Yeah its pretty weird. I have determined that the max will not start when it is hot out. I turn the key all the way and push the clutch and all the electronics come on but it doesnt start! I sit there for 5 minutes doing this, nothing. Walk away, come back a minute or two later ant it starts right up. I am worried that one of these times it just wont start. Has this happened to anyone here? Any ideas as to what it may be

BTW: normally i have to wiggle the key while it is turned in the ignition for the car to start.

Thanks!!!

 

We really need more detail if you want help.
Does starter motor crank at all?
If it doesn't, do you hear a clicking from engine bay when key is turned to START?
If it cranks but doesn't run on it's own, can you smell gas?
These are the sort of details we need.

 

If it makes you feel any better, I have the same problem, but it usually doesnt take me 5 mins to get the car started.. closer to 2 or 3 tries. It will crank but not actually start. I noticed it happening a ton when I took my car to florida last week. Now that im back in NY its not half as bad, although today was pretty warm and I was having a bit of trouble.

 

yeah i live in florida and on jot days it is hard to start up my max. it used to take me at least 3 tries to start the car. now that i changed my sparkplugs it starts up right away or at the most two turns of the key. i havent seen starting problems in any other cars only mine and my friends 96 max. what year is your car guys.

 

97 here <--

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by PedalKick
We really need more detail if you want help.
Does starter motor crank at all?
If it doesn't, do you hear a clicking from engine bay when key is turned to START?
If it cranks but doesn't run on it's own, can you smell gas?
These are the sort of details we need. [/QUOTE

Doesnt Crank
There is a clicking
Cant smell gas, can hear pump though

 

clicking noise means that your starter is dying I believe

 

I am almost 99% right when I say, I feel that it is your starter! I had this identical proplem with my 3rd Gen Max. When it was hot outside , I encountered the no starts; clicking and the most wierd part was after I rant and rave for about 5 minutes later she started right up! I bought a rebuilt starter and had my problems solved. Do yourself a favor and change your starter also while you are at it check for corrosion at your battery terminals ; battery life and finally your alternator for recalls.
Note: I may be wrong ; there is still a 1% remained unaccounted for.

 

Cleaned the terminals, probibly the starter. That is exactly what i did- ranted for 5 minutes and it started right up! do you know how much it costs to replace the starter approx? maybr i will try to do it myself

 

I have the same problem, i'm in florida also. I tried changing my starter and thats not it. If you don't here the starter turning its not your problem. I figured out what it is on mine. If you wiggle the key and or turn it REALLY hard a few times, or leave it be and come back, it'll start right away. Thats because the problem is in the switch where you put the key in. When hot resistence in wires goes way up, thats why we only have the problem when hot. All you probably need if its the same problem as me is a new switch. I haven't pulled out the starter to check yet but i'm almost definite the terminals will be in bad shape, i haven't had the time to check into this yet but as soon as i do i'll post something.

 

this would make more sense considering normally i have to wiggle the key a lot to start the car. i think i am going to invest in a new ign. switch because I checked the terminals on the starter and they look decent, no severe corrosion. that and i dont want to spend $350 on a freakin starter!!

Thanks!

 

Noway a rebuit starter shoud cost you an arm and a leg! I paid about $150 and a core charge of about 30 bucks , which was returned after turning in the starter.
It is a 6 job on a 1-10 scale. Pick a day when it is warm and go up a ramp; disconnect the battery and the starter harness . I think there is a site that tells you how to do this. I know the search is down , so hopefully someone will post the site link. Good luck and have a little more patience with the ****ty starter.

 

I hate that. What happened to this site? Trying to extort money out of us. I will tell you this site has lost a lot of usefullness w/o a search. I know a lot of other people feel the same way. I appreciate all the feedback very much, the connection to other enthusiasts is wonderful. They blocked the search feature because it was tying up the server or something like that, i dont remember. But now there are so many more posts instead of people searching, they must be tying up the server just as bad.
Next up- viewing fee- $1 per page.

Sorry to rant, members take no offense. I just dont like the direction this site is taking- a pay site.

 

Anyone know about how much a new switch / wire harness for your key would cost, it could definatly be worth a try as it doesn't seem like too expensive of a part.

 

I semi disagree, I usually would ***** when it comes to spending money to do anything including search, but i'm a web designer and i know how costly it can be to have a reliable isp to host your site. especially one that has upwards of 300 ppl on at ANY given moment. Still sux to pay to pay to do anything though =).

 

Ok I think the site is mortovate.com . I badly spelled the site name so it does not come up. Now only if someone will be so kind to correct me; this Fella could go on his way to a normal life!

 

Umm the site is www.Motorvate.ca but it has nothing to do with this problem. They have a fix for a starter noise not a fix for a none starting maxima...

 

What I was trying to do was provide him with some information on how to remove the starter! So when he buys his new starter he will not pay an arm and a leg to install it! Thank you for posting the link properly.

 

yes that def. makes the process a tad clearer... thanks for reminding me about that site! i totally forgot to look there!

 

Didn't feel like reading everything but maybe it's the battery. My old max had the same problem. I just changed the battery and it worked, but it could be a different problem for you.