'86 nissan stanza - won't start, no noise, electricity is there

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simonmaxhill@gmail.com - 30 Oct 2007 00:37 GMT

I own an '86 Nissan Stanza wagon (4wd) and last night I stopped the
car and when I came back five minutes later, it would not start.

I turn the key and the lights go on, but there is no noise from the
engine except this very faint, steady noise that goes away after a few
seconds, like a small electric motor or something.

The headlights and radio, etc. all come on at full strength.

Today I tried the car and it turned right on.

The car is not a super happy car in general. Here's a list of
symptoms it has had for awhile:

burns through oil steadily (2 quarts a month)
poor/no compression in one cylinder (says my mechanic)
smell of burning/C02 or something - comes from the front of the car (I
had a front exhaust piece fabricated, so maybe that just doesn't work)

Other than that, it is A-ok.

I love this car a whole lot and want to drive it for a long time. I'm
hoping somebody will say something like,

"oh, that's the ignition switch. it costs 25 bucks and you can
replace it yourself if you are very modestly handy with a
screwdriver."

Am I living a fantasy world? Do I need to buy my friend Joe's 1987
Nissan Stanza wagon (4wd)?

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Comboverfish - 30 Oct 2007 00:58 GMT

On Oct 29, 6:37 pm, simonmaxh...@gmail.com wrote:

> I own an '86 Nissan Stanza wagon (4wd) and last night I stopped the
> car and when I came back five minutes later, it would not start.
>
> I turn the key and the lights go on, but there is no noise from the
> engine except this very faint, steady noise that goes away after a few
> seconds, like a small electric motor or something.

Like a fuel pump?

> The headlights and radio, etc. all come on at full strength.
>
> Today I tried the car and it turned right on.

It sounds as though your starter isn't engaging. Start diagnosis by
finding the starter, then it's solenoid wire (small gauge wire), then
checking it with a test light while someone turns the key to "start".
If you have voltage here, all of your switch and relay circuitry is
good; perhaps not good enough to turn the starter, but atleast there
isn't a dead open in the circuit. You can also try carefully tapping
on an aluminum or steel portion of the starter while the no-start
problem is present. Have someone hold the key to "start" again and
tap on the starter with a smallish hammer. If it starts cranking
after a good whack, you can bet the starter is faulty.

> The car is not a super happy car in general. Here's a list of
> symptoms it has had for awhile:
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> smell of burning/C02 or something - comes from the front of the car (I
> had a front exhaust piece fabricated, so maybe that just doesn't work)

Sounds like the junkyard is calling.

> Other than that, it is A-ok.
>
> I love this car a whole lot and want to drive it for a long time. I'm
> hoping somebody will say something like,

Don't get too attached to it if it costs more to fix than to replace
with a fully functioning, non oil belching car.

> "oh, that's the ignition switch. it costs 25 bucks and you can
> replace it yourself if you are very modestly handy with a
> screwdriver."

$25 from a junkyard maybe... I'm betting on a starter or relay
though. Screwdriver? No.

Toyota MDT in MO

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Scott Dorsey - 30 Oct 2007 01:58 GMT

>I own an '86 Nissan Stanza wagon (4wd) and last night I stopped the
>car and when I came back five minutes later, it would not start.
>
>I turn the key and the lights go on, but there is no noise from the
>engine except this very faint, steady noise that goes away after a few
>seconds, like a small electric motor or something.

Starter is not engaging. Either the starter is bad, or the flywheel is
damaged. More likely a bad starter. What you are hearing is the starter
turning without being connected to the engine.

>The car is not a super happy car in general. Here's a list of
>symptoms it has had for awhile:
>
>burns through oil steadily (2 quarts a month)
>poor/no compression in one cylinder (says my mechanic)

These two things would indicate you probably need a new engine.

>smell of burning/C02 or something - comes from the front of the car (I
>had a front exhaust piece fabricated, so maybe that just doesn't work)

Without smelling it I don't know what this is.

>Other than that, it is A-ok.

That's a whole lot.

>I love this car a whole lot and want to drive it for a long time. I'm
>hoping somebody will say something like,
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>Am I living a fantasy world? Do I need to buy my friend Joe's 1987
>Nissan Stanza wagon (4wd)?

No, but you need a new starter and a rebuilt engine from a competent
rebuilder.
--scott

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