sometimes Maxima won't crank...
 

I'm posting this for my friend. He has a '96 SE that has problem cranking. I've bypass the clutch sensor but when he tries to start it, nothing happens until he tries it for 5-6 times. The battery is good. I changed the starter for him, but that wasn't the problem. The autoparts store checked his old starter and said it was fine. I haven't checked to see if the battery terminals are cleaned yet, but the battery itself is fine. Does the Maxima have problems with main relays? My old '89 had problems with the starter, but never any relays. When my old Honda was hot, it had problems with starting until I changed the main relay. I was just wondering if Maximas had problems with this. Thanks in advance.

Does it crank?

I had this problem before and it turned out to be dirty battery terminals...just clean those really well then try again....I know they sell those wire brush like things to clean the terminals at any auto parts store....and also on a side note, I have an after market alarm and sometimes that screws up and it kills my starter....hope this helps.

bump bump

battery.....check it baby!

On the positive terminal of the batter there is a red plastic connector. That connector has two wires leaving it...one goes to the starter, the other feeds the rest of the car. Check that connector for corrosion as well as the batter posts themselves.

good luck,
JB

Thanks guys. I'm going to stop by his house tomorrow and clean the terminals. I'll post the results. Thanks.

I cleaned out the connectors and I still have the same problem. I was informed that the battery was replaced a month earlier.

When trying to start, the only sound I hear is the clutch relay towards the front of the engine bay (just replaced also). No other sounds are made. After about 4-10 tries, the car starts easily. It seems like an electrical problem. I tapped the starter with a screw driver and it still does the same thing. Could it be the starter? It's new from the autoparts store. The problem is, when I replaced the original starter (due to the same problem), I had the store checked it and it was fine. Is there any other electrical source that I should check?

u need a new ignition switch. u can get one from www.newnissanparts.com

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....gnition+switch

I took out the ignition switch and played around with it a little bit. I stuck a screwdriver in it and turned it. The motor started every single time. I then cleaned and installed it back; mated it back to the key. I guess it was a little stripped (and it didn't fully turn with the key). Tightened it back up and tested it. Works great now.

Thanks for all the help and information.