Ok going to make my own thread and not continue to ***** up the others. I have a 1995 maxima auto that is having starting problems. It all started when I replaced the trans. After some searching I learned that grounding can be an issue when removing the trans so I added a ground from the neg batt terminal to the starter bolt. Did nothing. This weekend I replaced the spark plugs and cleaned my iacv. Now it starts a little better but still at times will crank and crank with no start. I found a coilpack to be cracked and will replace it asap but doubt this is causing my issue. There are no CELs besides "Improper shifting to 4th gear" (dam these maxima auto trans). Any ideas?

 

I have had the same issue as you. I have a 95 with auto tranny swap and afterwards had hard starting issue. I also had that code. My problem was solved after I took out the CPS located on the tranny beneath and cleaned it off. There were metal particles and rust on it, I assume from the new tranny, and probably 13 years of the old tranny. There is only 1 bolt holding it in. Be careful taking out that bolt because my twisted right off and i had to bring it into a shop to get it taken out. It's worth a try and will only take about 20 mins.

Good luck

 

It's possible you damaged the CKPS POS or the timing ring when you replaced the trans, but generally that'll throw a code.

If the starter and it's mounting bolt are corroded to hell, the ground wire may not even be making a difference.

 

I pulled it off and made sure it was clean already. It's not throwing a code so i doubt it's that. The starter isnt correded nor the bolt. It will crank and crank with no hesitation at times almost as if it's getting no fuel and sometimes crank and buck as if it's starter related. It is getting fuel however because when it starts there will be a large cloud of smoke that smells of fuel that comes out of the exhaust.

I can start throwing parts at it but idk. What other grounding can I add?(in case that is the problem)

 

That's pretty much the only ground to do, is directly to the starter mounting bolt.

Check it when it doesn't start, is it not getting spark?

 

if it was your CPS then it would be throwing a code i suppose, but may not. It might have just went bad. Who replaced your tranny? Was the mating surfaces of the tranny-engine sanded before installation? I've heard of bad starting issues because of that.

 

I havent checked. Should I do the screwdriver trick and check?

I installed the trans and no unfortunately I was not aware of this problem before I put it in hence why I added the ground. I have another trans that I will be putting in once it gets warmer that I will make sure to sand down.

 

Screwdriver, spare plug, whatever really. If you aren't getting spark, then I'd look at the CKPS again.

 

Alright thanks I'll check to see if it's within spec as soon as I get a chance. I will also be cleaning my TB to see if that helps any. Cleaning the IACV helped a bit. The plugs were really black when I replaced them but that doesnt necessarily mean no spark when cranking.

Thanks for the help.

 

I cant figure this **** out. I went to a junkyard got a coilpack, iacv, crank pos and camshaft pos sensor. I changed all of them. Cleaned the TB, sanded the points where the extra ground is and nothing. I pulled a 0101 out of the ecu and checked continuity for the camshaft sensor. The ground continuity was good but cont from the cam pos plug to the ecm plug didnt work. I think Im doing it wrong though. Any suggestions. I also broke the dam screw on the ecm i hardly turned it and it cracked. I'm getting tired of this car lol.

 

well try returning the stuff u bought since it made no difference, and as far as it goes with the screw on the ecu is not a good thing. i dont know wat wll happen with a broken screw but its def. not good

 

If you don't have continuity there, there's a good reason for your car not to start (well, at least).

Did you check while moving the engine harness around? It could be losing connection where the harness goes past the right strut tower, there's a TSB out for it.

The screw issue may or may not necessarily cause a problem. Just make sure it's back into the regular position.

 

also try re tightening the harness that connects into the ecu, one time i pulled the harness out of the ecu in my parts car and the thing just wouldnt start it would crank and crank and everything but wouldnt start, try that maybe thats ur problem. good luck

 

Yeah I thought so too, however, I wasnt sure if I was checking the right wires. Today I spliced the white wire on the camshaft sensor and the white wire on pinout 48 and ran a wire directly. I think I messed something up because now it threw 0101 and 0201 which is Camshaft Position Sensor and Ignition Signal Circuit. I took pictures but the adding of the wire directly didnt help. Also anoter thing I dont get is that in the Helms it says to check pinout 44 and 48. 48 is white but 44 is yellow so I just did the white one. Any suggestions?





