my 98 nissan maxima gle wont allways start. i would try to start it but it wont even crank or anything. my electronics all click on like it started but it doesnt start. I will sit there for like 20 min trying to start the car. the engine wont even try to turn over.

Does anyone know what this could be?

 

try starting in neutral, or pull the shifter out of park and slam it back in, could be the park/neutral switch going out. its known to happen.
just a posibility

 

It's either the starter or the ignition swtich.

 

Put a new starter in, or test the existing one, find out it is bad and replace it. Mine went out a couple months ago, the coil is probably bad.

 

Does the starter actually turn the engine over and the engine won't run, or is the starter not even engaging?

 

Yah if you don't hear anything it's most likely the starter.

 

Does it turn on later if you just leave it alone?

Could be a bad negative ground.

Make sure your battery is snug and corrosion/rust free.

Follow the negative lead to the ground on the body and make sure its snug and free of rust.

 

check your grounds and add a ground to the starter and tranny.

 

i just replaced the starter like 5 months ago. my buddy said that it could be an ignition switch

 

it COULD be a bunch of things, keep in mind that what 'your budy said' may be in their relation to an issue that they had with a completely unrelated car/incident, there's been a lot of people posting comments like that.
There is a reason this forum is here, its so you can ask people with experience in our specific vehicles, not just someones opinion biased upon what they did to their cavalier, etc.

sorry for the rant just very foolish to take someones statement on an undiagnosed issue to heart.

 

I had the exact same issue and symptoms. Posted about it here. http://www.maximasdownunder.org/foru...pic.php?t=1973

 

smack the starter with a wrench or hammer and it should start.

 

i had same problem with mine. Check the wiring harness coming from your starter. mine had a lose connection. I tighten it up and works like a champ now!

 

Starter!