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From: jrm@cbuxc.UUCP (John Miller)
Newsgroups: net.auto
Subject: Re: another strange starting problem
Message-ID: <333@cbuxc.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 11-Sep-85 13:29:03 EDT
Article-I.D.: cbuxc.333
Posted: Wed Sep 11 13:29:03 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 12-Sep-85 10:25:48 EDT
References: <4174@alice.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories - Columbus Comp. Center
Lines: 32

> I have a 1981 Datsun 310GX, manual transmission. We have had intermittant 
> starting problems since we have had the car. It does not matter if the car is 
> cold or warm. When I turn the key, silence. Luckily, this once happened 
> at the Datsun dealer and they replaced the starter motor ( under warantee).
> Well, we went through 4 starter motors, all free, but still had the
> problem. My clever husband figured out that if this happens, put the car
> in 2nd gear, and rock the car. Well, that works every time. I now have 45000
> miles on the car and the starting problem is as intermittent as it ever was.
> Sometimes we can go for several weeks without a problem and sometimes it will
> happen every other day for a while. Since we can always start the car by
> rocking it in gear, I really don't care about getting it fixed. I am only
> posting this for interest....and maybe this strange fix will bail out
> someone else?

I had a 82 Datsun Stanza. It had a similar problem which turned out to me
a corroded small wire connecting to the starter. I cleaned the terminal and
the wire and it was OK. Later on in it's life I noticed that other wires 
were corroding too. The radiator fan would not come on, the cable connecting
to the carb would sometimes open up. I decided that Datsun does not build
cars for the climate I lived in and ditched the car. I suggest you look 
closely at all wires and connectors leading up to the starter.

As far as rocking it is concerned, you are probably jiggleing the wires
enough to make contact so it can be started.

Someday I will tell you the story of how the local Datsun dealer mis-
installed my new "factory" add-on airconditioning. As it turned out, I
had to take the car over the weekend and make some changes in a wire 
harness because their top "mechanic (he has been to Datsun school
for everything)" could not read a schematic.

P.S. I traded the damn thing for a chevy