I'm having a really strange problem with my 95 Tracker.  Since Tuesday, it's been having some intermittent starting trouble. 

Tuesday night when I tried starting it, all the power came on, but the starter simply didn't do anything (it didn't crank at all - no click of a dead battery, no starter solenoid click, no starter grinding - simply nothing).  I left it to go get some friends to help figure it out, got back to it a few hours later and it started fine.  I took it back to my house and cleaned and tightened the battery terminals and I hadn't had a problem since until today.

This morning I went to start the car and I'm having the same exact problem.  Everything works, but it doesn't start.  I cleaned off the terminals again, replaced the positive terminal (which looked like crap), retightened them, and it didn't do anything.  I checked all the fuses under the dash and all the fuses by the battery and they're all fine.

Is there a starter relay somewhere that I could check?  I know in the 300ZX world that symptoms like this are often caused by the starter relay.  What about the switch that tells the car that it's in park (it's automatic)?  I've been having some trouble with the shifter lately - it's really tight going into reverse and park from drive, so I'm wondering if it's not attempting to start because it doesn't think it's in park.  (And how would I go about testing these, if that's even possible?)

The battery is only a few months old and I'm confident it's still good.  The car is my daily driver, so it's not like it has sat for a long time and has some major issue.

Any input is welcome... I've spent the last 2 hours trying to figure it out to no avail.  Thanks in advance. 

I can't remember....can you start the auto's with the trannys in park OR neutral?  If you can, try starting it in neutral.
It could be the ECM.  On my 92, it would intermittently start, ended up being the ECM.  Do you have the 16V or 8V engine?

If you've been doing alot of offroading in mud and water then it could be the starter itself. Take the selenoid out and clean it with wd-40 and put it back together.

I can't remember....can you start the auto's with the trannys in park OR neutral?  If you can, try starting it in neutral.
It could be the ECM.  On my 92, it would intermittently start, ended up being the ECM.  Do you have the 16V or 8V engine?

It's the 16V engine.  I truly hope it's not the ECM... if my experience with the Nissan 300ZX is any indicator of cost, it's not a cheap thing to replace.  And as far as I know, you can't start automatic cars in neutral, but I'll give it a shot anyway (at this point, I'm willing to try anything that's feasible).

If you've been doing alot of offroading in mud and water then it could be the starter itself. Take the selenoid out and clean it with wd-40 and put it back together.

I haven't been doing so much offroading lately due to weather conditions, but I have been doing a lot of driving in deep snow.  I've never worked on the starter for the Tracker before, is it a b*tch to remove?  (I'd look at it right now but I'm at work until 5.)  But I'll defiantely be taking the starter off this weekend to at least have it tested, so that's something I'll try too.



And thanks for the quick responses guys, I appreciate it.

I'm not sure about yours, I hhave the 8 valve engine and it was an easy one to remove. Hopefully it's just full of moisture/crud and a good cleaning will take care of it.
Jim

Quote from: Skyhiranger on February 22, 2007, 11:58:19 AM

I can't remember....can you start the auto's with the trannys in park OR neutral?  If you can, try starting it in neutral.
It could be the ECM.  On my 92, it would intermittently start, ended up being the ECM.  Do you have the 16V or 8V engine?

It's the 16V engine.  I truly hope it's not the ECM... if my experience with the Nissan 300ZX is any indicator of cost, it's not a cheap thing to replace.  And as far as I know, you can't start automatic cars in neutral, but I'll give it a shot anyway (at this point, I'm willing to try anything that's feasible).

Quote from: Jimiweld on February 22, 2007, 12:23:19 PM

If you've been doing alot of offroading in mud and water then it could be the starter itself. Take the selenoid out and clean it with wd-40 and put it back together.

I haven't been doing so much offroading lately due to weather conditions, but I have been doing a lot of driving in deep snow.  I've never worked on the starter for the Tracker before, is it a b*tch to remove?  (I'd look at it right now but I'm at work until 5.)  But I'll defiantely be taking the starter off this weekend to at least have it tested, so that's something I'll try too.



And thanks for the quick responses guys, I appreciate it.

Actually, most vehicles with auto trannys can be started with the tranny in neutral (you usually can't remove the key, unless the tranny is shifted into park), I just can't remember if trackicks can be.

The starter isn't hard to remove, once you do it a few times, to know how to do it correctly/easily.

I sent you a PM on ECMs.

Quote from: ZLove4Life on February 22, 2007, 01:19:24 PM

Quote from: Skyhiranger on February 22, 2007, 11:58:19 AM

I can't remember....can you start the auto's with the trannys in park OR neutral?  If you can, try starting it in neutral.
It could be the ECM.  On my 92, it would intermittently start, ended up being the ECM.  Do you have the 16V or 8V engine?

It's the 16V engine.  I truly hope it's not the ECM... if my experience with the Nissan 300ZX is any indicator of cost, it's not a cheap thing to replace.  And as far as I know, you can't start automatic cars in neutral, but I'll give it a shot anyway (at this point, I'm willing to try anything that's feasible).

Quote from: Jimiweld on February 22, 2007, 12:23:19 PM

If you've been doing alot of offroading in mud and water then it could be the starter itself. Take the selenoid out and clean it with wd-40 and put it back together.

I haven't been doing so much offroading lately due to weather conditions, but I have been doing a lot of driving in deep snow.  I've never worked on the starter for the Tracker before, is it a b*tch to remove?  (I'd look at it right now but I'm at work until 5.)  But I'll defiantely be taking the starter off this weekend to at least have it tested, so that's something I'll try too.



And thanks for the quick responses guys, I appreciate it.

I just can't remember if trackicks can be.

My old 92 Auto would start in Neutral.

Thanks for the responses guys.

I'll try starting it in neutral in the morning, and if that doesn't work that starter will be coming off.

Skyhiranger - I didn't get any PMs.

Starting in neutral didn't work.  I'm supposing it's the starter... but I have no idea how to take it off (I've only worked on the starter for my 300ZX, which is insanely easy by comparison).  Anyone have a writeup that might help?  I'm searching google to no avail thus far.

       mine did that and i put a starter relay in line next time it does it have someone turn the key and use the positive side of your jumper cables from the battery to the nut on the starter with the red wire runing to it if it starts try the clicky starter fix. this way you can rule out the starter HTH

I just eliminated the neutral safety switch and it still didn't start, so that narrows it down to either the starter itself or the starter relay.  Can anyone tell me where the starter relay is (if this car even has one)?

And thanks Greg - when I have the opportunity to jump the starter, I'll try that.  Weather got kinda bad out while I was working on it, so I won't be able to go check it until the weather dies down.

I just tried the "clicky starter fix" with no success as well, so now I absolutely need to take the starter in to be tested... but I still have no idea how to take it off.  Can someone please advise?  I can't even see the bolts holding it on... (95 auto 4x4)

I just tried the "clicky starter fix" with no success as well, so now I absolutely need to take the starter in to be tested... but I still have no idea how to take it off.  Can someone please advise?  I can't even see the bolts holding it on... (95 auto 4x4)

You will probably have to "feel" for the bolts.  If you run your hand down the negative battery cable, it should go to one of the bolts (the bottom one, I think).  You will probably have to hold the bolt on both ends with wrenches (I think this is the one that goes clear through the engine block and tranny bellhousing and has a nut on it).  The other bolt is on the topside of the starter (you'll have to feel for it too).  It is just a bolt threaded into the tranny, so just one wrench will get it out.