odd starter issue

You gotta Love these old VG30E/i powered beasts, raw truck DNA to the core.

Moderator: volvite

sgtotaku
Posts: 2
Joined: Tue Dec 10, 2019 7:25 am
Location: SLC, UT

odd starter issue

Postby sgtotaku » Tue Dec 10, 2019 7:32 am

I have a 1995 Nissan Pathfinder 4wd, with a junkyard VG30e engine. The previous owner started the install of this engine. When i put in the starter, the flexplate ground on the starter really bad. I've now spaced it out further, and there isnt any more grinding from the starter, but now it periodically goes out of time, and fails to engage the teeth. when it does this, I have to manually turn the engine a degree or two, then the starter engages.

has anyone else experienced this kind of issue? and are there any suggestions to fix it on the cheap?

many thanks for any help here!


User avatar
smj999smj
Site Admin
Posts: 6054
Joined: Sun Jan 22, 2012 11:13 pm
Location: Prospect, VA

Postby smj999smj » Wed Dec 11, 2019 4:27 am

I worked on a lot of these in the dealer "back in the day" and never had to shim a starter, so, obviously, there is something wrong. There are usually two, hollow dowels that fit in recesses on the bellhousing that help align the trans to the engine. If one or both of them were missing when they assembled it, that could cause a misalignment issue which could cause your issue. That's the first thing that came to mind. Next, there should also be a thin, metal plate that goes between the engine and trans and if that wasn't installed, it could create an issue such as yours. If it's not one of those issues, then you'll have to look at the flexplate and starter, themselves. Can the flexplate be installed backwards? I don't think so but I also can't say of 100% sure. Perhaps the wrong starter, maybe? It might be something to look into, but I would be more expecting of one of the first two things that I mentioned.

sgtotaku
Posts: 2
Joined: Tue Dec 10, 2019 7:25 am
Location: SLC, UT

Postby sgtotaku » Wed Dec 11, 2019 9:02 am

I do have the metal spacer plate between the engine and transmission, but whoever installed it clocked it about .5 - 1 degree off from the bolt holes on the trans. the engine and trans are bolted together quite well, but that plate seems to be offset. could that be the source of my issue?

also, is there any way to find out the exact part number for the original flexplate? I dont know what was originally in the vehicle, and i dont know if there are different offsets availible. I have also heard of spacer plates for the flexplate to the crankshaft area. Is that something youve heard of?

User avatar
smj999smj
Site Admin
Posts: 6054
Joined: Sun Jan 22, 2012 11:13 pm
Location: Prospect, VA

Postby smj999smj » Wed Dec 11, 2019 10:29 pm

If the plate between the engine and transmission is slightly out of position, then that sounds like they left the alignment dowel out of the block when they assembled it. With the dowels installed, there is no way for the plate to move anywhere. The dowel part number (there are two of them) is 11022-21000 and they run about $3 for the pair of them. They are part code "11010B" on the part diagram linked below:

https://www.nissanpartsdeal.com/parts-l ... =4D;7=CAL)

I feel pretty confident that is what is causing your issue. The good news is the part is cheap; the bad news is that you have to separate the engine and trans in order to install it. They offer a spacer on the aftermarket for the flexplate but I've never used one on a Nissan and never heard of anyone else using one on a Nissan. The parts diagram shows the flexplate being used on the WD21 Pathfinder as far back as 10/89 and it was also used on the 300ZX (turbo and N/A) and the Hardbody truck, so it's probably the right part.


Return to “1986-1995 Pathfinder (WD21)”