Bennn Posted January 14, 2014 Report Share Posted January 14, 2014 I need some help trouble shooting this one. My batter has 12v when sitting but my starter will not turn over. I've got power to everything but I'm not sure why it won't start? That seems like it would be enough power to start the truck? It started the other day with no hesitation now that everythings back together it doesnt.. of course. Any ideas? Ben 2 Quote Link to comment
filthy forever Posted January 14, 2014 Report Share Posted January 14, 2014 available voltage of 12v is barely enough as a fully charged battery is 12.65v, the starter draws a lot of current when cranking. charge your battery up then re-test. then next, can you hear the starter solenoid energizing? is the starter cranking? if so, then the starter is good. do voltage drops on power & ground wires to the starter to make sure theres no excessive resistance in the circuit. if don't hear anything, the starter is most likely bad. if you do hear the starter cranking, then check for spark and fuel. hope this helps B) 1 Quote Link to comment
nismo24096 Posted January 15, 2014 Report Share Posted January 15, 2014 Check, the ground wire that connects to the starter, it just a simple push on style clip that is easy to knock off. it is right to the right of were the battery cable bolts to the starter. if its off you are not going to get anything to the starter. 1 Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted January 15, 2014 Report Share Posted January 15, 2014 You starter will not turn over the motor. 12 volts should be plenty to crank with so something is not allowing the power to get to the starter. The starter draws hundreds of amps of current but only has 12 volts of push. Doesn't take much of a bad connection to disable this. Remove the battery terminals. While the battery cables are off clean/tighten the positive cable where it is bolted to the starter lug. Must make good contact. Now check the negative ground cable where it bolts to the intake near the top rad hose. Bolt must be clean and tight. Clean at tighten the battery posts and cable clamps. If they are in bad shape replace them. This may fix your problem right away. If not this is a worthwhile thing to do anyway and it didn't cost anything much. You have also eliminated a possible cause. If this does not solve the problem, does the starter make a clicking sound when you turn the key??? If not check the small Black/Red wire on the starter. This is the start signal from the key. Be sure the wire is firmly pushed on the small lug. 1 Quote Link to comment
Sin720 Posted January 15, 2014 Report Share Posted January 15, 2014 Ensure you have power and your battery isnt junk. Does your starter make any clicking sounds? If so battery is too weak. Does your lights dim while attempting to start? If so once again the battery. Does your starter make a sound at all? If not its the Solenoid. starters commonly go because of a solenoid and the reason your starter motor isnt doing anything is because the solenoid kicks out the bendix gear to your flywheel or flexplate. Then powers the starter motor to crank your engine and start the cycle. No working solenoid no go. Take the stater solenoid apart you can sometimes flip the copper terminals so your starter will work like new again. Hope I helped ~Sin 1 Quote Link to comment
Bennn Posted January 15, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 15, 2014 My starter makes a noise that's one click. It hesistates essentially and won't turn over at all. I'll try and charge up the batter tonight. I've checked my ground and I think everything is okay. Just seems odd because it started so well the other morning then just wouldnt start at all! I'll pull the starter off tonight and take a look. I wish it wasn't so cold here in CO! lol Thanks for all the input! 1 Quote Link to comment
ggzilla Posted January 15, 2014 Report Share Posted January 15, 2014 Haha, one click. Try cleaning the terminals before you start replacing parts! 1 Quote Link to comment
Bennn Posted January 16, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 16, 2014 They seam pretty clean i'll give them a go in a few hours. 1 Quote Link to comment
millican Posted January 16, 2014 Report Share Posted January 16, 2014 Is it worth trying to tap the starter with something or give the vehicle a nudge while it's in gear? 1 Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted January 16, 2014 Report Share Posted January 16, 2014 You have to check every connection. This is why it's called an electrical CIRCUIT. Power flows from the positive all the way around to the negative post. Check the positive cable on the starter too. I Quote Link to comment
