Car doesn't start..sometimes
 

I have a 2004 G35 Coupe that occasionally will not start. There wont be any crank but all the interior and exterior lights turn on. I just replaced the starter and battery 2 months ago. When I turn the key over I can hear the starter click once and that's all that happens. No codes appear when I use OBD scanner. Looking for some help or advice for a potential fix.

Is the starter getting 12v power? Use a jumper cable to jump your starter positive terminal straight to the battery.

If it still doesnt crank, then make sure your engine isnt seized up. Remove all the spark plugs and try to turn the engine over manually.

Yeah it is getting power, Engine isn't seized. also it has only not started once. That was last week and ever since then it's been starting and running fine.

Sounds like your starter might be on its way out.

That's what i was thinking as well. The only problem is I literally just replaced the starter, just gotta find out what's making the starter go bad.

Does this only happen when the engine is hot? But then the car will start again after it's sat for an hour or two?

If so that's a common symptom of a failing starter solenoid. Replace the starter, it can be hell to bench test for this because by the time you get the starter removed it's usually cooled down enough that it will function on a bench.

No, the first and only time it's happened, was after the car had been sitting for exactly 4 hours.

Did you have to jump the car to get it running again?

You might have a parasitic draw on the system that's draining the battery, also, just because the battery is new doesn't mean it's actually good.

No I didn't jump it, I just sat there with the car off for 30 minutes, tried again and it started back up like nothing was wrong. I've tested the battery with a standard battery tester and it's just fine.

Are your battery terminals clean? Are the connections tight?

Check your ground connections, especially the ground connection to the engine.

Honestly I'm thinking it's a starter relay issue, if it was starter heat soak (even after time) hitting the starter a second time isn't going to work. If it's a cable problem (positive or negative) hitting the starter a second time isn't going to work.

However if it's a RELAY problem then yes hitting the relay a second time might make it work, they build up corrosion on the internal contacts from use, this causes a significant drop in power which can make the starter click. If you can hit the starter multiple times and finally get it to crank after like 4-5 tries then it's probably the relay.

How many time total has the vehicle failed to start? What did you do to get it to start again?

It might also be the clutch pedal switch needing adjustment since it interlocks the starter.

I would buy a new starter relay and swap it just because they do wear out, it's located in the IPDM.

Clean up both ends of both battery cables, also the engine bonding jumper from the timing chain to below the coolant reservoir.