AZjeff
$50 Site Donor 2023
Had 2 no starts in the 160k 02 Xterra recently, the 2nd one was in Phoenix in the evening and it was 99 out. Turn key, nothing. Turn again maybe a little bump. Wait a bit, turn again it starts. Battery plenty of voltage after sitting overnight, time to take it out and have it tested before it strands us. Watched a couple of YT videos, doesn't look too bad. Access to the hot wire nut very tight with no room for rotation so it took a while turning 1 flat at a time with an open end. The 2 starter bolts not bad with some extensions and a wobble joint. Now to get it out. There's only 1 place it will come down out without removing suspension or driveline parts and it takes a certain sequence of rotating and changing horizontal/vertical orientation to get the solenoid in the exact spot with clearance. Also discovered the solenoid plug would not slip out between the motor mount and block and had to cut it off. It reminded me of a Rubic's Cube trying to remember the sequence to get it to a certain place then have to back it out and try something different. Had it well stuck one time and almost cursed. Watched 3 or 4 different videos again to be convinced it would come out and finally it did.
Discovered it was the original Nissan starter, not bad service, covered in oil from the RMS leak. Cleaned it up, soldered the plug back on and had it tested. Had a fail and a pass but it sounded slow. The counter guy said I could try to clean it out and see if it worked, NO WAY. Bought a new life time warranty starter from AAP. It had some sort of rubber damper between the starter and solenoid that I had to pry out as there was no way it was going back in with that on it. Getting it back in was slightly less aggravating than getting it out but it still took a lot of trial and error. First start with it sounded about 50% faster rpm than the old one. I've been a DIY guy my whole life and have changed starters on a number of different vehicles but nothing like this. With any luck I'll never think to do another one, won't even try unless it's obvious it will fall to the ground when the bolts come out.
I kept reminding myself at least there was no rust to deal with. Can't say getting old(er) made any difference but likely made it more aggravating. We should get something newer but it runs so nice and still looks really good so we keep driving it.
Discovered it was the original Nissan starter, not bad service, covered in oil from the RMS leak. Cleaned it up, soldered the plug back on and had it tested. Had a fail and a pass but it sounded slow. The counter guy said I could try to clean it out and see if it worked, NO WAY. Bought a new life time warranty starter from AAP. It had some sort of rubber damper between the starter and solenoid that I had to pry out as there was no way it was going back in with that on it. Getting it back in was slightly less aggravating than getting it out but it still took a lot of trial and error. First start with it sounded about 50% faster rpm than the old one. I've been a DIY guy my whole life and have changed starters on a number of different vehicles but nothing like this. With any luck I'll never think to do another one, won't even try unless it's obvious it will fall to the ground when the bolts come out.
I kept reminding myself at least there was no rust to deal with. Can't say getting old(er) made any difference but likely made it more aggravating. We should get something newer but it runs so nice and still looks really good so we keep driving it.