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Starter Problems


Maddog
11-18-2001, 08:26 PM
Looks like I have a problem with my starter. After hitting the trails today, my battery light came on. I didn't have any problems the rest of the afternoon, but this evening when starting my truck, the engine won't turn over and I get a rapid clicking. Too dark to work tonight, but tommorrow I plan on cleaning the battery terminals (I should have done this long ago as mine are dirty as hell), checking the battery with a multimeter, and finally cleaning the starter solenoid wiring and connections. Anybody else had this problem? If so, what's the story? Also, am I correct in thinking its not the alternator? With the clicking noise I'm getting when I attempt to start the truck I don't seem to think that's it? Thanks for any help.

Dog

Kerensky97
11-18-2001, 10:57 PM
I haven't had this problem with the Xterra yet but I did have it with my Pathfinder after installing the winch.

The problem turned out to be the terminals on the battery, they weren't getting enough contact to run enough power through the system to get it to start.

The clicking is the starter relay (not the solinoid) it doesn't need as much power so it engages and disengages really fast when the rest of the system does not.
Pull both connections from the battery, clean both the terminals and the connectors, and put them back on really tight. You might want to smear some DiElectric grease where they connect just so you make sure that there is as much of a connection as possible.

Once again I had this on a Pathfinder so it may not be the same problem but the symptoms match up exactly.

Maddog
11-19-2001, 12:52 AM
Thanks for the help man, if I have the same problem that you had sounds like I'll be on the right track to take care of it tommorrow.

Dog

rednec
11-24-2001, 10:41 PM
Two people in the ENCXC had to replace there batteries recently. Both died with no warning. They had them checked and they were both bad. My battery was replaced a couple months ago along with the engine.

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