A couple of weeks ago there was a thread about a starting problem with a Gen IV car where you would get no starter action, but lights radio etc were fine. Someone indicated it could be the ignition switch that mounts behind the key switch. Well I replaced that switch on my car and so far the car has started perfectly every time. Hopefully this will contiune.

I was wondering if anybody knows if the Gen III car has a similar switch. I donated that car to Goodwill cause I thought I was going to have to buy a starter.

 

You dontated the whole car because you thought you'd have to buy a $80 starter? whats the car in bad shape and you didnt want to deal with it? Wow I'm shocked.

 

Wow. I donated my '86 olds cause the tranny and the engine were almost shot. But the starter? You must be a really charitable person.

 

The car was an extra car that we didn't need. I had already sank about $1200 in the car over the previous year and decided enough was enough. The AC was getting a little weak, but worked OK for at least a short time. It had developed a little oil leak from the rear seal and the right rear window regulator had gone out AGAIN. It was a great daily driver and I tried to sell or trade on a couple of boards, but not real hard. I actually liked driving it better than my 96.

 

I'm having the same problem and i have been searching for a week for that post cause i need the part #! Can anyone give it to me plz and do you know if i can just pick it up at a nissan dealer?(i live literally 1/2 block away from a nissan dealer)

 

If you are looking for the ignition switch for the Gen IV car, go to the courtesy nissan web site and they have it listed with the part #. Sorry but I through away the paper that had the part # on it. But , it was listed in the old thread.

 

I am having this problem on my girlfriends 95 maxima. The thing is sometimes(seems to be mostly on hot days that it doesn't want to start.

It has nothing at all but all lights work. It doesn't click or noting and u keep trying it and it eventually starts.

But here is the brain buster. I got an electrical ignition swith for it. Put it in and it would just click like the starter is bad.? I put the old ignition switch back in and it starts fine?

I got the ignition switch from autozone so i dunno if their's are different or what. I got another switch coming from nissan so im gonna try that and see if that works.

Has anyone ran into that problem though?? Sorry for the long post.

 

hey guys,
I have had this same problem before and i think i might have some help. I would get in my car and turn the key and everything would turn on except the starter would start. So, i finally figured out if i just bump my shifter forward, even though it is already in park, it would start fine. I has something to do with the car thinking it is not in park. Put your car in drive and try to start it, same thing happens. So, when I bump is forward, gently, it starts fine. My guess is just a linkage issue that needs to tightened or adjusted but i havn't taken the time. Its not a big deal in my car. It probably occurs once every 6 weeks so maybe i will have to deal with at some time soon but for now my fix works great. good luck. cheers

 

i am at my witts end with my max. i just replaced the starter one year ago and now i have to tapp on it to get it to start. what is wrong with it. i keep my car in very good shape. why is is not treating me right? can the starter be fixed or di i have to buy another one again!!! help me please.

 

(Another test) I knew the problem with mine was associated with the ignition switch because....If the starter didn't turn over when I turned the key, I would hold the key turned and lift or jiggle it....which seemed to cause the appropriate switch contact and engage the starter.

 

do you know anything about starters, ignitions etc.?

 

You probably need to regrease the starter. If you bought it somewhere with a lifetime warranty, just trade er in for a new one.

 

Samsonite is correct. The same thing happens to my car as well. I replaced my starter back in 2002 thinking it was IT, but no..it was still doing the same thing. I have applied Samsonite's technique over 2 years and it solves the problem.

Freaked out my GF once when she could not start the car once.

 

ooh cool, i have a 97 pebble beige max, GLE i will be gald to take your advice, however, there's just one problem... what does regreasing the starter mean?

 

It means look in the stickies. Its there. I swear.

 

I am having the same problem.But I'm wondeing if my remote start alarm has anything to do with it.It's a Clifford 3.5Rx.Or should I just replace the ignition switch?Anyone know the price of the ignition switch?

 

You're welcome for the advice with the ignition switch

I havn't put mine in yet but I just bought a whole used ignition from a 98 for 40 bucks canadian.

 

I saw a while back on the stickies on how to change out th ignition switch but now i cant find it anymore. Can anyone post here how to change it out? I opened up my steering column thing and all i see is a jumble of wires and im confused as hell.

 

I cannot post a tread yet so im gonna ask a question here about hard starting and no starting .

Few days ago I took out the 3 front spark plugs just to check the condtion and the gap. They were fine so I re gaped them and put everything back.
Since then I noticed hard starting (the engine cranks hard and then starts),sometimes even long cranking and it finally starts.Today it didnt start at all, when I turn the key there is no sound at all,just a low tick tick sound under the dash somewhere. I thoight it was the battery so I replaced it and it started but still hard start and after driving for 30 minutes I shut off the car and re start it again but again with hard start, so I let it idle for 2minutes and then shut if off and and try to restart again but no start this time at all again.

Anyone know what it could be? thank you

 

Yea, that was probably my thread, I will check out the ignition switch but it still confuses me as to how it starts with jumpers but not striaght off teh battery. I had teh battery and started checked, both are good. Maybe I should check out the switch. How much did it cost?

