Odd Starter Sounds?

[Wackit]

Just curious, I know nothing is wrong but every Z I’ve driven including mine, has the strangest slow starter sound when you first start the car. It almost sounds like it’s on its last leg or that the battery is low. Again, I know they are functioning properly but I’ve owned dozens and dozens of cars and have never heard anything like a Z's starter. Does anyone know the reason?

 

[kevinbonds]

Just curious, I know nothing is wrong but every Z I’ve driven including mine, has the strangest slow starter sound when you first start the car. It almost sounds like it’s on its last leg or that the battery is low. Again, I know they are functioning properly but I’ve owned dozens and dozens of cars and have never heard anything like a Z's starter. Does anyone know the reason?

It's funny you mention this, it's always bothered me, just how weak it sounds through the startup sequence.

 

[speedjuno]

Ha! Have you ever listened to a ‘70’s/‘80’s Dodge 318ci starter?!? lol

 

[5amp5on]

The only good thing about my first car being a 1974 canary yellow Plymouth Valiant that refused to die is thinking every car after it was perfect!


Yes I also think our cars sound like they have a "slow" starter.

 

[FSUZ33]

Haven't paid terribly close attention, but I did this morning. Although this is my first car with push-button start, mine sounds fine. Spins over a couple of times then fires just like my Z33's. To me, mine doesn't sound weak or slow. Idk, maybe I'm just used to it. I'd like to see/hear this to compare it to mine.

My first Z33 started getting slow at about the 2 year mark. About 2.5y in I changed to an Optima red top and that was a significant difference. Went over 9 years before it slowed down, and replaced it about the 10y mark (from installation). It was slow at that point, but still cranking the car. Maybe OEM batteries are weak, and/or get weak really quickly.

 

[David Montgomery]

Listen to a current gen Mazda 3. It sounds like it isn't even going to start, but does everytime. My Z sounds way faster compared to my son's Mazda 3.

 

[alienpoker]

I’ve noticed this too- so get exactly what you mean. It’s noticeably worse when it gets cold.

Nippy early mornings or when the car has been sitting outside and not driven recently.

I dk if it’s because of high compression or the engine tolerances they used. But I suspect if everyone notices that “starter lag”… then it’s normal. Mine almost always lags like that and it feels like my battery is low. But it starts up fine.

 

[alienpoker]

Haven't paid terribly close attention, but I did this morning. Although this is my first car with push-button start, mine sounds fine. Spins over a couple of times then fires just like my Z33's. To me, mine doesn't sound weak or slow. Idk, maybe I'm just used to it. I'd like to see/hear this to compare it to mine.

My first Z33 started getting slow at about the 2 year mark. About 2.5y in I changed to an Optima red top and that was a significant difference. Went over 9 years before it slowed down, and replaced it about the 10y mark (from installation). It was slow at that point, but still cranking the car. Maybe OEM batteries are weak, and/or get weak really quickly.

Correct. In my experience, the OEM Nissan batteries are terrible. Even ones that comes new from the factory.

For another Nissan car, my battery was 3-4 years old. During a visit to the Nissan Service Dept… they refused to run diagnostics unless the battery tested 100%. I was waiting so didn’t want to take an Uber to go get a replacement. Interstate AGM or Optima are decent, ymmv…

Anyway- it felt like they were padding the service bill, but they promised it had a “7yr guarantee” so I said okay. It died in < 1 year.

Then it’s a Pita to go there to file a warranty claim. If you do- you’ll just get the same battery. Rinse & repeat.

It’s mentioned a lot in forums for other Nissan cars:

 

[thesilverbullet]

Just curious, I know nothing is wrong but every Z I’ve driven including mine, has the strangest slow starter sound when you first start the car. It almost sounds like it’s on its last leg or that the battery is low. Again, I know they are functioning properly but I’ve owned dozens and dozens of cars and have never heard anything like a Z's starter. Does anyone know the reason?

same for me it’s not a ”strong” start for sure.

I‘m guessing the hydraulic zero-lash valve lifters play a factor along with catering to emissions - pulling timing on startup.

i keep mine on a battery tender - helps some

 

[FSUZ33]

Haven't had a bad battery strand me in my last 3 cars (since '03), but at the first sign of trouble an Optima goes in.