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Gerben
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| Posted: Apr 03 2016 at 9:54am | IP Logged
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Hi everyone,
This is my first post on the forum and the first thing I should say is thank you
for all the help so far. I've been reading the forums for over a year now and I
usually find my answers in other people's posts. This time, however, I feel
stuck.
I recently moved from Alberta to BC. Truck started up fine without any
delays, weird noises or anything for as long as I have had it (year and a
halfish). I load up my truck and trailer for the move, strap my canoe on the
roof, back it up to hitch up the trailer. My girlfriend turns off the truck and I
ask her to keep it running because I want it as warm as possible before we
take off with all the weight.
Click.
Click. Click. Click.
Nothing happens at all, other than a solid click from the starter motor. We
had to get going and we were parked on a hill, so we unhooked the trailer,
push started the truck and drove off. It was a two day drive and we parked on
a downhill at night so we could push start the truck in the morning.
After arriving at our new home I unplugged the starter motor, put my multi-
meter on it and turned the key. On my battery alone there was only 8 volts
going to the starter motor, so I hooked up a charger that has a 75A starting
power supply. With that on I got well over 13 volts to the starter when I
turned the key. Assuming it was the starter motor I got a new one, but after a
long, hard and frustrating day of getting that thing on I still have the same
problem.
Does anyone have suggestions as to what to look for now? All I have to test
things is a basic multi-meter. My truck is a 2001 XE King Cab 3.3L 4x4 with
manual transmission.
Is it bad to push start my truck with trouble like this? If not I can at least get
around in a pinch, but I don't like doing it...
Thanks a ton in advance, I am actually parked in my brother in law's driveway
and every minute spent turning his driveway into a workshop digs hard into
my social standing within the family... 
__________________
2001 Nissan Frontier XE 3.3L MT 4x4
BC, Canada
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lakota
Moderator Group
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| Posted: Apr 03 2016 at 7:29pm | IP Logged
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..
Howdy and welcome to the group.
Normally the clicking is the starter solenoid not receiving enough currant to ingauge the starter.
In most cases the problem is in bad cable connections or low battery power.
If the battery has less than 12 volts at rest (key off) charge or replace it.
R&R and clean both cables at both ends. This should fix it...
Good luck.. Don S..
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PLEASE >>> A SIG similar to mine can be VERY HELPFUL to all the members!
'99 4x4 3.3 Frontier Se KC Auto, 48,000 miles
'76 4x4 401 Wagoneer QT
'04 FWD 1.8 Sentra '08 FWD 2.4 Camry LE
Fort Worth
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Gerben
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| Posted: Apr 03 2016 at 10:01pm | IP Logged
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Thank you for your quick reply!
My battery is in pretty bad shape. I got 12.62 volts at rest from the battery,
though. I don't want to pour too much money into the truck until I know it
can make it through a provincial inspection, so at the moment I am being
cheap with it.
To make sure it wasn't (just) the battery I first hooked up a battery charger
with a 75A start motor function. Later I got my jumper cables out and did the
same with my brother in law's brand new truck. With the added power I got
around 13V at the starter motor terminals. Without the added power of
either the charger or the other truck I only got 8.8-ish volts at the starter
motor.
I am very new to electrical work. The "trigger wire" on the solenoid gets
pretty much battery voltage when the key is turned. When I measured the
voltage at the terminal on the starter solenoid that gets continuous power
from the battery, I noticed it dropped to almost 0 volts when the key was
turned. The terminal with the cable going to the starter motor went from 0
volts before to fluctuating around .2 volts when the key was turned to start. I
used the truck's frame as a ground for those measurements. Is that what I'm
supposed to find?
Anyway, I am now wondering if my bad battery could still mess things up,
even if I hook up a proven good battery from another vehicle.
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2001 Nissan Frontier XE 3.3L MT 4x4
BC, Canada
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lakota
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| Posted: Apr 04 2016 at 7:22pm | IP Logged
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..
Have you removed and cleaned both battery cables at both ends Yet?
The battery needs to be load tested. Some auto supply stores will do it free. It could be a surface charge when you tested it.
I had not had any dealings with a Nissan starter solenoid and it could be a problem with that.
My '99 3.3 is set up the same as yours but I've never had a problem with it. I have replaced the battery four times....
More good luck.. Don S..
__________________
PLEASE >>> A SIG similar to mine can be VERY HELPFUL to all the members!
'99 4x4 3.3 Frontier Se KC Auto, 48,000 miles
'76 4x4 401 Wagoneer QT
'04 FWD 1.8 Sentra '08 FWD 2.4 Camry LE
Fort Worth
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Gerben
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| Posted: Apr 04 2016 at 7:40pm | IP Logged
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Thank you! I just bought a new battery and new terminals. I figure I
have to anyways. I'll let you know what that does.
I also found a loose ground strap on the passenger side that is
attached to the wheel well and just dangles from there. Can't be good...
I don't see where it is supposed to bolt onto, though. Any suggestions
as to what that is for?
__________________
2001 Nissan Frontier XE 3.3L MT 4x4
BC, Canada
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lakota
Moderator Group
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| Posted: Apr 05 2016 at 1:29pm | IP Logged
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..
There are quite a few ground wires in modern vehicles.
There is now so much electronic garbage all over in cars they won't work well if current doesn't flow well.
I should have warned you about ground wires in the first place..
Hope it's fixed.. Don S..
__________________
PLEASE >>> A SIG similar to mine can be VERY HELPFUL to all the members!
'99 4x4 3.3 Frontier Se KC Auto, 48,000 miles
'76 4x4 401 Wagoneer QT
'04 FWD 1.8 Sentra '08 FWD 2.4 Camry LE
Fort Worth
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Gerben
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| Posted: Jun 20 2016 at 3:52pm | IP Logged
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Sorry for the late update. Between being in a near fatal accident and
getting married I didn't get to it for a while. So! What was the
issue? Bad battery and/or battery terminals.
I only found that out after I put in an unneccesary new starter. Oh well,
now I know how to do that, too. (It is a pain!) With a bit of "luck" the
starter also needed replacement and I just hadn't proved it properly
yet... With the new starter I had the exact
same problem, just clicking noises.
Not sure why it wouldn't turn over with a running 2016 GMC 3500HD
hooked to it. The terminals must have been really bad. Anyhow, I took
the old terminals off, cleaned up the wires, put new brass ones on
instead of the old lead ones, hooked it all up to a new battery and off
she went.
Hope this helps someone else to not waste money on a starter they
don't need. Clean your terminals thoroughly and hook them up to a
good battery before you condemn your starter! I could have bought a
load tester for that money...
__________________
2001 Nissan Frontier XE 3.3L MT 4x4
BC, Canada
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Rubble
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| Posted: Jun 21 2016 at 3:54am | IP Logged
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Gerben,
Long ago, I started coating the battery terminals with grease. It's the best and cheapest way to avoid corroided terminals that I know of.
20 yr original owner of '93 Nissan Hardbody; Several New Batterie's,, but never corroded Battery terminal's. 28 yo Rideing LawnMower, Many Many New Batterie's, but never corroded battery terminal's.
Coat Battery Terminals with Grease and Forget about it, till new battery, then repeat with grease.
__________________
Barney
2013 SV V6 Frontier KC/AT/2WD; Previous 20 yrs ~ '93 I4 Hardbody KC/AT/2WD, Sold.
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Nissan Frontier Forums : Problems / Technical
Topic: starter trouble
