Lyn Labahn
07-09-2002, 02:13 PM
Guys,
Let me give you a little history first. Last summer my car would not start. I assumed the starter was bad, so I replaced it. It worked fine until that starter supposidley went out as well a month later. I replaced it with a geniune Nissan starter, and it worked fine the rest of last summer. The car was not driven during this school year, but I got it running for the summer. It had run fine until yesterday evening when I went to pick up my sister down town. I drove to her apartment, went inside. And 5 minutes later tried to leave and it wouldn't start!!!!! It always seems to do this when it gets very hot outside. So I push started the car and drove it home.
So last night I ripped out the starter (I can do it in about 30 minutes now). I simulated a start situation using two car batteries. I attached one positve lead to the bolt on the solenoid, and grounded the other on the starter. I grounded the other battery on the starter, then touched the positive to the electrical connector that goes to the solenoid. The starter spun, and the gear shot forth like it was engaging the flywheel. This tells me the starter is in tip top condition.
I used a fuse tester and tested all of the fuses that pertain to the starting system. They all checked out fine.
My next experiment was to have my sister get in, and try and start the car, while I stuck the postive electrode of my multimeter in the harness connector that leads to the starter, and grounded the negative electrode to the block. I got no voltage when she tried to start the car.
Then I unplugged the harness connector that leads to the clutch interlock switch. I again, stuck the postive probe from the multimeter in one side, and the negative in the other. When the car was turned to start, I got no voltage.
Where should I go next? Are these the right procedures for trouble shooting an electrical problem such as this? I need all the help I can get, I am pulling out my hair!!!!!
Let me give you a little history first. Last summer my car would not start. I assumed the starter was bad, so I replaced it. It worked fine until that starter supposidley went out as well a month later. I replaced it with a geniune Nissan starter, and it worked fine the rest of last summer. The car was not driven during this school year, but I got it running for the summer. It had run fine until yesterday evening when I went to pick up my sister down town. I drove to her apartment, went inside. And 5 minutes later tried to leave and it wouldn't start!!!!! It always seems to do this when it gets very hot outside. So I push started the car and drove it home.
So last night I ripped out the starter (I can do it in about 30 minutes now). I simulated a start situation using two car batteries. I attached one positve lead to the bolt on the solenoid, and grounded the other on the starter. I grounded the other battery on the starter, then touched the positive to the electrical connector that goes to the solenoid. The starter spun, and the gear shot forth like it was engaging the flywheel. This tells me the starter is in tip top condition.
I used a fuse tester and tested all of the fuses that pertain to the starting system. They all checked out fine.
My next experiment was to have my sister get in, and try and start the car, while I stuck the postive electrode of my multimeter in the harness connector that leads to the starter, and grounded the negative electrode to the block. I got no voltage when she tried to start the car.
Then I unplugged the harness connector that leads to the clutch interlock switch. I again, stuck the postive probe from the multimeter in one side, and the negative in the other. When the car was turned to start, I got no voltage.
Where should I go next? Are these the right procedures for trouble shooting an electrical problem such as this? I need all the help I can get, I am pulling out my hair!!!!!