Datsun Roadster Forum-311s.org

When starting my car lately, sometimes it acts like the battery is low. Real slow turning, stopping and clicking. I turn the key of and try again and it starts just like it is supposed to. The battery is fully charged, and I get 14V to the battery from the alt. I have redundant grounds, and everything looks good as far as all the grounding and positive terminal connections at the battery and starter. Any clues on what to look for next? It doesn't happen every time so it has me baffled.

Thanks!

Interesting, mine is doing the same thing, except I just get a click sometimes, then the next turn of the key, she fires right up.

Yup...me too.

If you [all] are satisfied that electrically everything is as good as it can be, then the fault may lie in the starter solenoid.
That click you hear when you turn the key to START, is the signal from the ignition key contact energising the starter solenoid.
The solenoid makes the click as it draws the copper bridge onto the HT contacts.
Ideally, once that happens, the starter then gets the full 12V applied to the windings and away we go.
However, dirty or worn out contacts will reduce the current to the starter resulting in anything from ZIP to erratic performance.
We are talking a LOT of amps here so any degradation of the HT circuit will have an undesirable effect.
Similarly, worn out brushes for the starter rotor will result in erratic performance until all goes quiet down there.
If the car is used regularly and has suddenly developed this symptom, I suggest removing the starter and having it bench checked.
Once again, make sure that all the primary wiring and switching is in tip top condition before pulling the starter.

One additional idea is to add a starting relay.

If the voltage to the solenoid is low, the contact may not make a good connection.

http://www.oldvolkshome.com/hardstart.pdf

My bet is if all the connections are good, it is an ailing solenoid or ign switch itself

The basic starter schematic.
If you suspect the Ignition switch, you can try a temporary jumper to test the solenoid and starter.

The starter was new when installed 5 years ago. I did need to rebuild the ignition switch and re-solder all the connections a few years back as well. Maybe the issue lies in the switch?

Could be but if you hear the solenoid operating, that's all the ignition switch contacts have to do.
Next time the switch/starter play up, verify the integrity of the switch contacts as in the schematic above.

I pulled the 2 year old battery & had it tested at the store I bought it from, results came back as good, just a little down on voltage. so they charged it up for me. I put it back in and she fired right up. But, after sitting for a few days, I'm back to getting the same intermittent click, click, then it starts. So, I'm going to try leaving the battery on a Battery Tender when I'm not driving it. I'll report back my results in a few days...

Nissanman wrote:Could be but if you hear the solenoid operating, that's all the ignition switch contacts have to do.
Next time the switch/starter play up, verify the integrity of the switch contacts as in the schematic above.

With my intermittent issue, it seems like the ignition switch provides an instantaneous open/closed circuit to the starter. You hear the solenoid and a half a crank, then nothing. It's like the switch goes beyond the closed position and back to the open position when you turn the key. A few more tries of the key with your tongue in the right position and it catches. I hope that describes it a bit better. That's why I have a hunch it's the switch and the integrity of the contacts.

I am experiencing the same symptoms so it will be interesting to see how this plays out with all of you.

The starter and solenoid get a lot of heat next to the exhaust so they have a short(er) life. Mine did the same thing. Acted like the battery was dead but it wasn't. Put in a new starter and it fired right up. Too bad I had to remove the intake and exhaust manifold to R/R it. I see on this forum that you can get a high torque and smaller forklift version so if you choose to take it out and aren't concours restoration guy, it's a good option.

OldYeller wrote:The starter and solenoid get a lot of heat next to the exhaust so they have a short(er) life. Mine did the same thing. Acted like the battery was dead but it wasn't. Put in a new starter and it fired right up. Too bad I had to remove the intake and exhaust manifold to R/R it. I see on this forum that you can get a high torque and smaller forklift version so if you choose to take it out and aren't concours restoration guy, it's a good option.

Yes, I think the heat is the cause of the problem. Mine works great until I drive it around a lot. Then the starter engages OK but pulls really slowly for the first few revolutions. No problems when it's cooler. Isn't there a heat sheild solution I read about some time ago? Pulling the starter is a PITA.

Well, the car has been sitting for 6 days on a battery tender and today, it fired right up, no clicking issues. I took a short drive to run to the store and it when I returned from inside the store, I jumped in & it fired right up. Not sure if the clicking issue is resolved, but today's results are encouraging. I'll be leaving it plugged into the battery tender during the week when I'm not using the roadster.