I have a 1997 Maxima SE that won't start. The battery and starter are both new. I tried to jump start it but it doesn't work. I can hear the starter engage the flywheel but there doesn't seem to be enough juice to crank the engine. It seems to be progressive. It works fine and then all the sudden you can hear the starter cranking slower each time you start it until it wont start anymore.

This has been an ongoing issue for a while now. At first I bought a new battery, that seemed to help for about a month. Then I bought a new starter and that seemed to help for about 4 months but now it's acting that same way it did before I replaced the starter and battery. I took the starter out and had it tested and the shop said it was good. The battery also tests good.

What else could it be?

 

How long will it crank well for before it starts to slow down? Does it spit, sputter at all like it's trying to fire?

Have you checked the connections, made sure that there's no corrosion and everything's tight?

 

What do you mean how long? It can go weeks of working fine, then all the sudden one day it will start to slow down. No it won't crank the engine at all. All connections are tight and no corrosion that i can see on the battery terminal or on the starter. Now that doesn't mean that there isn't any corrosion somewhere in the wire bundle between the starter and battery.

 

You implied that it would get slower in one sitting, not suddenly:
What voltage does the battery show when it will no longer start?

 

Yeah I never have to crank it more than once in one sitting. It just get slower with each start.

12.54 volts when not cranking.

 

And voltage while cranking?

When it doesn't want to crank, have you tried jumping the starter manually?

 

I haven't checked the voltage while cranking. What should it be?

No, how do you get jumper cables down there? I cant hardly fit my hand down there. I could try but I'd have to remove the stock air box.

 

It shouldn't dip below ~9.5 volts.

You don't use jumper cables, just jump the two posts on the starter. If it still won't crank over, it's most likely the starter or the signal.

 

IIRC...Maybe your crankshaft/camshaft POS/REF sensor is bad. I had that issue on my 97. Replaced all three sensors (preventive maintenance - not sure which one fixed it) and car fired right up.

 

I'll give that a try.


I don't see how that can cause the problem I'm having.

 

It absolutely can.

My 97 started to get harder and harder to start day by day until one day it just didn't start.

 

A CKPS or CPS fault will keep it from running, but won't keep it from cranking.

 

Interesting. I have no idea where that sensor is but I have a repair manual and I'll check it out.

 

FWIW:

 

Yeah they are all pretty easy to change and not very expensive (each one is under $100 if I recall).

I don't know which one exactly I needed, but my car had 160k so I replaced all three (some of them as preventive maintenance most likely).

 

I had the same problem i have a 95 new battery new starter... my engine light went on saying to change the crankshaft position sensor.. i did car started alot BETTER.

 

i changed the sensor in the first picture above... I CANT SEEM TO FIND THE SENSOR(POS) the middle pic CAN ANYONE GUIDE ME FROM THE SENSOR IN PIC ONE TO SENSOR IN PIC TWO

 

The pic shows it pretty well, but it's mounted to the left side of the block right next to the bellhousing.

 

I don't have an engine light on.

 

when you replaced the starter, did you replace the solinoid too ... did it come with a new one? How is your Gnd cable looking ??? Check where it meats the block (common problem area). Take it off and clean that post, and the end of the wire, slap it back on and see if it helps. Can't hurt and will only take a 10mm ratchet (w/ extension or a 10mm ratchet wrench is even better) and 2 min's.

 

Or just above the cross member slightly to right behind the radiator.

 

Yes the new starter came with a solenoid. Is the GND cable on the opposite side off the battery by the wiper fluid reservoir? Because I noticed that that connection is rusted and corroded but I don't know what it goes to. I just see a wire bolted to the subframe. I bought the car new so I know that is an OEM connection.

 

After working on it this weekend I found the problem to be the starter. I tapped on the starter with a long breaker bar and the car started right up... The OEM starter lasted me almost 12 years, the aftermarket starter lasted me less than 5 months. I guess I will go buy an OEM starter. NAPA sucks!