store method is to hook some jumper cables to your battery have the starter on the ground connect your hot wire on the terminal of the starter with the hot side of the jumper cable and then touch the side of the starter with the black jumper cable. It should engage. I dont really recommend that method but if you have a lifetime warranty on the starter then it wouldnt really matter.

Post by **evildky** » Wed Dec 26, 2007 10:04 am

napa is as bad as autozone, I got a master cylinder form napa, missing an internal seal, so I had no front brakes, yeah napa

Post by **nissanconvert** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 7:39 pm

it's a 94 (z32) It didn't have any spacer but it didn't look like it had one ever...The battery is only 12 mo old but it's a crappy off brand, i can't remember how many cca it has, perhaps not enough for 20 degree weather

Post by **nissanconvert** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 8:06 am

Put in a new optima battery with 910 (710 cold) amps and tested the starter, both are perfect. After sitting all night the first start just spins without engaging into the clutch but after being warm it does fine. All connections are cleaned.

Post by **nsrZ32** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 8:12 am

You need that starter shim evildky was taking about. It should certainly be there.

Post by **nissanconvert** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 2:00 pm

Not to be mean but I looked it over with the Nissan dealer. They claim ther never is or exists a shim.

Went to AutoZone again and was told the same.

Replaced the starter for a 4th time.

This one actually came with an inspected sticker, different housing and new wires to the solonoid despite having the same box/number. Now it works flawless.

I think Autozone doesn't remanufacture well at all and wasted my time bah. Next time buy OEM.

Post by **NSR_s30** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 4:37 pm

Not all starters are the same, by what you're describing it definitely needs a shim.

Post by **evildky** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 7:48 pm

duh, I forgot the Z32 starter bolts to the side fo the bellhousing, I can't imagine why you'd need a shim there, are you sure it's bolted in securely, the one bolt hole is shallow and if the bolt is too long it won't hold the sstarter snugly, and the other side uses a stud and nut, be sure both sides are clamped down securely and there is no movement in the stater itself once bolted in

Post by **tmorgan4** » Sun Feb 24, 2008 7:46 pm

Any chance you found a solution to this problem yet? I'm having a similar issue, however I haven't replaced the starter yet. Z32 NA transmission and NA flywheel. Is there any shim that needs to go between the starter and bellhousing on a Z32?

Mine seems to grind about every other time I try and start it.

Post by tg » Sun Feb 24, 2008 9:04 pm

Its the flywheel.

Mine had 18 teeth missing out of it in a row - it would freespin one time out of 10.

Slaien · Post by **Slaien** » Tue Mar 12, 2019 9:11 am

Hey everyone just to post another fix if you still have this issue ive had this happen to me again and i remember being told if the ignition switch is gunked up it can cause a sticking starter so i cleaned out the ignition switch with electrical cleaner and it solved my issue you may have to do it a few times especially if someone has ever sprayed wd40 into it as that really messes them up. Hope this helps!

starter grind, good flywheel 3 bad starters?

starter grind, good flywheel 3 bad starters?

Re: starter grind, good flywheel 3 bad starters? (nissanconvert)

Re: starter grind, good flywheel 3 bad starters? (tmorgan4)

Re: starter grind, good flywheel 3 bad starters? (nissanconvert)

Re: starter grind, good flywheel 3 bad starters? (nissanconvert)

Re: starter grind, good flywheel 3 bad starters? (nissanconvert)

Re: (evildky)

Re: (nissanconvert)

Re: (nsrZ32)

Re: (nissanconvert)

Re: (evildky)

Re: starter grind, good flywheel 3 bad starters?

Nissan Forums

Infiniti Forums

Datsun Forums

Technical Forums

Classifieds / Marketplace

Nissan Motorsports

General Forums