this has only happened twice and hasnt happened very recently but i just read a thread that reminded me of it so i figured i'd ask. a couple of times ive gone to start my car and i hold the key forward for a few seconds and they car just keeps cranking but doesnt start. so i do that a few times while pressing the gas on and off and finally it starts but when it does a giant cloud of smoke surrounds the car (coming from the tailpipe). it runs fine afterward. the only problem is starting it. anyone else have this problem? what's the matter?

 

hmm.. i can't really diagnose that for you.. the cloud of smoke is what got me.. i would suggest you do a ECU read out to see if anything is funny.. check that thread up above..

the weak starting i would say maybe a weak fuel pump? not sure.. hopefully Medic can give you some more pointers

 

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?threadid=64053
http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?threadid=62097


or just here

http://forums.maxima.org/search.php?...der=descending

 

My car just went through the same symptoms you describe. My Check engine light came on shortly after this started happening. I checked the ECU codes and it needed a new crankshaft position sensor. I bought one ($75) and installed it and it starts up fine now.

 

From the symptoms that you described, it seems very similar to what happened to me about a year ago. The engine would keep cranking, and the only way that I could start it was by pumping the gas pedal. And even then, I would have to keep pumping it for about 5-10sec until the RPMs would steady out, otherwise the engine would die. I also got that puff of smoke whenever it decide to start. This would happen to me sporadically at any time. It didn't seem to matter whether the car was warm or cold, whether it was hot or raining or snowing outside... it basically did it whenever it felt like. After several useless trips to the dealer, it wasn't until I posted a thread here that I got some answers from Daniel B. Martin. He suggested that I might have a clogged injector(s), or a fuel starvation problem in the engine. The latter meaning that I could very well have fuel pressure loss in the line, thus, not enough fuel was provided for the engine at start-up. I obviously started with the most simple solution. I added fuel injector cleaner (Redline by the way) in the next 3 consecutive trips to the gas station. That seemed to do it. I now add the cleaner at every oil change interval. Never got the problem again. Lucky I guess... it could always have been worse! If that wouldn't fix it, then I'd look into the fuel pump, fuel lines for leaks, etc.

I hope this helps...

Later,
Peter

 

I forgot to mention something else... I believe it was Daniel (but I'm not sure) that told me about turning the key to the START I positon and holding it there for about 15sec (Ithink). That would give enough time for the fuel pump to re-establish the necessary fuel pressure for the engine to start. I remember trying that, and it did not always work, but it's worth a shot for curiosity sake!!

Later,
Peter

 

Join the club guy's, I have that problem real bad! I went all across town today trying to find a stinkin fuel pressure gauge but I had no luck. I got a new fuel filter, maybe that will help.


As for the guy who mentioned the camshaft sensor problem, I get the same MIL code, I replaced the cam sensor and it did not help.