The maxima has been good for quite a while but I went to start her up yesterday and she just cranks and cranks but wont fire up.

I dont smell any gas when I pulled the plugs and I'm pretty sure im not getting any spark to any of the cylinders..

Im guessing the fuel pump went out on the fuel delivery deal but for all the coils to go bad at the same time is kinda weird..Any other ideas ?

and yes i pulled the codes and no blown fuses.

 

did you get any codes?
what did the plugs look like when you pulled them?

 

coils dont all go bad at the same time. Might be pump...maybe ignition switch...i dont think its the starter.

ANy codes?

Was it cold out?? any symptoms before this?? If no codes...somettimes a good MAF and TB cleaning can help with starting issues

 

my money is on the fuel pump. turn your car on to the normal running position but don't start it and you should hear the pump running in the rear of the car for 5-10 seconds if you are really quiet.

 

try 1-2 seconds tops. It may seem longer, but that is the actual amount of time that the pump is energized for.

 

i say you might need a new fuel pump...

 

I'm dealing with the same problem. I found out its my camshaft position sensor that's bad. The gas pump acts the same way.

 

After initial prime, fuel pump wont energize until it sees a cranking signal from the cam pos sensor, no spark either.

 

cam or crank... sensor going bad on you. you can try to start it all day long but it just wont fire. UNLESS you slam the gas down to the floor over and over again it might sputter and then shut off again. Check your cam sensor first really easy repair

 

Didn't get any codes.

Couldt be the ignition switch, Thats newly
replaced and like i said..It cranks just no starting.

plugs look fine...no gas on them or anything.

I'll go to the garage and see if the pump primes..
I'll try the slamming the gas as well.
Couldn't hurt.

I'll change out the cam sensor as well.
How many are there.. four I'm guessing ?

It couldn't be a broken timing chain could it ??
It doesn't make any type clanging or banging sound..
So I wouldt think so but I'm not for sure on that one.

 

Theres only one Cam sensor. Also I bought the sensor on ebay for 39.99. Auto zone and others have it for no less then 60. Happy hunting. Remember, only buy one if you need it.

 

Its gotta be fuel pump or cam sensor and im leaning towards cam sensor because thats fairly common. Its on the timing cover take a look around.

 

Sounds like the following to me:
-Crank sensor (you've replaced already though)
-Cam sensor (pick one up at a JY for about 5 bucks unless you have deep pockets)
-Fuel pump.

If your timing chain were broken, you'd have real fast cranking so listen for that.

You need AIR, FUEL, and SPARK to start. Which of those do you have?

 

My money is on camshaft sensor. But the ECU should throw a code for it, i know mine did.


T

 

If u have a multimeter u can check impedance to see if they working correctly. They are all magents so u can remove them and wipe them off to see if that helps. Dont scrape tho

 

Thats the weird part...the ECU isnt throwing any codes. Thats why i sd initally to clean MAF and TB.

 

READ MAN, READ!!!!

 

HUNH??? there is only one...boy, yer slow....yota

 

I did, he just said he pulled the codes and the plugs. but made no mention of the result.

FWIW, When I bought this max it would crank (crappy crank) as much as I wanted, but wouldn't start.
No codes except KS were in the system.
Went and checked everything. Popped in new plugs, new battery (trying to get a better crank). None of it helped. Ran a compression test. Starter died during the compression test. Replaced the starter and the car started and ran.

 

bought a one new cam sensor [Thanks max], Replaced it.
Still not firing up..No codes..
Fuel pump is prolly dead. =/

How evil of a job is this to replace?

 

It's one of those "sucks to be you" kinda jobs

 

I would clean up the crank sensor and add a ground wire near the cps...(between engine and trans). Also make sure your battery is charged. But if you don't here the fuel pump priming at all...then yea probably the fuel pump...

 

fuel pump?
it's easy. Pull the back seat bottom out, remove access cover, remove sending unit (unplug hoses and electrical connectors), pump is attached to the bottom of the tank.
it's an easy job laborwise, but if you have a tank full of gas (or even half full) you will be getting gas on your hands.

Make sure you check the current pump for fuel pressure before going to replace it. I did AFTER most of the above steps, turns out the P.O. was wrong and the fuel pump was good now I have a brand new fuel pump on my shelf for no good reason. Anyone want to buy one?

