200SX won't start

2xSE-R · 10-30-2003, 03:05 PM

Alright, appolagies in advance for the legnth of this post. This is for my GA16 powered 200SX, but I figured I'd ask on here anyway since it's not necessarily a motor specific question.
My 200SX sat at my parents house for a couple of months (3 or 4). When I went to start the car up to bring it to our new house it wouldn't turn over, so we jumped it and after a long time jumping it - it fired up and drove home fine. (the only other probelm it was exhibiting at that time was rear break lockup, but after initialy breaking them free I had no problems - but I expected that one - a problem which it is currently having at my house) When I got it home I pulled it in the garage and shut it off. I tried to fire it up immediately following shutting it off and it wouldn't come on.
It has since sat in our garage for about 2 months or so and I went out last weekend to try to fire it up so I could start driving it for winter and pull my SE-R in the garage, and it still wouldn't start. I popped the hood to see quite a bit of corrosion on my battery wire terminal connectors. I got some sand paper out and got the corrosion off and put a new battery in and tried to start the car, but it wouldn't start up. I went to the store and bought some new terminal connectors that I'm gonna put on this coming weekend, but here's my real concern.
When I initialy tried to start up the car in my garage last weekend - all the accessories came on after a short delay, but then they shut off after a minute or so - and when I tried to start it up with the new battery in there, they didn't come on at all.
Now, the terminal connectors are looking pretty rough so I'm hoping that everything will fire up after I get the new connectors on, but I've got a sinking feeling that it won't. I'm just trying to figure out what it might be - alternator, starter, or just needs new connectors and battery.
I'm gonna do the connectors and battery this weekend and do an oil change, but if anyone has any advice on what else might be going on - I'd appreciate it. I just hope I didn't drain the alternator when the accessories came on last weekend. I wouldn't think that I did since the alternator is farily new.
I don't think that it's the starter since if it was just the starter my accessories would still come on, the car just wouldn't turn over.
Is it possible with a fresh battery and new terminal connectors that a weak alternator could still work?
I'm just rambling and confused now - sorry if this isn't the most coherant post. TIA for all the help.

If anyone local might be willing to give me a hand with this that would be cool.

YES SER · 10-30-2003, 03:16 PM

Sounds like it could be a wiring connection somewhere... it's a good idea to change the oil, if u leave a car for a long time it will get hard, check the starter again n make sure its good, even thought the altenator is new it still could have gone bad... cars are a pain to care, but we love to drive them... If worst comes to worst simpley take it to a mechanic...

2xSE-R · 10-30-2003, 03:27 PM

Yeah, it's still under warrnaty with nissan until 100k miles and it's only got 85k on it now. The alternator was replaced under warranty before - either way I'd like to at least get it running to take it to the dealership as opposed to having to pay for towing.

BTW - what's the best way to get the breaks to unlock. I'm sure my hitting the gas in reverse isn't the best way to get it done.
TIA

johnand · 10-30-2003, 08:09 PM

Check to make sure the fusable link at the battery is not blown. If you battery terminals are highly corroded, that will surely hinder starting.

civicsRslow · 10-30-2003, 11:18 PM

hey loser, i already know whats wrong with and i will be coming back down to cincinnati this weekend i might be able to stop by some time.

but ether the cables are to corroded to much and it has to much resistance to charge it... happend to my car. or from sitting to long you battery got sulfaded plates. and that means you need a new battery.

2xSE-R · 10-31-2003, 08:52 AM

Cool - just shoot me a call if you get a chance.