Maxima won't turn on... help
 

I was driving to school from work, and I stopped by to get some lunch. Keep in mind, the car was starting good. However, i have had my hard starts every now and then. When I come back, my car doesnt want to turn on.

I know it isnt the battery/alternator, as all the lights and all electrical are working. I believe it's the starter... the starter doesn't tick or anything. Complete silence when I crank it.


Starter is shot ??

yea id say its your starter, needless to say that just because all your interior lights work and your radio works... it still could be your battery, those things don't affect your battery very much.. i mean basically you could power those things with a AA battery. But if your headlights look dim when you turn them on then thats a good sign to check your battery..

also alot of the time the ignition switch on our vehicles go bad...thats another option

dont worry im not giving you thorough answers just wait till someone that knows a little more then me comes in this thread

WHen you turn the key you dont hear anything? Starter makes zero noise? Do you hear any clicking from behind the dash?

nope, dont hear anything. no clicking ticking, nada.

is this a 99 or not?

it's a 96...

Mine does the same thing...its completly random.

is your car a manual?

Just because your dash lights turn on doesn't mean it's not the battery. I've seen many a car that won't turn over (or even make a clicking noise) because the battery was having issues. Jump your car first, check out the battery and make sure that's what it is.

If it's not your battery, make sure the cables on your starter are ok. If those are fine, then look at your starter.

When you turn the key on, do you see any warning light on the board?
My 96 I30 was stopped in traffic a month ago. Everything was normal but before the car was dead, I saw a low battery warning sign. But my battery was ok and all other interior lights was good. I tried to start serveral times. There weren't any signs. After towed the car, I checked it. The alternator was gone.

I would like to say ...
1. fuse
2. jump battery (if it works, change alternater)
3. take the starter out to check in the Autozone or Advanced autoparts
(if the starter is ok)
4. fuel pump relay.
5. wires.

is there a how-to for the install of a new starter ?

Check battery first, but before you jump and replace your starter, also check to see that it is getting voltage to the solenoid of the starter with meter. It may be your ignition switch on the dash as I had happen once, at first I could futz with the key and "push" the key a little further into start (don't break the key!) and it would make contact. Each time a it got a little worse. Easy install, disconnect battery. www.coustesynissan.com , www.rockauto.com for diagram explode and for part identification #'s
Starter is pretty easy install if you determine thats it. Look in the Hayne's manual. Make sure the terminals are the same, mine had a different tooth count and is ok, you may want to count the teeth on your old one if it makes you paranoid to have the same number.

Update: Just got finished replacing the starter. Starts up with no problems.

Thanks every1 for the info.

Congrats!
 

Congrats! Good job bro! Glad you got it diagnosed right!