2004 Nissan Sentra 2 Questions that are driving me crazy!

DQUINONES2026

MEMBER
2004 NISSAN SENTRA
6 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
56,000 MILES

Ok, my moms boyfriend replaced the battery for the car about 3 months ago and the car sometimes doesnt start. The battery is smaller than it should be, but a mechanic said that doesnt matter. I beg to differ. The car sometimes just makes a multiple clicking noise, but everything else works (radio, heat, inside lights) EXCEPT sometimes the head lights. Now, a 1992 accord tried to jump it and didnt succeed, but when they rocked the car back into the parking spot it turned on. JUST LIKE THAT. Now I dont know if its the starter, I need a bigger and better battery or whats going on. Also, when I pump gas into my gas tank, it spits it right out. Also, when I take the cap off to put gas you hear like its blowing air out of it. Is that also causing my starting problem? Please help.

1 Reply

ZACKMAN

MECHANIC
4,202 POSTS

For the most part, battery size matters and some other time they don't. In your case, from the factory, your vehicle will accept group size 24F or 35. Dimensionally, 35 and 24F have the same height and depth, but 24F is about 1.5" wider than 35. And, in order to confuse you, group size 75DT and 78DT, among other, are suitable replacement.

But, here is what you should do. One, maybe both, of your battery terminals is/are loose. Make sure that they are both tight and are free of corrosion. Try to start. If it works, great. If it still does the continuous clicking, try jumping it. If it works, your battery is low in charge, and needs to be charged via an external charger, not the alternator. If it doesn't work, we will do more diagnostic.

Your entire fuel system is pressurized. Hissing from the gas cap is normal, it means that your gas cap is doing what it is supposed to be doing.