Nissan Starting Issues

[Willc]

Well my nissan is dragging it's starter. It is like it has a low battery but the meter is showing 12.5 volts . I  know I need to moniter it while starting but can't be in two places at once. It will start after lugging around a little . So is it a battery or starter issue.?

[ZukiJon]

Well my nissan is dragging it's starter. It is like it has a low battery but the meter is showing 12.5 volts . I  know I need to moniter it while starting but can't be in two places at once. It will start after lugging around a little . So is it a battery or starter issue.?

I'd start with the battery. How old is it? Try jump starting it, if it turns over faster hooked to another battery, then I'd say it was time for a new battery. HTH

[ZUKIMON]

Try jump starting it, if it turns over faster hooked to another battery, then I'd say it was time for a new battery. HTH

Yes and no. If you are getting a faster spin on the starter by jump starting, you could have a bad battery or you could just have dirty cable ends.

Will, when you checked the voltage of the battery, did you put your meter on the battery posts, or on the cable ends?  If you put it on the posts then you got a false reading of sorts. You should check the voltage both ways; on the posts and on the cable ends to see if you are getting a voltage drop indicating a bad connection.

I'd pull the cables off and make sure that they are clean and tight and then check the battery while they are unhooked. If the battery shows good while they are unhooked, and you are certain that your connections are clean and tight, then I'd say that you may need a battery. Next step would be to take the car to a parts house and have them do a full system test on the battery, starting and charging system. You very well could have a bad cell in that battery.

[Willc]

OK cranked good 3 times now won't start with jumpstarting . Pulled the rear seat I can hear the fuel pump priming so that is not  it. It has been a while since I cranked it (1 hr or two I bet it will crank now) Yes it started it right up. So I have a cranking while hot issue?

[ZUKIMON]

Could be the starter man. You need to somehow put a test light to the starter so you can watch it while your in the car cranking it over. Did you confirm that the cables are clean?

[ajbiglin]

Sounds like you could use an new brush set in that starter.  I don't know if you know much about starters, but here gooes anyway.  Inside the starter you have 3 main wear parts.  the brushes(which give power to the armiture to spin) the bushings and the drive gear.  When the brushes wear down not enough current gets transfered to the arm.  which causes it to drag.  If you are a decent mech. you can go to a starter generator shop and get them to replace yourself.  Or as I recomend its a lot easyer (and cheaper than any parts house) have them rebuild it.  I can geta completely rebuilt one (suzuki) for just over 50 bucks.  I hope that helps out.