DIY Maxima Starter Clean and Regrease
04-14-2013, 05:09 PM
#1
Newbie - Just Registered
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Harrisburg, Pa
Posts: 10
DIY Maxima Starter Clean and Regrease
I was having issues with my starter clunking and slow to start the car so instead of replacing it I found a DIY to replacing the grease.
This is my version of that guide with more pictures that could have made it easier.
This starts after the Starter is removed from the vehicle if you need help with that there are guides online for that also.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
TORQUE SPECS
On Car
14mm Bolt: 22.4 - 30.4 ft/lb
17mm Bolt: 57.1 - 72.3 ft/lb
On Starter
10mm Bolts: 4.7 - 5.7 ft/lb
56.4 - 69.4 in/lb
8mm Bolts: 3.6 - 4.7 ft/lb
43.4 - 56.4 in/lb
Ground Cable Nut: 5.4 - 7.2 ft/lb
65.1 - 86.8 in/lb
1.Things you will need:
-Phillips Screw Driver
-10mm wrench
-8mm wrench
-Rubbing alcohol (Or anything that cleans grease)
-Paper Towels (Or anything to soak up a mess)
-Synthetic Grease (People have used other lubricants)
-Old tooth brush
-Bucket or container to soak and clean parts in.
2. This is the starter removed from the vehicle ready for disassembly.
3. Grab your 10mm wrench and remove the two bolts pictured below
4. Separate the two pieces shown.
5. Grab your 8mm wrench and remove these two bolts.
6. Pull those two apart. The part on the right is where I found lots of dirt and most of the clog.
7. Remove the cover plate and flip it over.
This is my version of that guide with more pictures that could have made it easier.
This starts after the Starter is removed from the vehicle if you need help with that there are guides online for that also.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
TORQUE SPECS
On Car
14mm Bolt: 22.4 - 30.4 ft/lb
17mm Bolt: 57.1 - 72.3 ft/lb
On Starter
10mm Bolts: 4.7 - 5.7 ft/lb
56.4 - 69.4 in/lb
8mm Bolts: 3.6 - 4.7 ft/lb
43.4 - 56.4 in/lb
Ground Cable Nut: 5.4 - 7.2 ft/lb
65.1 - 86.8 in/lb
1.Things you will need:
-Phillips Screw Driver
-10mm wrench
-8mm wrench
-Rubbing alcohol (Or anything that cleans grease)
-Paper Towels (Or anything to soak up a mess)
-Synthetic Grease (People have used other lubricants)
-Old tooth brush
-Bucket or container to soak and clean parts in.
2. This is the starter removed from the vehicle ready for disassembly.
3. Grab your 10mm wrench and remove the two bolts pictured below
4. Separate the two pieces shown.
5. Grab your 8mm wrench and remove these two bolts.
6. Pull those two apart. The part on the right is where I found lots of dirt and most of the clog.
7. Remove the cover plate and flip it over.
Last edited by Phoenix88; 04-15-2013 at 12:26 AM.
04-14-2013, 05:09 PM
#2
Newbie - Just Registered
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Harrisburg, Pa
Posts: 10
8. Remove the two screws with the phillips head screw driver and pull them apart. (May require a bit of force) Clean the parts as necessary. I didn't put any grease in here because of the electronics.
9. Separate the piece on the right from the housing and separate all of the pieces for cleaning.
10. Clean the gears and prepare them for reinstallation.(Note the flat sides on the outter gear those give clearence for the bolts to pass.
11. Clean the housing out.
12. Regrease the gear assembly. Be sure to turn it a few times to help the grease spread.
GREASE SPOTS
9. Separate the piece on the right from the housing and separate all of the pieces for cleaning.
10. Clean the gears and prepare them for reinstallation.(Note the flat sides on the outter gear those give clearence for the bolts to pass.
11. Clean the housing out.
12. Regrease the gear assembly. Be sure to turn it a few times to help the grease spread.
GREASE SPOTS
Last edited by Phoenix88; 04-14-2013 at 11:52 PM.
04-14-2013, 05:10 PM
#3
Newbie - Just Registered
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Harrisburg, Pa
Posts: 10
13. After the parts are cleaned and greased you're ready to reassemble the starter. Take the black piece and replace the gold cap making sure to line up the wire.
