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Why does my car still start like crap? Help!

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Old 10-16-2001 | 10:35 PM
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Why does my car still start like crap? Help!

Heres the run down on things. It's my 1995 5spd maxima with 102,000 miles. I had a brand new nissan oem clutch put in 2K miles ago{or 1.3 months}. Well when the new clutch was installed in my car, the car began having trouble getting started. The starter would crank and the rpm's would rise a little and then I would here a bang bang noise and the rpms would drop to 0 but emmediatly after my car would start up. The whole procedure takes about 4-7 seconds. After putting up with this for a few weeks I bought a starter off of a 98 max with low miles{$35}. I installed the starter and my car started up perfectly for approx. one week, then out of no were the old problem came back again at full force. Next I tested my crank shaft position sensor{CPS}, the results failed, the sensor seemed to have died. So I got a new CP Sensor and instaleed it yesterday, to my dismay the car has a even harder time getting started now. Some times it starts up perfectly but atleast 75% it starts like crap. BTW the car runs perfectly in once it is started, also the car has been maintained very well. So now I am qlueless of what I should do next?

If you think you know whats wrong with my car please help! Thanks a ton
Old 10-17-2001 | 03:20 AM
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I have the exact same problem with my car, what crank shaft position sensor did you replace? I replaced the one that the factory manual labels POS which is the one on the transmission, that I think reads the flywheel.
Old 10-17-2001 | 06:49 AM
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The starter surely wasn't your problem. You said the car cranked, why did you put a starter in?

First off I'd check the engine temp sensor. Do a search in the forum, Daniel B. Martin has posted specific instructions on how to test this a few times on here. Another thing I'd look at is the fuel filter and pressure regulator. There's also a check valve that keeps pressure in the fuel system so your car starts up easly after it sits. I think this valve is part of the fuel pump which means it's in the fuel tank. If there's no pressure in the fuel system when you initally turn the key, you get a very hard start. Very much similar to what your reporting.

Try this - Turn your iginition key on, crank the car for only a short split second, do not let it crank long enough to start, keep the key in the on position and listen closely, you will hear the fuel pump start to pump in about 5 - 10 seconds. As soon as you here it kick on, try to start your car. If it starts perfectly, your problem is definately fuel related and I'd look closely at the check valve.
Old 10-17-2001 | 12:05 PM
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Originally posted by njmaxseltd
The starter surely wasn't your problem. You said the car cranked, why did you put a starter in?

First off I'd check the engine temp sensor. Do a search in the forum, Daniel B. Martin has posted specific instructions on how to test this a few times on here. Another thing I'd look at is the fuel filter and pressure regulator. There's also a check valve that keeps pressure in the fuel system so your car starts up easly after it sits. I think this valve is part of the fuel pump which means it's in the fuel tank. If there's no pressure in the fuel system when you initally turn the key, you get a very hard start. Very much similar to what your reporting.

Try this - Turn your iginition key on, crank the car for only a short split second, do not let it crank long enough to start, keep the key in the on position and listen closely, you will hear the fuel pump start to pump in about 5 - 10 seconds. As soon as you here it kick on, try to start your car. If it starts perfectly, your problem is definately fuel related and I'd look closely at the check valve.

What I dont understand is why putting a new stater in would solve the problem for a week? I didnt put a new starter in but I took my old one out and took it apart and cleaned and regreased everything, and it solved my problem for about a week.
Old 10-17-2001 | 12:12 PM
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Originally posted by CoOlKidS1979


What I dont understand is why putting a new stater in would solve the problem for a week? I didnt put a new starter in but I took my old one out and took it apart and cleaned and regreased everything, and it solved my problem for about a week.

Coincidence perhaps? Try doing what I mentioned in my last post and see if you can narrow it down.
Old 10-17-2001 | 12:13 PM
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Originally posted by njmaxseltd
The starter surely wasn't your problem. You said the car cranked, why did you put a starter in?

First off I'd check the engine temp sensor. Do a search in the forum, Daniel B. Martin has posted specific instructions on how to test this a few times on here. Another thing I'd look at is the fuel filter and pressure regulator. There's also a check valve that keeps pressure in the fuel system so your car starts up easly after it sits. I think this valve is part of the fuel pump which means it's in the fuel tank. If there's no pressure in the fuel system when you initally turn the key, you get a very hard start. Very much similar to what your reporting.

