Here's the situation. I went to my local nissan service center and had them take a look at my car and tell me why it takes so long for it to turn on. They came back an hour later and told me that my fuel pump needed replaced. So they gave me a quote of close to $600. They told me that was for a new tank also. I asked why I needed a new tank and they told me that that's the only way to get to the fuel pump since it is inside the tank. Unless I wanted them to cut into the tank and replace it, then weld it back together.. but then obviously worry about leaks. Wouldn't the gas tank explode if they were to drill into it?? That just didn't make sense to me. Any thoughts?

 

Its Stellership. WHat you expect. They trying to make you into a sucker. I'm sure the fuel pump is detachable. I think you might even be able to get to it through the back seat.

 

Why don't you spend the $15 or $20 it costs to buy a Haynes manual? I am not mechanically inclined, but I do know how to read. Go to section 4-4 of the manual.

The fuel pump can be accessed by removing the rear seat and then removing the fuel pump/fuel level sending unit access cover. There is an entire write-up on removal and replacement of the fuel pump.

You should be able to buy a fuel pump somewhere other than a stealership. As far as the gas tank is concerned, they are trying to blow smoke up your a$$ and I would call them on it. Then take your business elsewhere!

 

yea go back to them take your back seat out and tell them to take it off the easy way. They wanted to charge my friend $750 to change his knock sensor because of all the labor involed i got on the phone and had words with the guy because he was telling me that its "impossible" to get to the knock without taking the IM off and it would take about 6-7 hours to do it all so i went and got my ratchet and took off the old knock while he was still on the phone and then he just hung up. no disrespect to anyone who works at a dealership but the sevice sucks at most of the dealers around south fla

 

Read my rant under Dealerships and you'll see the lousy service extends all the way to British Columbia.

 

First off, a hard start is not caused by a faulty fuel pump. Your car wouldn't run at all if the fuel pump failed. If the fuel pump was weak and not meeting delivery requirements your car would fall flat on it's face when you tried to accellerate, especailly at wide open throttle.

Secondly, the fuel pump is accessed through an access plate located under the back seat. Under that access plate is the access cover on the fuel tank for the fuel pump and sending unit.

You are being ripped off big time by that dealer, and honestly I'd never go back there again.

Why don't you tell us in detail what you mean by "it takes a long time for your car to turn on" and let us try to help you figure out whats wrong. The dealer is trying to sell you things you don't need, especially the gas tank issue, thats a down right lie.

 

/\/\/\ what he said

 

Sheesh. These guys must sit around thinking of the most difficult way to do things so they can rape customers.

"We have to pull your engine to replace the water pump."

"We have to pull your heads to change the spark plugs."

"We can't rotate your tires without removing the struts."

"Changing the oil on a Maxima requires us to turn the car upside down to empty the crankcase."

 

And then there's my rant under Dealerships, where I was told my right rear caliper was seized and that I needed two rebuilt rear calipers, new brake pads and the rotors machined and they didn't even take the rear wheels off the car. They observed that the right rear brake pad was unevenly worn by looking at it through the spokes of the wheel, which is utter nonsense. They would have had to remove the brake pads from the brake caliper to make that assessment. I complained and the dealership has now banned me, lol!

 

Sad part is people get taken by that crap.

 

I am so glad you asked the questions above...Dealerships suck...for that main purpose... its like you take a car in with a flat, then they say..."Well sir, we'll have to replace the rim as well and that will be $450 for the new rim..."

argh!..they all sucko!

 

Yeah, stealership!

 

To explain it in detial, I turn the key and the car will try to turn on but won't turn over.. so I just sit there until it finally does and then it sputters to the point where I have to give it some gas to keep it running. I have noticed that it does feel sluggish driving around. The guy who just put in my new starter said he thought it was the fuel pump to.. because of the way it sputters right after the engine turns over. And this problem started a couple days after I had it in for a tune-up at the Nissan dealership.

 

http://vbxmaxima.8m.com/fuel%20pump.html

 

well, $600 to actually replace the fuel pump is a little steep, but not by much given the factory part is probably $300 and you do have to drop the tank from the car, but you don't replace it. Don't EVER go back to that place....maybe you need your piston vents cleaned...jerks.