14. Stick the long bolts back threw to use as a guide for the cover plate.
15. Replace the cover plate.
16. Connect the two halfs.
17. Install the "wish bone" back onto the unit as shown.
18. Replace the housing. Don't forget to put the rubber spacer back in as well. You can see it in the last picture.
19. Make sure when you replace the magnetic switch assembly you put it back the way it came off.
20. Clean the grounds and you are DONE!
TIP: A good thing to do before you reinstall the starter on your car is to test that you put it back correct and it works by hooking it up to the battery to make sure it will turn on its own.
14. Stick the long bolts back threw to use as a guide for the cover plate.
15. Replace the cover plate.
16. Connect the two halfs.
17. Install the "wish bone" back onto the unit as shown.
18. Replace the housing. Don't forget to put the rubber spacer back in as well. You can see it in the last picture.
19. Make sure when you replace the magnetic switch assembly you put it back the way it came off.
20. Clean the grounds and you are DONE!
TIP: A good thing to do before you reinstall the starter on your car is to test that you put it back correct and it works by hooking it up to the battery to make sure it will turn on its own.
Last edited by Phoenix88; 04-14-2013 at 11:54 PM.
04-14-2013, 05:34 PM
#5
Excellent write up. This should help people for a long time until the 4th gens rust away slowly until they disintegrate completely.
Personally, this is too much work for me, and i have an lifetime warranty from autozone so its a 15 minute process to swap them out.
Personally, this is too much work for me, and i have an lifetime warranty from autozone so its a 15 minute process to swap them out.
04-14-2013, 05:47 PM
#7
Newbie - Just Registered
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Harrisburg, Pa
Posts: 10
The stuff I had was from Advanced Auto for $8.
Valvoline SynPower Full Synthetic Multipurpose Grease (Part#VV986)
04-14-2013, 07:53 PM
#9
Newbie - Just Registered
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Harrisburg, Pa
Posts: 10
04-14-2013, 07:58 PM
#10
04-14-2013, 08:11 PM
#11
Newbie - Just Registered
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Harrisburg, Pa
Posts: 10
04-15-2013, 12:00 AM
#12
Newbie - Just Registered
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Harrisburg, Pa
Posts: 10
Sorry for coming off as being rude. There are six bearings, or bushings really, in the maxi starter. If you did grease them you did not document it and I apologize.
I modified your original pictures, I hope you don't mind. I marked all the bearings that should be greased in red. The bendix should be lubed with motor oil, grease here will cause it to stick over time.
Also polishing the commutator and cleaning the groves out between the commutator bars is always good.
I modified your original pictures, I hope you don't mind. I marked all the bearings that should be greased in red. The bendix should be lubed with motor oil, grease here will cause it to stick over time.
Also polishing the commutator and cleaning the groves out between the commutator bars is always good.
If anyone else has any suggestions or think I may have missed anything let me know.
04-15-2013, 04:38 PM
#13
This is very informative and experimented with this last summer and I didn't disassemble solenoid side but everything else I did. The grease though, I ended up using wheel bearing grease but couldn't find silicone grease...
04-15-2013, 05:47 PM
#17
04-15-2013, 09:04 PM
#18
Newbie - Just Registered
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Harrisburg, Pa
Posts: 10
If your starter hasn't been changed in a long time most likely it is starting to gum up.
04-15-2013, 10:52 PM
#19
send your starter to Phoenix88 bet he will do a group deal
04-16-2013, 03:43 AM
#20
If I haven't started her for a while *like i'm gonna go out this morning to start her up* I bet she'll take about 4-3 seconds to crank then once she starts up the RPMS will JUMP to about 2-2500 then drop down to about 400 then back up to around 1k *on a cold start* I think my IACV has something to do with it but feel it can also be my starter
Sure thing once I get back home, HOPEFULLY the same thing happens this morning & that's the same thing I was saying
Sure thing once I get back home, HOPEFULLY the same thing happens this morning & that's the same thing I was saying
04-16-2013, 06:53 AM
#21
If I haven't started her for a while *like i'm gonna go out this morning to start her up* I bet she'll take about 4-3 seconds to crank then once she starts up the RPMS will JUMP to about 2-2500 then drop down to about 400 then back up to around 1k *on a cold start* I think my IACV has something to do with it but feel it can also be my starter
04-16-2013, 04:21 PM
#23
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post