Won't start with starter but will roll start!

[ctnewsguyx]

I'm posting this message for my neighbor who has a 97 Maxima that he just changed the clutch on. It started fine before the clutch job but now after being put together it will not start with the starter. It cranks with some pauses in the crank cycle but won't fire up at all.

The odd thing is that if we roll start the car and pop it, it will fire right up and run great.

I was told that we may have a ground issue so we ran a ground from the battery to one of the bolts holding the starter onto the bell housing - no luck.

My thinking is that maybe the starter has a short in it and is allowing some sort of voltage to go to the bell housing which would screw up the starting system? The teenager at the parts place said the crank sensor but in my mind that would make the car not run at all - even if we pop started it.

Any suggestions? The car has something like 180K on it.

Thanks!

[allensteiner]

push starting doesn't involve the starter, that's why it works.check if you have everything reconnected properly - might be a crossed wire on the starter. or pull the starter and get it tested.

[ctnewsguyx]

Funny enough he pulled a used starter and it will start a little easier but still giving him lots of problems. Oddest thing. He may end up going to a dealer as he and I are pretty much at wits end. It's not ground, it's not the starter, all the wires are connected. Darndest thing!