5th Generation Maxima (2000-2003) Learn more about the 5th Generation Maxima, including the VQ30DE-K and VQ35DE engines.

Ugliest thing in the engine compartment

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 11-17-2010, 11:06 AM
  #1  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
trooplewis's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: San Diego
Posts: 1,039
Ugliest thing in the engine compartment

With the air snorkel removed, the starter is a corroded and ugly piece hanging onto the motor.

Has anyone messed with cleaning theirs up, painting it, etc?

Also, curious if anyone knows if there are "universal" starters that fit our Maximas both Automatic and Manual transmissions.
trooplewis is offline  
Old 11-17-2010, 11:15 AM
  #2  
Demodded and Forgotten
iTrader: (45)
 
rroderiques77's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Area 51
Posts: 2,881
No on the universal bit
rroderiques77 is offline  
Old 11-17-2010, 11:18 AM
  #3  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
trooplewis's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: San Diego
Posts: 1,039
Too bad, for $65 this one on amazon looks like a deal



http://www.amazon.com/Starter-Infini...8&sr=8-1-fkmr2


And way better looking than the one I have now...
trooplewis is offline  
Old 11-17-2010, 11:21 AM
  #4  
Senior Member
iTrader: (3)
 
Rochester's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 5,296
This is funny. And only because I've gone through this whole Benjamin Button detailing effort on my engine bay this year, and I relate to your observation. My starter is still original, and quite corroded. (Yuck)

However, my car starts just fine, so...

As far as the "ugliest" thing in the engine compartment goes, I bet your transmission motor mount is looking pretty nasty now that you can see that too.

Last edited by Rochester; 11-17-2010 at 11:25 AM.
Rochester is offline  
Old 11-17-2010, 11:32 AM
  #5  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
trooplewis's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: San Diego
Posts: 1,039
It's kinda like those horns in your sig...you never really pay attention and then you realize <yuck!>

BTW, I like the Joker added to that photo
trooplewis is offline  
Old 11-17-2010, 11:39 AM
  #6  
Senior Member
iTrader: (3)
 
Rochester's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 5,296
Originally Posted by trooplewis
BTW, I like the Joker added to that photo
Thanks. When best executed, humor is like an onion. Just like ogres. Funny how not a soul has asked me about the avatar du jour.

I bet your power steering pressure valve and wiper motor are pretty gross, too. And those are right out there in plain sight.

I will admit, I've thought about proactively replacing my starter motor. That's a slippery slope, though. Might as well proactively replace my entire car. (And people do that, you know. First time something fails... time for a new car.)

Last edited by Rochester; 11-17-2010 at 11:43 AM.
Rochester is offline  
Old 11-17-2010, 11:45 AM
  #7  
Senior Member
iTrader: (3)
 
Rochester's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 5,296
Wait a minute... I think I missed the obvious.

Troop, did you leave your stock airbox off the car when doing the STS mod, and go with a new air intake system?
Rochester is offline  
Old 11-17-2010, 11:48 AM
  #8  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
trooplewis's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: San Diego
Posts: 1,039
Originally Posted by Rochester
Wait a minute... I think I missed the obvious.

Troop, did you leave your stock airbox off the car when doing the STS mod, and go with a new air intake system?
I left off the air snorkel (way too congested) and drilled 4 one-inch holes in the filter cover. Sort of a modified GAB mod.

Originally Posted by Rochester
Might as well proactively replace my entire car. (And people do that, you know. First time something fails... time for a new car.)
And that is a good thing, at least for me, as I sell cars for a living.
trooplewis is offline  
Old 11-17-2010, 11:58 AM
  #9  
Senior Member
iTrader: (3)
 
Rochester's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 5,296
Originally Posted by trooplewis
I left off the air snorkel (way too congested) and drilled 4 one-inch holes in the filter cover. Sort of a modified GAB mod.
Oh. Right. Ghetto.

Rochester is offline  
Old 11-17-2010, 12:19 PM
  #10  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
trooplewis's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: San Diego
Posts: 1,039
If I buy a WAI, then there will be even MORE ugly stuff that will be visible and then I'll have more work to do.

BTW, there is a product called Toon Brite that is used by pontoon boat owners to clean up their corroded aluminum pontoons. I wonder how it would work on the engine and transmission housings on our cars?

It does not "shine" them so much as it whitens them up a lot.
trooplewis is offline  
Old 11-17-2010, 12:24 PM
  #11  
Senior Member
iTrader: (3)
 
Rochester's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 5,296
Originally Posted by trooplewis
If I buy a WAI, then there will be even MORE ugly stuff that will be visible and then I'll have more work to do.

BTW, there is a product called Toon Brite that is used by pontoon boat owners to clean up their corroded aluminum pontoons. I wonder how it would work on the engine and transmission housings on our cars?

It does not "shine" them so much as it whitens them up a lot.
Are you thinking about maybe the timing chain cover? I'm really at a loss what to do there. Maguires metal polish doesn't do squat on that stuff.
Rochester is offline  
Old 11-17-2010, 12:27 PM
  #12  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
trooplewis's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: San Diego
Posts: 1,039
Originally Posted by Rochester
Are you thinking about maybe the timing chain cover? I'm really at a loss what to do there. Maguires metal polish doesn't do squat on that stuff.
That and the whole area around the ugly corroded starter.
Toon Brite is s spray-on, wash-off product. I think it is mostly muriatic acid.
trooplewis is offline  
Old 11-17-2010, 12:34 PM
  #13  
Senior Member
iTrader: (1)
 
jowo9's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Alberta, Canada
Posts: 1,022
Originally Posted by Rochester
Are you thinking about maybe the timing chain cover? I'm really at a loss what to do there. Maguires metal polish doesn't do squat on that stuff.
I used steel wool on my timing chain cover. I didn't spend a whole lot of time on it, so it's not perfect yet, but I'd recommend it. It works quite well.
jowo9 is offline  
Old 11-17-2010, 02:05 PM
  #14  
Bad *** Newb
iTrader: (7)
 
Child_uv_KoRn's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 4,945
All of you have issues (OCD?). NO ONE looks there.




Child_uv_KoRn is offline  
Old 11-17-2010, 02:08 PM
  #15  
Senior Member
iTrader: (3)
 
Rochester's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 5,296
Originally Posted by Child_uv_KoRn
All of you have issues (OCD?). NO ONE looks there.
You're right, of course.

But if you bring two people with issues together, you create a shared character trait. And if you bring three people with issues together, you create a club. Four people, and you've got a movement.

And that's what we have: the Maxima.org OCD Movement.

Want to join?
Rochester is offline  
Old 11-17-2010, 02:31 PM
  #16  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
trooplewis's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: San Diego
Posts: 1,039
Originally Posted by Rochester
You're right, of course.

But if you bring two people with issues together, you create a shared character trait. And if you bring three people with issues together, you create a club. Four people, and you've got a movement.

And that's what we have: the Maxima.org OCD Movement.

Want to join?

LOL, and when the nurse asks you if you have had a movement today, you know what Rochester is talking...
trooplewis is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
captchaos
4th Generation Maxima (1995-1999)
17
03-15-2016 12:18 PM
6spd4dsc
5th Generation Classifieds (2000-2003)
4
03-04-2016 05:19 PM
03VQMAX
General Maxima Accessories (All Generations)
1
09-05-2015 03:47 PM
A32goldylocks
4th Generation Maxima (1995-1999)
2
09-02-2015 06:39 AM



Quick Reply: Ugliest thing in the engine compartment



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 01:03 AM.