So my sons 93 maxima auto just died on the freeway like someone just turned the key off. After he coasted to a stop and tried to start it, it did nothing. It has a well charged battrey, the connections are good, starter fuse in fuse box is good, I swapped a few relays with a known running max, no change. It acts like as if you were trying to start it while in gear. It dont turn over or even click under the hood. I hear the relays next to the fuse box clicking, and I feel the "engine cont" relay under the hood click. When I tried to bump the starter with a screwdriver the silinoide spun but the spring didnt kick in and turn the motor. I have 12v to the starter...... any ideas will help.... thanks

Darryl

 

Try to see if the distributer cap is loose or even the distributer. This happened to me about 2 years ago while driving on the highway. It wouldn't start back up. Had it towed to the mechanic and they found the distributer was loose. They tightened it up and away i went.

 

Is it getting fuel, check to see and if not check fuse and FP relay.

 

would the fuel pump relay make it not turn over?

I am gonna pull the security box tonight and maybe pull the starter and try to manualy engage the starter.

again it acts like as if you left it in drive and tried to start it.

 

so, it's an auto?
try putting it in reverse, and slamming (not hulk-smash, but quick and firm) it back into park.

 

try to start it in neutral, if it starts you need a new neutral safety switch. and don't "PULL" the starter to check it run a 12.ga wire with an alligator clip connected to the SMALL white/red wire going to the starter and connect that to the positive terminal on the battery if it turns over the starter is good i would check the anti theft system at that point

 

Shifter bushing maybe? When my shifter bushing went out on me back in the day I'd always have to put it in neutral to get it to start. Pushing into park hard never worked but neutral worked each time

Although that wouldn't explain why it died on the highway

 

I agree with it possibly being shifter bushing as well keeping it from turning over, but what would make it suddenly stop while driving down the road? a neutral pos switch and/or shifter bushing shouldn't do that.

It's getting fuel, so it's not the pump.

I'm almost thinking ignition switch at this point.. but I can't imagine why it would fail while operating AND all of the electrical stuff would work but won't turn the engine over.
the starter runs independently of the ECU and evrything else... if you turn the key to start, it should at least crank, assuming the engine is in park or neutral...

very strange.

brain not working right now, but I'd look at inhibitor switch, neutral position, and etc as a first step.

check for a blinky light on the ECU as well. does it blink when you turn the ignition on?
what does the check engine light on the dash do when you turn the ignition on? when the ECU is working correctly, the check engine light should illuminuate for about 3-5 sec when you turn the key to on. it should then go off. If it doesn't come on or comes on and stays on, you likely have an electrical problem with the ECU... check that and go from there.
gluck!

 

CHeck your engine cont fuse, my max did this once after my exhaust gas sensor wires melted and fused, earthing on the exhaust. def sounds electrical look for broken wires, check impedance of sensors etc.

 

This happened to my friend recently (98 max). His problem was a faulty alternator.

 

Check your starter first, like post #6 suggests. You need to get it cranking normally then you can look into why it's not firing up (in case it won't).

 

So I forgot to mention there is 12" of snow on the ground today, and the temp hasnt been above 32 for the past week. It took me two days to get it into the shop. I checked the starter just like post #6 said, it worked fine. It would not start the engine but it did turn it over like it should. I got under the dash and pulled the security plug from the box and tried it again and it fired right up. So bottom line, it was the security box for some reason, while it was cold, frozen and Thanksgiving night, of course thats when it was gonna give me trouble.