My '96 max is very hard to crank-up in cold weather. Sometimes it takes about 10 cranks to get it started. Can anyone tell me what I can do to fix/help. Thanks!

 

First thing I would try is cleaning your throttle body... happens to just about everybody that hasn't done it by winter. Make it a habit for when you do winterization.

 

Get your battery tested.

 

when you crank it give it gas...high rev it and it will start better, at least thats what works for me

 

yea check your battery

 

def check yr battery

 

Don't mean to ***** up the thread, but when I start my car in the morning, the RPMs drop to about 500, jump to 1500, then settles right above 1k while it warms up. I just got a new battery, so it cant be that. Any suggestions? Is it just the cold weather, although that doesn't make sense that cold weather is making the RPMs fluxuate when it starts.

 

Don't listen to these people. Turn the key to the 'ON' position, wait till the 5 beeps end then, start the car. The fuel line needs to be pressurized before the engine will start easy. Last year my car would take forever to start. Then, I heard about this on the ORG somewhere and tried it, now it takes only 3 starter turns to start.



My 2¢

 

Alright, since this is the ONLY valid advice... I have a couple questions.

My car starts on the first or second crank every time... so, if what your saying is true - that means there is something wrong with my car. Right?

Why exactly would this only happen in cold weather (as indicated by his question)? So, when the weather is cold and everything is nice and tight - you are MORE likely to lose pressure in the fuel lines when the car is sitting?

If this is normal - then why don't you have to do that with new cars?

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Anyway, if the cars battery is toast or getting low enough to where it won't start the car - I would "hope" that you would notice. Definately good advice anyway, since cold weather will kill an older battery pretty quick.

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I don't believe I am the only one to recommend cleaning the throttle body though. Symptoms of dirty throttle body as seen on countless threads on this board and experienced by myself:
::Very Hard to start - requiring the pumping of the gas pedal at times
::Erratic idle on startup - bouncing from low to high RPM before settling
::Poor throttle response (or noticeably sluggish)
::Symptoms suddenly appears when it gets cold out

I know that the Idle Control Valve (i think?) will cause some similar problems and requires cleaning sometimes. I only picked up on that a couple times so I cannot be more specific. Maybe someone could elaborate.

HTH

 

Its your throttle body. Believe me. It's been gone over many times. I used to do the stupid priming thing with the key in the on position and wait. Cleaned the TB.. I wait maybe 1 sec before turning the key. Fires up no problem.

 

The "wait for fuel pump" tip is often quoted but rarely a solution for those with start problems in winter. The throttle body clean should really be done--it is often ignored by the typical owner and really has helped countless of us. One tip off is if the car is easier to start while you gently depress the gas pedal.

 

thats the way I do it, always works
except my case is nowhere near as bad, if i don't use this method, i can start my car on the first crank, but it takes longer and when it first starts it feels like its gonna die (but doesn't)

 

u need a new coolant temperature sensor when the car is cold hasnt been started like 6+ hours when u turn the key to start the coolant temperature sensor sends a wrong signal to the ecu the ecu then sends more gas to fire the engine this is where your car dosent start anyways i had the same problem too i checked the cts and it was corroded i cleaned the sensor and put it back and didnt have any trouble after that just wanted to let u guys know there r some guys here who have never heard of a cts its coolant temperature sensor your local nissan dealer will know about it