My 1991 Nissan Maxima SE is screeching when I start it up. This morning it was about 75 degrees in the outdoor parking garage.
It wouldn't even start the first few tries, and my car never needs more than one turn of the key. All I got was that god awful ear piercing screech.
What is wrong with my car, and how do I go about fixing it?
2007-01-15 16:03:59 · 12 answers · asked by vslsub 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
The lights and dashboard all had power. Also, If there was a problem with the power, I don't see why 1. something was being activated (IE the screeching), 2. the car got up and running just fine after 3 or 4 more turns off the key.
The battery is only little over a year old, and I just changed the starter probably 8 months ago.
The car seemed to run just fine at least.... I'll look more carefully tomorrow.
2007-01-15 17:12:09 · update #1
Hi there,its hard to say what sort of screeching it is actually making, but if you are trying to start it and it screeches and nothing happens, you turn it over again and it does the same thing, 2,3,4 times then it seems to start, the battery is fine, if your belts are tight, it sounds like they would be, cause belts only screech when it is going and you rev it putting a load on the pully's. An aweful ear piercing screech sounds like its not your fan belts & its not your starter motor either, but to help you out before it gets any worst & it wont start at all for you at all, but just keep screehing for you and before you do any more damage to the starter motor which will be another cost for you if you dont get the FLY WHEEL fixed, if its an automatic then its called a flexi plate. you see a starter motor has a small cog that springs out to grab onto the fly wheel/flexi plate cog. these cogs hav teeth like edges. so when the starter motor interlocks with the flywheel/flexiplate which is bolted to the crank.it turns the crank over making the engine turn over and thats the way the engine starts up. the problem with yours my friend is your teeth on th fly wheel is so worn in a few spots that the starter motor cog cant grab it to turn over, so the result is a fast spinning little cog on the starter, trying to grab but getting a metal to metal rubbing sensation causing it to almost deafen you with this screech yeah. the gearbox definately has to come off and replace the fly wheel/flexi plate.if its just started doing it,you could most likely get away with replacing the starter motor cog too. if its not too worn it will last quite abit longer, but if you keep tryng to start it like it is you are only going to make the cog on the starter motor worse, metal to metal contact aint very good for it. I HOPE this helps you out but thats what it sounds like alright. good luck.
2007-01-15 17:56:38 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
ok a belt screaching could be it but thats if its ALREADY RUNNING.... there is a gear on your starter which engages a fly wheel on your engine. if it goes bad or worse the flywheel is bad then you would need a new one. could be the belts if you want to know go out to your car and look at them if you see LOTS of cracks and dry rot on the part that has the ridges(where the belt toutches the pullys) then change the belt. trust me you can do it your self or with a little help from your neighbor and pay only a few bucks for a new belt. if the belt is not the problem or you dont know if its bad ask some one, or just go to autozone and ask someone there. the starter on the other hand is not as hard as you think. 3 or 4 bolts and it will be off in no time and you can take it in to have it checked at autozone... now the new one might cost a lil bit but you can do the change your self (if you want) for way less than a shop will charge you.
2007-01-15 16:19:36 · answer #2 · answered by Mike 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It sounds most like a problem with either the belts which run onto the Altenator, the starter motor or another problem belt/pulley. I would take the vehicle to a mechanic and tell them exactly what it is doing or even demonstrate to them what it is doing. I don't believe it will be an expensive problem to remedy.
2007-01-15 16:14:26 · answer #3 · answered by foxtel_iq 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The screeching is probably just a glazed belt, but wouldn't see the connection to the car not starting unless it's the alternator belt that's glazed and the battery is not getting the proper charge. but if the battery is dead it just wont turn over.
2007-01-15 16:10:32 · answer #4 · answered by misc 75 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Probably fan belts. Battery may not be getting charged. Take it to a mechanic to replace all of the belts.
2007-01-15 16:09:36 · answer #5 · answered by nope n 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First place I'd look it the serpentine belt, then start looking at the pulley's. If its the belt pretty easy to replace and not very expensive. If its the pulley's it could get expensive depending if the pulley is on a component or if its just a tensioner pulley.
2016-05-24 20:26:06 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have the belts checked. Its sounds like they are loose or bad. See a machanic. Or have your oil changed. they might be able to tell you if a belt is bad
2007-01-15 16:06:54 · answer #7 · answered by Chicago Girl 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Check your alt belt
2007-01-15 17:00:18 · answer #8 · answered by Boston Mark 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tighten alt belt.
2007-01-15 16:55:00 · answer #9 · answered by flyoverall 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
check for a loose or worn belt, could be a starter solenoid.
2007-01-15 17:40:28 · answer #10 · answered by metoo 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