This just happened today, when I turn the key, everything is normal, lights come on, radio works, but once i turn the key all the way to start the car, all the lights/radio, everything cuts off

and the car is just dead, i click lock on the oem alarm, and it seems like it trys to lock the door but cant even do that, and the security light is off

this is the 2nd time it has happened, last time was last month, i just disconnected the battery for an hour, then connected it back, waited another hour, then i kept my foot on the gas alittle and started the car, and it was fine, now this **** happens again!

im open to suggestions

ps - battery / starter is new, mileage is 95K, 5speed

 

alternator? if so you might need to get a new battery too

 

Is it cold where you live

 

You need to check all of the charging system. battery alternator the likes. Also just for ****ts and giggles check the ignition system as well.

 

It isnt the alternator. the alt has nothing to do with starting the car. make sure your battery terminals are tight and have no corrosion. if they are, make sure you have a fully charged battery.

batt = starts the car
alt = keeps it running

 

alt charges the battery when running the car. bad alt kills batt. i was thinking maybe he has enough juice to run electronics but not enough to start his car.

i mean all you gotta do is check.

 

I am betting it is your battery. Take it to advanced auto or autozone and have it checked for free.

 

if you have a batt charger, tryin charging it for a little while then try starting the car again. if it starts you prob have a bad alt.

also, does the CEL come on when you turn the key?

 

This is acommon problem & to add to the sugestions
1.Turn off all acc's (lights/radio etc)
2.Start in neutral (starter is grounded in P/N)
3.Jump vehicle (let run for 30 min & check alt out put at least 12.8-13.8v)
3.Check for parasitic drain (whats draining batt when ign is off)
4.If all is well (doubt it) move towards starter & ign switch.

Iam replacing my starter right now
replaced ign switch and altenator recently as well
I had the same symptoms as you

 

thanks all, appreciate it

 

Try getting a jump, if it starts up then, its probably your battery. Like 2da mizzax, its not your alt, that has nothing to do with the car when starting. As long as your battery has juice, you can still start your car with a dead alternator. Well, then again I guess it could be your alt causing the battery to drain the last time you drove it and now it doesnt have enough power to start. So its possible your alt could be bad, but you still would have another problem, maybe the battery causing your car not to start. Also, open the fuse box in the engine bay and check the fuses, specifically the big white 120A fuse link, thats the battery fuse link .

 

I was told to identify the obvious alternator issue: start the car with battery connected.

Then disconnect the battery and see if the engine still runs - if yes, then it is not the alternator problem.

Now, I did that and could not find the issue with alternator in my case. My car just stops while I am driving - it happened twice in the last month.

I found "carchip" is useful to record the voltage (along with other parameters) for 300 hours of driving time. I am trying to record voltage and see what is causing my issue.

But, are there more ways to check whether problem is with battery or alternator and how to find the root cause of battery discharge?

 

how long are your driving for before the car dies? or is it usually a different amount of time each time it happens? also, use a voltmeter and make sure youre getting the right voltage on the battery (about 12v car off, about 13v with it running)

 

also try your ignition switch. Replace that, cause once you put the key and turn it to on, everything should work, but if you turn it all the way to start it will cut electricity to all the lights, radio, ect, and let almost all the power go to the starter to start your car.

 

I'm not as diversed in the Maxima field as the LS1 field, but have you checked your fuses? Do your gauges still work when the key is in the on position? Is there any type of security light on?

 

you may also need to take your keys to the dealer they may need to be reprogramed your transponder chip may not be reading correctly.

 

Yea, that's why I asked about the security light. Is there a way to measure the resistance in the Maxima key? I know you can bypass the security in some cars by simply finding the correct resistance of the key and splicing a resistor into the cars security system.

 

No dont do that. just take it to the dealer and they may have to reprogram your keys.

 

Just asking....$4 set of resistors or $$ who knows how much from a dealer.

 

ask them about that to.

 

Assuming by your name you have a 97? Your key doesnt have a chip in it. 99's were the only ones with chips in the keys.

 

I wasn't referring to my car, I just knew that in certain vehicles you could measure the resistance in the key and match a resistor to your security system. I've seen tons of guys do it with f-body's to bypass their securtiy systems.

But thanks for answering my question about how to measure the chip in the key. I know my key has a large end on it and I wasn't sure if the chip was inside the end or not.

I've had a start up issue for years with this car, my high school ride, so it's been a good while. My girlfriend drives the car now and still has this issue. So I think I'm gonna ground the starter, as I searched a bit for, and see if that helps.