I've got the well-known ignition switch problem. You know: it starts with having to jiggle the key in the lock. Now my car won't start at all.
I have just changed my job and my new one is 12 miles away. Taxis are gonna cost me a fortune. Of course I can change the lock but you know what? There is not a single Nissan agency in this city of 4 million people, that has one. They told me 'We don't stock them because it is not a part that goes wrong.' Crapheads. Tell that story to orgers . . .
It will take well over a week to get one sent here.
Meantime I have the covers off and I can see the back of the switch with its terminals. So I guess if I turn on the ignition (the dash lights all come on - it's just the starter won't turn) all I need to do is short one of the terminals to another to engage the starter. But ** which two? ** I can see the wire colours ok. Can some kind orger tell me the colours on the pair I need to short?
- and please, guys, don't tell me to check the starter or the battery. I have verified everything else already, and the battery is new... it is the switch.

 

screw driver FTW

 

I just dont get why in a town of 4 million people you cannot find a maxima ignition switch...like at an autozone, oreilly's, napa, or whatever...if it is that much of a problem with work and all (i understand that for sure) why are you going through a nissan dealer?

 

have you tried getting it off of ebay? or perhaps a junk yard..?

 

that happened to me last week.i bought a push button with 2 terminals...wire one from the starter to the terminal and the other from the terminal toi the fuse box in the engine bay that says ignition.

 

This is not the USA.
I wasted most of the afternoon going from one auto parts house to another. None have it.

 

The junk yard is full of Chevys, Fords, and Chryslers. There are no Maximas. Maximas are uncommon here. Anyway a used one would likely be worn also. And Ebay? How long would that take? I need it tomorrow morning, not in a week's time.
If nobody can help, can anyone tell me where I can find a wiring diagram for a Gen IV? and I'll figure it out myself.

 

don't understand - what does "FTW" mean?

 

FTW = for the win.


Here, should be pretty much the same for your 96:

http://forums.maxima.org/showpost.ph...96&postcount=3

you'll obviously be using the ignition wires.. starters, ign, acc etc.

good luck

 

I can send the page from the service manual. email me at jsbsssjs@aol.com

 

Thanks for the help.
I just spent about an hour taking the actual switch apart. One of those deals where the plastic cover is sprung over retaining tabs. Of course as soon as I managed to free it the internals exploded all over the table, three little springs, two ball bearings, two copper circular plates, etc.
They must have gnomes at the factory with five hands and ten fingers on each hand, to assemble these critters. It took me a long time to reassemble it and with great trepidation reinstalled it in the car and turned the key and guess what . . . exactly the same - well why did I expect anything else?
I obtained the Autozone part number from the original thread and called them and . . . the nearest Autozone that has one is in f***g Laredo, 150 miles away and I have a dead car anyway.
I will try to see if I can locate a Nissan agency in Laredo or McAllen and see if they have one and pay be credit card and have the damn thing sent down by courier...

 

hmm.. my car is having a similar problem. i need to jiggle the key back n forth sumtimes in order for it to turn. u said it was the ignitin switch dat's giving u the problem?

 

look man all u need to do is take out the ignition swithc and turn it with ur key or a screwdriver... simple

 

or leave the whole thing together and jump the starter with a screw driver. No (dis)assembly required.

 

Is your wheel locked when you key gets stuck?

 

Have you tried calling Courtesy to see if they could overnight it to you?
It would be $$ being that your in the mexico area but it may be worth it.
It looks as if the shipping rate for fed ex intl. priority from there location to your is around 53.00. and the part is 33.00
Or you could try tripping the starter with the screw driver like scubasteve suggested.
The starter is in an accesible area so that could work out for you.

 

have you tried seeing if the ignition swithch from another nissan will work for your car? ie sentra? tsuru? i would assume they would all use the same key, and cylinder design..

 

I'm thinking it must be the starter. Thanks Jos for emailing me the PDF of the starting circuit.
the switch.
Colours are different on my switch. Does B/W mean Brown/White or Black/White? Normal electrical practice is to use two letters like BN/WH or BK/WH.
I put the meter on the terminal marked 'S' on the back of the switch (black/white) and when I turn the key to the start position the terminal goes to +12V.
I need to get to the starter to find the B/R wire on terminal 1 to confirm my diagnosis. Is this possible from above the car? It is 39C here and working on it right now is gonna kill me.

 

Starter and wiring is very easy to get to. Its on the drivers side. You will have to remove the air box and etc. if you dont have an intake.

 

did ya try what i said.... .. if that doesnt work then check the starter..

 

it can also be the drive stick...play with that ....i have the same problem

just shake the stick while and park and try to start

 

man, its simple.

1) drill out steering lock - if you dont do this then even if you start the car you aren going anywhere but straight, you have to disable the steering lock because it is mechanically controlled by the key in the ignition.

2) the back of the ignition cylinder should have some sort of 'cap' with wires conneced to it - remove this cap.

3) on the inside of the cap there should be an indentation or a tab of some sort - just stik something in it and turn it like you would turn the key and the car will start.

warning: your steering lock will have to be destroyed to steal your own car properly.