Try this - Turn your iginition key on, crank the car for only a short split second, do not let it crank long enough to start, keep the key in the on position and listen closely, you will hear the fuel pump start to pump in about 5 - 10 seconds. As soon as you here it kick on, try to start your car. If it starts perfectly, your problem is definately fuel related and I'd look closely at the check valve.
Thanks a lot for your help dude. Let's go over the info you provided.
One thing to keep in mind with my problem is that the problem was created when a half **** mechanic installed my clutch. So things in side my gas tank, or say my fuel pump can be ruled out as "not" problems. The fuel filter has about 10K miles on it and my mechanic could not have screwed with any fuel lines during my clutch install. So basicaly it has to be a sensor of some sort that would have been removed during the clutch install. I guess this leaves the engine temp sensor, but I am pretty sure the sensor is fine because my car is not running rich or lean and the car warms up normaly and performs perfectly. Also you mentioned to crank the car for a sec and then listen to the fuel pump, the fuel pump on maximas actualy turn on for 4 seconds when the key is turned on ACC mode, then after the 4 seconds the pump shuts off. I have tried waiting a few seconds for the fuel lines to pressure rise but it had no affect on how the car starts.


I got a new starter because my other starter was on it's wayand if I cranked it for a few seconds it would cut off, also some times when I turned the key it would not crank for a few seconds.

Thanks for any more ideas.

Coolkids79, i replaced the POS sensor on the bell housing of the tranny. What happened when you did yours? Did it help any? Thanks
Old 10-17-2001 | 12:28 PM
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Originally posted by njmaxseltd



Coincidence perhaps? Try doing what I mentioned in my last post and see if you can narrow it down.
I think it's more then a coincidence because the same thing happend to me for about a week.

I just went out and started my car up and once it finaly started I went under the hood and I noticed that the chatter I here upon start up is actualy my timing chain, I thought it was just valve chatter or something. Now that I think back the chain got a lot noisier after my clutch job, it's almost as if my dumbass mechanic some how did something to my chain and now it is out of place or something? Either way, I think this timing chain noise is not good, maybe I will replace it. Do you think that a slipping chain could be the cause of this? That would not explain how my new starter corrected the problem for a week though .
Old 10-17-2001 | 12:39 PM
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Coolkids79, i replaced the POS sensor on the bell housing of the tranny. What happened when you did yours? Did it help any? Thanks [/B][/QUOTE]

When I installed mine it seemed to help slightly,and I am positve that the sensor was no good too. What really made a difference was when I worked on the starter. It literally started perfect for about 4 days and then the problem came back. Today I am going to test some more sensors and see what happens. If you solve the the problem post it here, because we probably have the same problem.
Old 10-17-2001 | 12:50 PM
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Originally posted by CoOlKidS1979
Coolkids79, i replaced the POS sensor on the bell housing of the tranny. What happened when you did yours? Did it help any? Thanks
When I installed mine it seemed to help slightly,and I am positve that the sensor was no good too. What really made a difference was when I worked on the starter. It literally started perfect for about 4 days and then the problem came back. Today I am going to test some more sensors and see what happens. If you solve the the problem post it here, because we probably have the same problem. [/B][/QUOTE]

Cool, I am master minding it right now . BTW Cheston has the same problem as us too, only thing is, his problem started after a clutch job like mine. I think I have to replace my timing chain now too because the thing sounds pretty out of wack. This is definatly going to be a project.
Old 10-17-2001 | 01:49 PM
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I think I found the problem!!!

I was looking around under the hood and checking sensor out and stuff and I noticed mt Engine coolant sensor{ECS} did not appear to be pluged in all the way!! So I unplugged it and tried to plug it in and it went about 1/2 way{how I found it} and then I took it off again and pushed it back in harder and it clicked into place! So I decided to try to start the car again and it started pefectly! I figured this is to good to be true so I shut it off and started it again, once again a perfect start! So I went for a drive for a few minutes and pulled over and shut the car off, I started it again and once again it started perfectly! So I went back home and started it 3 more times and every time it started perfectly . So I think the problems was just a bad ECS connection. Maybe this is your problem to coolkid79? Good luck bro.
Old 10-17-2001 | 02:24 PM
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where is the engine coolant sensor located?
Old 10-17-2001 | 03:25 PM
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Originally posted by bigmaxhi
where is the engine coolant sensor located?
The part I found loose was the ECS plug. The plug is a few inches under the air duct to the left. Basicaly when you open the hood up it's on the top right of your engine, but about 6 inches from the front and 3 inches down. It's the only sensor in that exact area.
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