I know there's alot of threads on here about people having trouble starting but this isnt really an issue i've had time to investigate so i'd appreciate some help.
My car has been doing this for awhile, but just recently its seemed like it wont start at all. I turn the key all the way, everything powers up (radio,a/c, ect) and then turns off for the car to start. i hear relay clicks in the engine bay but nothing happens. If i hold it turned all the way, after the clicks, nothing happens. No cranking occurs or anything.
Someone told me they had the same problem and they could get it to start by wiggling their key at full turn position but that doesnt work for me. (they said to replace some switch).
sometimes it seems to work if i turn my key all the way back and then all the way forward quickly, and itll start.
In the morning it usually only takes a couple tries but in the after noon its been taking about 15 tries. for the most part it starts fine when it actually "Catches" but in the afternoon when i have to try many times the cranking seems harsh/unsteady and it idles at about 1500 for a short while.
So if anyone can give me info, i would appreciate it, i dont want to get stranded.
my battery is a couple months old, i dont think its the battery connection, although i'll look at it when i get a chance.
i've had this issue before but it was due to the neutral safety switch being set off, so i had to stoart it in nuetral and it worked fine. Do you think maybe my car isnt in the park position completely? (I have tried messing with this while starting and dont see much change).
thanks.

 

Ignition switch or starter.

 

how do i know which one though. and how much would a starter cost? (how hard to install).

 

try turning the key

 

this is stupid

 

i have to post 15 times to try and sell my car in the sellers section

 

...

 

The starters not hard to install get a Haynes manual, and/or do a search ... How old is your starter?

Sounds like the ign switch since adding variance to your key turning method, plays a role in successful starting ...

 

The ignition switch is cheap (~$25). I would definitely change it. Take the starter to autozone to get it check out.

 

alright, well i'll check it out, those 2 things seem to be the only culprits so i'll take care of it, thanks guys.

 

Let us know what fixes it...I started having a hard starting problem recently too. I read it could also be the fuel pump or something else...forget what it was though! I quoted an article in a similar thread.

 

its funny you say that because sometimes after i start it in my driveway (AFternoon) i get major gas fume smell. i didnt know if it was related or if i was just being crazy. i wasnt like flooding the gas tank or pressing the gas pedal at all, simply turning the key.

 

if it wasnt starting or starting a varying times I'd say ignition switch, but if your having hard starts more something mechanical (like starter) than something electrical (like ign switch)

 

Nah honestly its only sounded like its hard trouble cranking like twice.
I'm gonna replace the ign. Switch and then if I'm still having problems ill go from there.

 

well local auto stores will test your starter for free. why not have them test that, if its bad replace and you save having to replace a part that could be working fine.

 

I know somebody who just had this happen on the Toronto Maxima forum I'm on and it ended up being his starter. Unfortunately theres a few possibilities for this problem.

 

the ignition switch is a prety cheap part that easy to intsall too might want to try that then move on

 

i guess it wasnt the ignition switch. i thought it was because it began only taking two tries to start the car. it definently was not taking the usual 15 tries at school. but it seems like its getting worse again. today it took a couple tries.
i guess its my starter...what a bummer. how hard is that to replace?

 

Just last Thursday I took my Max into the Nissan Dealership here in Kalispell because it was having a hard time starting, they ended up replacing my Coolant Sensor which didn't change the fact it was still starting hard, the next morning it wouldn't start at all had my car towed to Nissan and they replaced the starter saying that was the culprit and now its starts just fine. Nissan wanted to charge $270 for the starter, so I drove 3 blocks up the road got a starter from Checkers with a lifetime warranty for $155 after core refund.

*According to Nissan labor charge for installing a starter is 1.2 hours and here they charge $70 an hour*

 

Never take your your car to the deale How many times do we need to emphasize this ... I could do my starter in less than 30 minutes.

 

I know, I shouldn't have taken it into the dealership but it had a lot more issues then just the starter bad just didn't think listing them was necessary. The engine flooded with gas ruining the oil, fouling the plugs, and had to air dry for a long while. Also had them try to figure out why the spedometer is intermittent after replacing 2 speed sensors but they are baffled and don't want to tell me to get a speed cluster because that might not be the cause at all. Im pretty sure the Nissan dealership now hates me after 1 visit but I did get $50 off my orig. $150 bill after yelling at them for 2 hours.

 

Uncommon problems with your max .. besides the starter. for yelling at them.