STARTER trouble, Qx4 is gonna strand me!!

[CanuckQx4]

Ive had a minor problem for a while now that I should have fixed by now and tonight it turned into a big problem.

My starter is not "starting" when I turn the key. All the idiot lights come on when I turn the key, but when I turn it to where the engine should crank... there is nothing... just a single mechanical "click" from outside the car.

For about 2 months now, the ODD time I would turn the key and it would do this, but on the second turn, the starter would function fine and everything was good.

Well tonight it took 15+ minutes of constantly clicking the key back and forth before FINALLY it cranked. And then leaving work it took a good 5 minutes of turning the key...

Personally my instincts just point to starter, since it hasnt COMPLETELY failed and does work after many attempts...

There is a pathfinder with the 3.5 in my local junkyard, so hopefully I can try and get whatever parts I need from that.

Any help on where to start would be very appreciated. Thanks guys

[Chris.m]

I had really similar symptoms about a year ago, I would turn it, but it wouldn' start, wait a while and crank again and it would be fine (My battery was fine the whole time - I have a voltmeter readout) This only happend a couple of times and then it was ok for about 8 months... I was half way back on a camping trip, and after a rest stop the starter goes...

If you can get a cheap starter and DIY it then I'd say give it a go. I paid 400 (for part + labour) and 90 for the tow to the shop...

[Camelfilter]

?bad solenoid or ? Poor electrical to the solenoid maybe.

Some good information at the following:

http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTricks/Starter.shtml

Note that the above may not be the specific starter, but handy information anyways to isolate starter issues.

[Towncivilian]

Try cleaning both ends of the battery terminals and ensuring a tight connection (but not overtightened! this can cause the battery to leak and cause more corrosion).

Next time you find yourself failing to start, tap on the starter with the handle end of a screwdriver and try again.

[CanuckQx4]

battery is solid and tight.

My car has had some electrical gremlins in the past, is this symptoms of the solenoid acting up??

Is it hard to remove??

Like I said there is a pathfinder with the 3.5 at a local junkyard I can try parts from. But I think it may be a 4wd and mine is 2wd but Id imagine the stater and solenoid would be the same??

The fact that it EVENTUALLY will kick the starter and I can get on my way is what bothers me. Means something hasnt completely failed.

[Towncivilian]

The starter motors are identical from 2001-2004. All the FSM says for removal and installation is two bolts - see SC-19.

[CanuckQx4]

For 3 starts in a row now it has been good. But obviously has me worried that Im gonna jump in the car one day and nothing is going to happen

Is this symptoms of the solenoid failing? or electrical?

[yeldogt]

Does sound like the starter or more likely the contacts in the solenoid are going ......... don't mess around with it any more .... it is going to just stop working.


As long as you are not getting any grinding - I would bet a new starter is in order. If this was a Toyota I could tell you haw to rebuilt the solenoid .. OH well

[wisehunter1]

same situation... I replaced my battery last week so I know it's not that. When I crank it ocassionally, it will try crank, pause, then crank successfully. It always cranks the first time I try it but occasionally it does that weird thing.. So I believe its the contacts going out on mine.

[yeldogt]

In very cold weather both of my 02's will occasionally pause -- it is very intermittent .... I had a neighbor who had one that did the same thing. You get a very long slow crank and then it cranks and starts.

It was as if the starter did not have enough power ... no clicking going on or other problems. It is as if the engine stops occasionally at a spot where the compression is higher ............ It always starts. I can't explain it.

[CanuckQx4]

well mine doesnt "pause", it just does nothhing when you turn the key all the way....

Other than the connections at teh starter, what else could cause it??

The part new is $300 and Id like to make sure that would be the problem before spending that cash

[fueler]

sounds like symptoms of a failing starter. Of course check all the wires and terminals, especially the signal wire since ive had that one pop off before. I popped it back on and noticed it was loose so I crimped tight the terminal with some pliers and its been starting like a champ ever since.

If it ever starts failing completely, and you know the wires are good, you have have one person try starting the car multiple times while someone else bangs on the starter with a wrench or a hammer, if it starts up when you bang it then you know for sure its the starter.

[yeldogt]

The starter has contacts in the solenoid that may not be closing all the way or damaged from age -- also the starter motor has brushes.


This is another one of those -- replace the most common failure point