I get in my car to go pick up a couple of my friends to head down to New Orleans this weekend for mardi gras. When I try to crank the car back up, it wont start. It kinda sounds like theres no gas in it, but its got half a tank. It doesnt sound like its a battery/alternator or starter problem. When I was trying to start it, I also noticed a heavy exhaust smell. It's a 5 speed, so we roll started it and it cranked. I don't want to take it down there because the check engine light is on. Anybody got a clue? BTW its a 1997 maxima se 5spd.

 

try checking the codes per the stickie at the top of the 4th gen forum....it could be (insert sensor here that causes cars to not start)

 

Try checking out the coolant temperature sensor. It tells the computer air/fuel mixture for starting car and idling.

 

Thanks for the help guys. I did the ECU code, and it came up 0505, which is the code for "No failure recorded/detected". And now magically, the ECU light has gone off. Will the coolant temp sensor malfunction every once and a while, or is this like a freak occurance? I guess what I'm asking is, what are the chances of this happening again, and do I need to dig deeper?