OK, I have a 1995 Max that I got about 6 months ago 129K on motor and trans. The car ran like new when I got it. I was driving on the expressway and the upper radiator hose went bad. The car did'nt get all the way hot but very close and shut off. Ever since then the cel has been on and it is very hard to start when it is hot. Cold starts are perfect and the car still runs very well. What could've went bad from getting too hot?? I have been trying to figure this out for months!

 

IF you look in the stickies, you will find how to check why the CEL is on.
Man , if the car got hot enough to shut off...well that cant be good.
anyway ...iwill see if I have time to post the link for you,if not just search.thats the best staring point.

 

here ya go. post what you find and people will be able to better guid you.
hope this helps
http://vbxmaxima.8m.com/ecu.html

 

When you say that it is hard to start do you mean the car is just cranking and wont turn over to start or you get nothing (no cranking). If it starts when its cold no problem, and not when its hot, kinda sounds like coolant temp. sensor. Just explain the starting problem in more detail.

 

Stop guessing what the problem might be and pull the codes.
The CEL is on, that means it's detected an error (ie. the problem)

 

the lil buzzing bee on ur dashboard is is telling u to check me, check and c wat code u have. first thing u should have done

 

I checked the codes. It says:

Crankshaft pos (ref) <---changed
Knock sensor <----changed

 

That was the first thing I did

 

well the cps does affect starting, but i dont see how that could have been affected by overheating.

and obviously the knock sensor has nothing to do with your issue.


im going to go with ECTS, as stated above. its a cheap and easy fix. i think mine cost $30 or 35 from dave b

 

thanks, whats the "ects" it its coolant temp sensor I changed that right after the crank sensor

 

could there be anything wrong with the starter for this to happen? I can see that the car has a junk yard starter in it...or the starter wiring. I had some problems with the alternator wiring (bad ground)

 

Yeah its the Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor. Did you change it before or after your engine shut off that day?

 

here....

http://forums.maxima.org/4th-generat...sor-issue.html

 

if it was a bad starter, it would hesitate to start even when its cold.

 

After, this has been goin on for months. when its cold it starts right up and runs perfect, but if I stop somewhere like a gas station and get back in it cranks VERY sloppy but runs perfect

 

are you hearing grinding on the starter and the flywheel??? what do you mean by sloppy. As in, it takes more cranks?? the starting sound is different??? are you SURE that it does this only AFTER its warm?? I.E. have you started the car when its cold...shut the car off when its still cold..start it back up like 5 times on and off?? ( i know its not that good to do that but still). Let the engine warm up, NOT move the car. shut if off, and start it again?

 

Yes this has been goin for months. No problem at all when its cool. when its hot it cranks and makes a screeching sound and kinda hesitates to start but it eventually does after about 5 times. But, like I said when it starts it runs with no problems.

 

search man jesus.

It's possible you toasted the ground wire from the tranny to the chassis (by the starter)