[Roadsters] Smoking/failing starter or something else?

Pete Peters ppeters914 at comcast.net
Wed Jul 1 12:42:54 MDT 2009


Why the strong anti-gear reduction starter comment, Gary? Quite a few folks running them without issue. 

I'm wondering if the new headers are overheating the starter. 

Why did you replace the original starter? 

Pete 

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "oliver" <sumton at sbcglobal.net> 
To: datsun-roadsters at autox.team.net 
Sent: Wednesday, July 1, 2009 5:14:25 AM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific 
Subject: Re: [Roadsters] Smoking/failing starter or something else? 

i wouldn't put in another starter yet. i don't think its a gear reduction vs standard starter issue. could it be a short? 

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Gary and Cindy Ault" <aultgc at att.net> 
To: "Ritchie Labate" <rlabate at sbcglobal.net>; 
<datsun-roadsters at autox.team.net> 
Sent: Tuesday, June 30, 2009 11:44 PM 
Subject: Re: [Roadsters] Smoking/failing starter or something else? 

Forget the gear-reduction starters and put a real starter in the car. A stock starter cranks my '66 1600/2000 at 10 below after sitting outside overnight, so I see no reason to use anything else. I have a gear-reduction starter (almost new) I took out of my '67-1/2 2000. I consider it to be junk, but I am willing to sell it to anyone who really wants one. 

Gary 

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ritchie Labate" <rlabate at sbcglobal.net 
To: <datsun-roadsters at autox.team.net 
Sent: Tuesday, June 30, 2009 5:45 PM 
Subject: [Roadsters] Smoking/failing starter or something else? 

I need help with my '68 2000. About a year ago, I replaced the original starter with the recommended Nissan forklift gear-reduction type as posted on our wiki section. Worked fine for about 6 trips. Installed new headers, leaving the shop, 10 minutes later, I hear a high pitch whirling sound, then smoke from under the hood, I shut it down. Was told by a mechanic its the starter. I replaced it with another forklift starter, drove it maybe a dozen more times. 

Last weekend, started up in the garage, idled for 10 minutes when I went inside, came back, heard the whirling sound, then smoking. Immediately shut it down, looked underneath, saw smoke coming from starter, not able to start it again. What the heck?? Mechanic said maybe solenoid, not disengaging flywheel, and burning up the solder inside. It did smell like an electrical fire. 

Could it be anything else? Ignition system? Why does it appear to work a few times than fails? I'm hesitant to go ahead and throw in this new starter at this point. Should I take it to an electrical specialist to diagnose first? 

Thanks! 

Ritch ____________ 


More information about the Datsun-roadsters mailing list