A more in-depth description is listed with the video I took this morning. Also note that it always does eventually start, it's never not started or anything, but the problem is definitely beginning to get worse....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHdNRe_ELfA

Any questions, let me know.

 

Got a few questions for ya that will help us give a better answer.

-When is the last time the car had a tune-up: ie, spark plugs, fuel filter, etc?
-Does the car run fine after it finally starts? Or does it run rough or stall while driving?
-Is the "service engine soon" light on once the starts up?

 

yea looks like a fuel problem to me. I have a somewhat similar problem. If i jump in my car and turn it over as soon as i put the key in it has a hard start (5+ seconds to start). but if i just turn it to "on" and wait a few seconds it starts up perfect. I actually had that problem with my last car too but it was alot worse, it ended up just fixing itself.


once the car is started, if u turn it right off will you have the same problem or will it start right up?

 

- I changed the spark plugs literally a few weeks back. (NGKs.) Replaced the fuel filter maybe a year or two ago (had a total fuel system tune-up).

- It runs well once it's started, aside from some initial fluctuations in the RPMs and some vibrations in the first few seconds. I will say it idles less smooth than when I first bought it three years ago, but no one besides me notices and it's not bad really.

- As I noted in the video, no lights stay on after cranking. I've never even seen the SES light on this car.

 

Like I said, this only happens when the car hasn't been driven in a few hours at least. I.E., driving 20 minutes to a shopping center, coming out 10 minutes later, it cranks right up. But if it sits overnight, especially in cold weather, it'll do this.

If I hold the key in the crank position longer, and/or give it gas, that helps and it'll usually crank up on the first two or so tries doing that.

I think if I got it running for a few seconds and turned it back off, I'd have the same problem because the engine would still be cold.

 

this is an issue that i have now because of the 00vi idle air control valve. I also had a similar issue with my stock idle air control valve, until i adjusted it. try cleaning that and/or adjusting it.

 

have you checked the "start" fuse? Its in the interior fuse panel.

Failing that, maybe its a faulty engine coolant temp sensor, or ignition switch. There are two "crank" wires at the ignition switch...and if they're not both powering up at the same time...then you'll experience the issues you're having.

I had this problem once in my 95, and after cleaning the throttle body out, I havent had the problem again. Maybe try that too?

 

my friend had a similar problem and ended up changing the fuel pump and its all good now

 

yeah its a a fuel issue for sure...as far as what it would be hard to diagnose over the net 100%.....it probably is the fuel pump though....

 

yea i thought fuel pump too. thats y i asked about getting it running for 10-15 sec and then shutting off and turning over again. if it was the fuel pump it shouldnt have ne problem starting up again because the system will still be pressurized.

I had this problem in a 97 chevy blazer (i realize its a very different car) and i changed the fuel pump and it went away for about a year and half but then it came back but ended up going away again.

If this problem just started when it was cold it doesnt seem like it would be a wiring problem.

 

maybe just a few things too look at. Turn the key to ON do you hear the fuel pump? Try prying the hose off the fuel filter just a little bit to see if any fuel spills out that should tell you its getting fuel.

My brother's car had starting issue a few months back. It would just crank and crank. Sometimes it would do what your video is showing kind of start then die. He ended up having to replace the starter and the ignition switch.

My friend's 95 is having starting issues as well I have yet to go over and look, but I would just check around at those things to see if it maybe the problem. My girl's Sentra isn't starting, found it's probably the coil in the distributor thats bad. Out of curiosity pull the fuel pump fuse and see if it starts for about 5 seconds. Did this with the Sentra and it came to life the only time it ever started and then died once it ran out of fuel.

 

Are you wiggling the Ignition to get it to start in between your cranks in the video? Kind of looks like it.

pulling the fuel pump fuse is a good idea, it will help separate whether you have a fuel issue or not. When you exhaust all the fuel out if it cranks and cranks well, it's likely fuel related.

Try turning the key to ON, wait 4 seconds, turn OFF, turn to ON for 4 seconds, do this 3-5 times to prime the fuel rails, then try to start it, see it that makes a difference.

 

I'm not wiggling the ignition. I guess it's just noisy on the video, with my two keys + remote rattling around.

I honestly don't think it's IACV, but anything's possible I suppose. I'm almost positive it's a fuel issue, I just can't narrow it down. Like I said before, I had a total fuel system tune-up sometime after I bought the car. It did it before then and it kept doing it after then.

I really appreciate all your tips...it's nice to get the opinions of those actually familiar with the car. :-)

 

Keep us update, I recently had this issue.

BUT : It only happens when the humidity's high.

 

Just a few things off the top of my head:
1) Battery
2) Coil-pack
3) Fuel filter (you already changed)
4) Fuel pump (this's my best guess right now)
5) ECU (no codes, not likely)
6) Solenoid/Starter (doesn't seem like it, you crank 1500 rpm)

After that, you start checking out weird stuff, like injectors, timing, etc.

Do you need a fuel pump? I have one from my 97 gxe that I'm parting out.

Dr J

 

hi. i am new. i am from mexico, my car is a 97 maxima, if you want the complete service manual in pdf of the 4th gen maxima absolutly free, contact me by email.
demon1455@gmail.com thanks

 

my dads old 4th gen did the same thing. Cleaning the TB and IACV did the trick. give it a shot.

also, make sure you let the fuel pump "prime" the system before cranking.

 

As has been posted, your problem can most likely be resolved by cleaning the throttle body and idle air control valve. It will take no more than an hour, and all you need is a can of TB cleaner and some shop towels. Great pictures can be found in this thread:

http://forums.maxima.org/4th-generat...ning-iacv.html

Give that a shot first, then let us know if it helped.

 

Great Info especially what Andrei3 posted

 

my 97 maxima does the same thing, it only does it in the morning when it cold once the sun comes out the car starts up..............