 

I had the same problem, i ended up replaceing the ignition switch and camshaft position sensor problem fix. I hope this help you. ignition switch $28 and cam sensor 58 it toke an half and hour to replced both parts

 

Here's another possible solution which I had while helping a buddy out (infowire) his crank sensor was bad when he bought the NON RUNNING max... the previous owner apparently tried troubleshooting the car by checkin fuses, relays and what not. Well, we went ahead and swapped in a known working crank sensor and still no start but on his other max it would not start with the bad crank sensor *duh* so I went and started checking all the fuses and they were all GOOD however the previous owner must have placed them back in the wrong spot because I looked at the diagram and at the actual spot the fuses were in and he skipped a spot and placed the ECCS fuse in the wrong spot.

CLIFFS NOTES: Even though you checked that fuses weren't blown, you should check that they are in the correct spot.

 

my max starts fine - at time the lights will dim - then when I turn it off and try to start again nothing- then turn on again it may start no problem- what do you think?

 

Hows it crank slow yota ? Fast or slow ?
if its not your sensors I would be checking
the starter next because that's real common You said no codes right ?

Get it tested.

I wouldn't check the fuel pump until dead last.

 

dude.. remove the back seat cushion... have somebody turn the keys and listen for the pump to cycle...

if it doesnt CHECK THE 12 volts at the terminal.. if its not there the pump is fine... u have a bad relay or fuse..

 

this

 

Before putting down money on a new Camshaft Position Sensor, why don't you check it first? It is really easy with an ohmmeter - disconnect the electrical connector, measure the resistance across the two terminals: it should read as:
- 1440 to 1760 at 68 degree F for a Hitachi model, or
- 2090 to 2550 at 68 degree F for a Mitsubishi model.

My was from Mitsubishi, and it reads around 2400 ohm IIRC.

You might find it easier to take the sensor off so that you can (a) find out which maker for your sensor and (b) get a better measure at the indoor temperature; Don't know where you are, but at 30 degree out door, it is hard to get the right reading.

Good luck.

 

I put a new battery in it and its still starting pretty slow.

As for the CEL code, I was wondering why I wasnt getting any so I pulled the cluster and guess what..No bulb in the CEL light area..lol.

So i did the ecu diagnostic and got a :

4 fast blinks, 1 separate blink and then two quick last blinks.

So i'm guessing a 412 CEL code? or is this a 0402.

I checked 412 and got nothing..and the 0402 was a fuel temper sensor... ?

 

if you put in a new battery and you are still cranking slow, replace the starter (get one for 97-99)
You have the same issue I had, replaced the starter and the car runs. I also had no CEL, bulb was burnt out

 

Before u spend money to replace the starter check the crankshaft position sensor (REF). If its cruddy and dirty then the engine will crank for awhile before it turns over. I dont think it will send a code cuz it still works but its jus not sensing the position of the crankshaft cuz its so cruddy.

THey are really really easy to remove. If its dirty jus wipe it off as best u can. If afterwards the car starts up then u have your culprit. Jus check it before u spend money on the starter or fuel pump as these are more expensive items.

 

Alright, Thanks.

 

Cleaned the cam and crankshaft sensors.
No go.

I did take apart and sand down all the grounds
I could find and tried crankin her up again and I now have fuel.

I pulled the plugs and they were soaked with gasoline...
So I just have a ignition issue now.

 

you said the ignition switch was replaced so this could not be the cause. How long after you replaced the ignition switch did this problem start? Could the new switch actually be bad? Do you still have the old switch? Was the old switch bad and that is why it was replaced or were you just pre-empting problems? If the latter, then put the old switch back in and see if this resolves your issues. Just my two cents worth.

 

Im in the exact same boat with you buddy.

Ill be lookin at everything on mine again tomorrow and I will try adding some grounds to the crankcase and tranny. If it fixes my problem Ill let you know.

Good luck!

 

Hows your progress slowyota ? You said you have fuel now right ?
What have you recently replaced on the car ?
If your not getting any ignition check your connections maybe there's
a loose wire somewhere thats causing this mess.

 

Hmmm keep checking electrical lines man...u might have gotten fuel in the plugs from all the no starts.

Yo man...the starter may jus be gone. Do a bench test of the starter

 

Things i have replaced in the last 4-5 months:

Camshaft sensor - this week
ignition switch
clean and tested crank sensor
oil pressure sending unit
starter
alternator
belts

I changed out the ignition switch because I would have to
jiggle the keys for about 4-8 seconds before it would even star to turn over.