Bennn Posted January 16, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 16, 2014 Sooooo my power cable had a break in it down the line.. it was ghetto rigged together in the past and finally decided to fall apart I guess. So i soldered it up and taped it nicely and it started right up! haha So ridiculous.. Thank you all for the help. 2 Quote Link to comment
scientifico1 Posted January 14, 2015 Report Share Posted January 14, 2015 hey im having the same problem i cleaned the terminals on the battery the ground on the starter andn the power cable on the starter i also cleaned and tightend the alternator cables and the only way way it wants to start is if i jump started i really need help Quote Link to comment
scientifico1 Posted January 14, 2015 Report Share Posted January 14, 2015 i also have replaCED the altenator the starter and the battery Quote Link to comment
84720FourWheel Posted January 14, 2015 Report Share Posted January 14, 2015 Did your solder joint break? Vibrations and solder don't mix very well. Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted January 14, 2015 Report Share Posted January 14, 2015 i also have replaCED the altenator the starter and the battery You should up date your post about this. If it starts with a boost then the starter is fine. Find out why the battery is low or alternator not charging it. Get a meter.... battery should read just over 12 volts engine off and just over 14 running and charging. Quote Link to comment
huskerrat Posted June 3, 2015 Report Share Posted June 3, 2015 I am having the same issues I just put up a post on it. New starter battery good. Quote Link to comment
Rhino13 Posted June 3, 2015 Report Share Posted June 3, 2015 I am having the same issues I just put up a post on it. New starter battery good. I had this issue. Got a new alternator and no more problems. If it's an original Nissan alt, save it and rebuild it. Quote Link to comment
Brandon.fair Posted May 19, 2017 Report Share Posted May 19, 2017 Having a similar issue. I've ruled out ignition switch by jumping the connector behind the switch. Still didn't want to start battery is at 12.56v and over 13v while running (haven't measured it but gauge shows plenty over 12v) I'm thinking it's 3 possible things. 1. Starter work intermittently. 2. Solenoid is working intermittently. 3 relay(if there is one) work intermittent. Sometimes the truck starts right up other times it clicks once with a fully charged battery. Battery post are clean going to check starter connection tomorrow and trace wires also. Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted May 19, 2017 Report Share Posted May 19, 2017 Running and charging should be over 14 volts. Get a volt meter and take the small wire off the starter solenoid and turn to START. What voltage you reading? If under 11 this is the problem. Quote Link to comment
Lockleaf Posted May 19, 2017 Report Share Posted May 19, 2017 Do you have a volt meter in the truck? 1 Quote Link to comment
Charlie69 Posted May 19, 2017 Report Share Posted May 19, 2017 They seam pretty clean i'll give them a go in a few hours. So did the girl I slepted with last night but I still made her take a shower first!!! 2 Quote Link to comment
Brandon.fair Posted May 19, 2017 Report Share Posted May 19, 2017 Yes I have a volt meter in truck (it looks factory but IDK) I'll check the starter solenoid voltage today when I get some free time (I'm on baby detail haha). The truck is pretty beat up inside. The last owner(s) obviously had very low quality standards. I've been thinking about building a completely custom dash also, but I got to get the truck running reliably first. 1 Quote Link to comment
Brandon.fair Posted May 19, 2017 Report Share Posted May 19, 2017 Outside is ok it has all the trim at least haha 1 Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted May 19, 2017 Report Share Posted May 19, 2017 I adjusted the title to better describe the problem. The term 'turn over' should imply the starter turning the engine. It obviously does turn over and even start. This will help the search function to find this post if someone with a similar problem loos for it. If the problem is the intermittent starter clicking but not turning it could be low voltage to the starter or the solenoid is bad. Make sure the small start signal wire to the solenoid is securely on and not loose. 3 Quote Link to comment
Lockleaf Posted May 19, 2017 Report Share Posted May 19, 2017 When you hit the key and it does nothing, watch your volt meter. Often if the starter solenoid is failing, you will see the voltage drop while you have the key in "start". If the voltage doesn't dip or change, it's likely not triggering anything, meaning connections could be your problem. I've had to clean corrosion off starter terminals before to make them work. 2 Quote Link to comment
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