Hawkins

I had a problem starting my car today. When I turned the key in the ignition the power in the car came on (Lights, radio, etc.), but the car didnt turn over. It was completly silent. I tried it again......and nothing. Made no noise, no clicking, nothing. I repeated 5 to 6 more times and still nothing. I left the car and came back within minutes and the car started up fine.
What do you think it could be?
Could it be bad Spark plugs? Or a bad starter?
This is the second time this has happened to me with in the last month.
Thank you in advance.

Eric L.

It could either be a loose battery cable, or a bad starter or starter component. Sometimes a good rap with a mallet to the starter will cause it to behave properly (in which case you know the starter is bad and needs to be replaced). If your battery was good, but there as no clicking noise ("weak" starting noise) at all, I would be suspect at the starter solenoid. I believe both Haynes and Chiltons have diagnostic procedures for testing the starter solenoid.

A second option I would investigate would be a faulty ignitiion switch. Not sure how to diagnose that though.

Daniel B. Martin

Whenever you post a technical question it is helpful to specify ...
- model year
- transmission
- odometer reading
- mods (if any)
- recent repair history
- a detailed report of symptoms

Daniel B. Martin

You are reporting a no-crank problem. This is not caused by spark plugs.

Always do the easy check first. If your vehicle is a 5-speed, make sure the clutch pedal is all the way down when you twist the key to START. If automatic, jiggle the shifter while attempting to crank. Try cranking in both Park and Neutral. If those steps are unsuccessful, consider ...

- discharged battery (dim headlights with engine off)
- weak battery (check voltage at terminals while cranking)
- loose or dirty battery terminal connections at the battery
- loose or dirty battery-to-body ground connection
- loose or dirty battery-to-engine block connection
- bad ignition switch
- bad clutch safety switch (5-speed)
- bad neutral safety switch (automatic)
- bad inhibitor relay
- bad solenoid
- bad starter

The starter is an expensive item so I would check the other items before
spending the money on a replacement.

bill99gxe

iTrader: (1)

I'm gonna go with Daniel's subtle inclination and say it could easily be the neutral safety switch. My old 86 Taurus drove me nuts with this problem and had these exact symptoms. Sometimes jiggling the shifter would work, sometimes it just started because it wanted to. This is "rare" from my experience with Nissan slushboxes, though.

Hawkins

Thank you all for your help.
Information about my car.
1997 Automatic Max ~ 45,000 miles
Last repair was the alternator which was done a little more than a month ago (which was before these 2 instances).

Question- Shouldn't my "Service Engine Soon" light go off for this problem (It hasnt yet)

I will start checking all the problems that everybody has listed.

Thank you again!

Daniel B. Martin

No. The Engine Control Module (the computer) monitors many aspects of vehicle operation, but not all. It does not check any of the components listed in my earlier post.

To carry this explanation to an extreme, the ECM does not turn on the Service Engine Soon light for conditions such as ...
- flat tire
- empty gas tank
- overflowing ash tray
- grimy windshield
- missing license plate

Albertt

I think Dan just made a funny.

Daniel B. Martin

Feeble humor, but humor with a point. Too many owners (and technicians) believe that "No Code = No Problem". That simply isn't so. No Code means the On Board Diagnostic system cannot help identify the problem.

BSwithTF

iTrader: (8)

So, say you suspect somethings wrong, but the MIL light isn't on. Could the computer at the dealer get a fault code even though the MIL isn't on. The reason I ask is, when I leave the house in the morning, the first couple time I hit the accelerator the car wants to spit and sputter and then it catches and takes off. I changed the Engine Coolant Temp. Sensor but that hasn't helped. Any other ideas? My car info's in my sig. I have an automatic.

NeverEnough

Have you changed your fuel filter recently? That may be your culprit. Does it only occur when the engine is cold? Has it ever happened before? What year is your Maxima? Mileage? Auto or 5 spd? Date of last tune-up/service? We need to know these things before we can give you any reliable advice. Please repost with more details, we may be able to help you more at that time.

Lee

Daniel B. Martin

Some Maxima.Org members run with "Sig Off" to improve load time. Don't count on everyone being able to see your sig.

The 4Gen Maxima does not have a fuel rail pressure sensor. For that reason there are no Diagnostic Trouble Codes such as "Clogged Fuel Filter", "Weak Fuel Pump", or "Bad Fuel Pressure Regulator". I wish there were, because that would simplify a lot of engine misbehavior diagnoses.

BSwithTF

iTrader: (8)

I have a PR CAI, y-pipe, custom 2.5" catback, Apexi N1 muffler. I changed the fuel filter last week to try to fix the problem. No change. The spark plugs have about 25,000 on them. (NGK Platinums) I replaced the Engine Coolant Temp. Sensor last week. My car has 91,000 miles on it. I'm get a fuel pressure guage pretty soon. Maybe that will help diagnos the problem if it is a pressure problem. What sensors affect air/fuel ratios? My guage seems to be acting differrent than when I installed it. Those things jump around so much though, it may just be me.

Daniel B. Martin