I didnt take a picture of the wire connected cause it was hard holding the wire and the camera all at once lol.

 

It's not that but thanks. The car starts it just takes a while of cranking.

 

Following the Haynes for electrical (especially to the ECU) isn't the best way, really. They cover wiring for all of the years as one, but the wiring did change a bit.

Download the FSM, link in my sig.

http://forums.maxima.org/all-motor/5...0-px-wide.html

You shouldn't be going to pins 44/48. It should be 46/47 for the CPS.

44 and 48 are for CKPS REF.

 

Fack.....yeah just saw this http://www.jimwolftechnology.com/wol...ORENGSWAPS.PDF

I really appreciate the help man.

 

Ok so there IS continuity between the plug and pinouts 46 and 47. IDK wtf is wrong with it lol. I pulled the fuel pump fuse, turned the key and it will turnover with no hesitations. I also checked for spark and there is indeed spark when cranking. Only thing else left to check is FPR and fuel pump. My God father, whom is a mechanic, insists it is a bad iacv. However, it would have to be two bad iacvs because I put one in from a junk yard yesterday. I'm about to just throw in the fuel pump I bought and see what happens....

 

Did you check for continuity on that harness while shaking it around as above? See if that changes anything.

 

Ill do that but the harness is pretty stiff to move around.

 

hold it by where it goes over by the strut mount and move it arnd with a firm grip, its stiff but you can do it.

 

I had the EXACT problem you are having with my '95, and i did pretty much everything you have done! I took it to the dealer, and they told me it was a ground between the engine and tranny, well, after dropping tranny and cleaning all connections, still did work. so i just started cleaning all my connections that had to do with starting, and i found a harness that has to do with the security system(if the car senses its being jacked, it doesnt start), this harness had a little corrosion, sprayed a little contact cleaner, and it started right up! May not be your issue, but hell its worth a try, seeing as its free....

The harness i found is toward the firewall, kinda under the MAF, it is orange or red, i think. It looks like its just floating in the middle of an empty space down there.

I hope you fix it! Good luck

 

Any pics of said harness?

Is it by the starter?

 

Yeah that^

 

This car is just weird. Yesterday morning I go out to start it. After a few cranks it fires up. Drive it to work and no CEL. When I leave work and start it it cranks, bucks, starts and throws the CEL. Can the hard start be causing the camshaft pos sensor to throw a code or does there have to be something specifically wrong with the camshaft pos sensor for it to throw 0101?

 

I've heard a bad CKPS throwing a CPS code before, but a starting issue shouldn't throw a CPS code. I know a slow/intermittent crank will throw a CKPS code.

If you can find a ECU locally for cheap, I'd try another ECU.

 

I replace the CKPS with one from a junkyard unless this one is bad as well. Off to the junk yard this weekend AGAIN I guess lol... I might try to replace the trans this weekend and see if it helps any.

 

Replace the trans? The trans doesn't have anything to do with the CKPS.

I've got a couple CKPS POS sensors for sale, work on my car.

 

The problems started immediately right after I replaced the trans. Has to be trans related just dont know how lol. If not then it has to be a huge coincidence. Pm me the price shipped for the sensor to 07524 NJ.

 

Un-do the wiring you did, drop the trans back down, use a drill-mounted wirebrush or similiar on both bellhousing surfaces, the starter, and where the starter bolts to the trans. Re-install. celebrate = problem solved.

 

That's the plan for this weekend. I spend more time and money maintaining my daily then I do my weekend/drag car lol.

 

So the car wouldnt start at all yesterday almost if as the starter took a dump. Later in the day I went to try it again. Turned the key all the way... nothing, again...nothing, again and it turned over and took awhile to start (as usual). Ignition switch or starter going out?