Anyway, back on topic....
Your description reads funny, which sounds more accurate:
1: when you turn the key the engine "spins" but it doesn't start for a couple seconds.

2: You turn the key and there is "nothing", not even a click.

If #1 answer:
- how does it start when its warmed up...easier, same, harder?
- how does it start when its cold (overnight)...easier, same, harder?

If you haven't done a full tune up, start there. Plugs, fuel filter and clean the throttle body...that can fix a lot of hard starting maxima's. Buy a can of a quality fuel system cleaner like Chevron or Seafoam to follow up.

Based on your answers, someone here should be able to help you figure it out, for a lot less than $600.

Good luck,
JB

 

hahaha, thats funny. i replaced mine last year witha walbro fuel pump for 91 dollars including shipping. and it took me about 30 mins to put it in.

 

You're probably right about the dealer price for the pump, but replacing it just involves pulling up the back seat, not dropping the tank. A skilled tech would only need about 20 minutes to replace it.

 

It's number one, I knew I wasn't using the right terminology in the first description. I did get a full tune-up before this started happening and it did quicken the time it took to turn the car on. As for the temp outside when I turn it on, it was basically just how full the tank was. Below half tank and the lower it got, the harder it was to turn on, usually taking two turns of the key to get it on. The fuller the tank, the easier, majority of the time it only takes one turn of the key to get it to turn on.As for overnight, no matter how full the tank is, it takes to turns of the key to get it to turn on. I have cleaned the throttle body, actually just today again to see if it made a difference, but it didn't.

 

You need to have a mechanic NOT THAT DEALERSHIP take a good look at your problem. It could be a fuel issue but the only way to accurately check that is by connecting a fuel pressure gauge to your fuel system. But again, if your engine was starving for fuel from a bad pump, you would have a hard time driving it, never mind just starting it.

 

I do see that a majority of people say it's not the fuel pump. Is that the most expensive part of the fuel system? If it is, then I would be more than happy for it to be something else. Any other suggestions on what it could be without testing it with the fuel pressure gauge (which I will do when my mechanic comes to my house to fix whatever it is)? I'm not driving it for fear of getting stuck somewhere... So I'm stuck driving my moms "winter" car which is an 01 Honda CRV.. which is SLOW and embarassing.. and it's about ready to roll over when I take turns too fast.. man I miss my Maxi!

 

When your mechanic comes by tell him to run a pressure test on your fuel system. This can possible pinpoint or limit what's the actual problem. You mentioned something about a new starter. I'm thinking is there a wrong way of putting in a starter.

 

Bump

See if anyone else has some info to share. It's getting serviced tomorrow so anything would be helpful. Thanks!

 

if you do go to the dealer ship,just go to the parts dept. and get this

1)17042-31U08 1995-1999 Fuel Pump
($222.66)

then go to the service writer and ask him why you had to sell him a tank again. and then show him the fuel pump.

do this only if you believe it is the fuel pump. since you said you had a tune up you should of already replaced the fuel filter.

 

ROFL, I used to be a service manager at a car dealership. This is very funny to me. Yes everyone is right, you can access the fuel pump through the rear seats. Remove the seats and there is a hole that can be unscrewed. Please be advised this is not easy to do. I am not sure how hard it is to do on a maxima but I watched it done on a mitsubishi galant and what a nightmare removing and installing that pump was. And one word of advice, work in a well ventalated area!!! LOL

 

On the max...this is a very simple swap...very!

 

It's getting fixed in less than an hour. I'll be posting what happens after the new pump is put in. Not unless the fuel pressure test says otherwise. Thanks to all for their info!

 

are you going walbro or oem.

 

Just going oem. Everything went smoothly and it took a little under two hours to get it all done, with a couple fresh air breaks tied in there. It's great having that hole under the rear seat! Some things to mention if someone is doing this themselves, you really want to make sure you have less than 1/4 tank of gas. As for me, I had a little more than 3/4 tank which made everything that much harder. That link that someone posted really helped and make sure you take out fuse 32! So now it's getting broken in and hopefully everything performs the way it should. I'll be posting more on here if something does happen!