My friend gave me the car, and a guy he works with said it could be a relay. I have checked all teh relays in teh front box near the battery and everything looks good.

 

You've done the hardest part already. If the housing is already opened, just to the left of the column, opposite where the key is inserted, you should see where one end of the wiring harness is connected (with two small screws). Follow the wiring (about 1 foot of wire) to the other connector. If you have the new ignition switch wiring ($27 + shipping at courtesyparts.com), you can't miss.

 

Hi,

I'm new to the site. (well was actually a member years ago)

I have a problem that started a few days ago. My 97 SE won't start in hot weather. There is not sound, no cranking..NOTHING! Funny thing is that all the lights, dash lights and radio work. Even funnier is that the elec widows and locks work sometimes, but sometimes they don't. It's very wierd.
I know it's not my battery, and I don't think it's the starter. There was alot of corrosion on my battery clamps, but I scraped and cleaned them off pretty good.
Does this sound like an ignition switch problem? I was thinking that, but then thought "if it is, why are my windows and locks affected?" PLEAAAAAASE, I need help.

Any suggestions would be GREATLY appreciated. I don't wanna dish out to the dealer ...and I want my car to start!

Thanks.....
Geoff

 

Help! We replaced the starter about 6 weeks ago and now I am getting this rapid clicking noise when i go to start it periodically. When we replaced the starter we were recommended to replace the relay but didn't ...so i am hoping this is the problem. But can anyone tell me where it located?

 

Hello...
Anybody have any suggestions as to what this could be? Seems as thought my car won't even start anymore. Still no cranking, no clicking..nothing! But my lights and dash lights work..and still power windows are intermittent..

Thanks!
Geoff..

 

I don't think that rapid clicking is anything bad, I think it might be like a coil building a charge or something.. mine does it.. I worry everytime.. but it seems normal (doesn't happen every start though) you probably hear it most when the hoods up eh?

 

You didn't read my original post did you?

I had the same problem and changed the ignition switch. It's not the part you put the key into, its the part that mounts on the backside of the key switch. You have to remove a plastic shield below the steering wheel (two screws I think), a metal piece beneath that (two more screws), then remove six screws that hold the molding around the switch housing. You have to remove the previously mentioned plastic and metal pieces to get to the two insde screws. The switch is around the left side and held in by two small screws. It has a push in connector you have to undo and its out!

 

Sounds like we are driving the same car.......My dash indicators kinda flutter,,I'm still struggling to figure it out..I originally had a bad starter, so replaced that, threw in a 780 cold crank amp battery for good measure. It feels electrical to me, but I'm kinda clueless as to where to start. I suppose I could drag my ohm/volt meter out of retirement, get a wiring diagram, spend three weeks under the hood...Oh wait, What am I thinking...OK, I suppose I'll have to bite the bullet and take it the 40 miles to a dealership,, leave it there for however long it might take,,pay through the nose..well we all know the drill....

 

anyone with a manual in this thread needs to check their clutch interupt relay. Its the relay that prevents you from starting your car w/o the clutch pushed in. Those things go out all the damn time, and people never think to check them. $20 part from nissan. Pretty easy to install as well. I've changed a handfull of them on 300ZX's.


Also, you guys would really be doing yourselves a favor to become more active on this board. Get your post count up, donate to the site, and then you can start your own threads, SEARCH as all this **** is answered everyday, etc. etc. etc. Learn something about your car instead of demanding help when it breaks from neglect.

 

Clutch interupt relay, automatics have them too, though they are slightly different. The relays gradually act up more and more as they are dying, to the point where they are either always engaged (can always start the car) or never engaged (car will not start as it cuts the power to the starter). The power running through those relays is pretty high, and after 10+ years of use, they go out.

In fact, there was actually a heated discussion a year or two ago where an individual on this forum claimed that maximas do not have clutch interupt relays, b/c his car, his whatevers car, and some other car could all start w/o the clutch being pushed in. Actually just all of their relays broke in a favorable way. These relays do go out, its just a matter of time, and which side of the fense yours dies on.

 

I really appreciate the observation,, I have had this car for 13 days..it has been nothing but trouble, at this very moment, it's sitting in the bank parking lot,, hood up waiting for a tow truck..I think that I bought someoe elses problems, and If I evr get it fixed, I will probably do one of two things, get more familiar with the pecidellos or sell the piece of over engineered junk ...But first, how do I get it out of park...????

 

Could my problem (described below) be the clutch switch relay?
Also, I'd like to add that so far (about two weeks) with this problem, it seems to only not start on really hot days!! Clutch switch relay, ignition switch....please..if anyone can suggest something.....
I took it to a pretty reputable garage here and the mechanic look for about 2 hrs and couldn't find anything. He suggested thst I wait for a hot day and bring it in. Park it and wait for the prblem to arise. The he says he'll be able to pinpoint it a little easier.

Thanks......
Geoff