My starter died, got it tested, so I changed the starter and everything was fine. But since then, tuesday, every once in a while the car won't start. I'll try to start it, it will turn over and I hear a click and a small sound like it's going to start but it won't start. WTF?

I just checked again and all the screws are tight and secure, what's going on?

 

how's your battery doing?
might be dead/dying...or you have an electrical drain.

 

Battery was tested and it's good. Right now it started, I turned it off. Left it alone for five minutes and went back out and it did the same thing. Then I turned it and it didn't start but I held the key and it started. Like a late spark or something, what could be causing this?

 

what kind of max are you-GXE or SE, ? Anyway, awhile back some of the maximas have been having intermittent starrting problems. But I think most of them were excessive cranking required. So does yours eventually start with excessive cranking, or does it refuse to crank at all? If it's excessive cranking some say 1) distributor cap and rotor 2) plugs 3) fuel pump 4) ignition switch 5) fuses. See if all the idiot lights light up when it refuses to start. Try neutral or park or neutral or try pushing forward on the auto shifter in park.

 

Everything lights up, excessive cranking seems to be the technique. Plugs are fine. Probably the distributor cap and rotor, I haven't changed it in a while.

 

Ok excessive cranking isn't the technique, this sucks. I was stuck at school for 30 minutes and then the car started. So freakin' ****ed.

 

Here is the new list to check 1) ignition switch-make sure CEL illuminates-if not cycle the switch 2
) shifter-try in neutral in 5sp or Park or Neutral in autos-try pushing forward on auto level in Park. Consider some of the numerous relays under the hood-try swapping or hitting the various relays-get a friend to hit them as you crank-focus on those labeled igniton, starting, etc. And consider a tuneup or distributor cap and rotor. Check all fuses. Try starting with acclerator on the floor as if flooded.

 

Does the car have trouble starting when its cold or does the problem only occur after you have driven it and parked it for a short time?

 

Do you mean the ring around the ignition? That illuminates. Next time it happens I'll try to hold down on the accelerator. I've checked all the fuses and the relays but I'll try to hit them next time.

The car doesn't have trouble starting in the morning. I drive about 30-35 minutes to school, park and stay at school for about 7 hours, come out and it won't start for half and hour.

Oh and I got the starter tested and it's fine.