I'm another one of those unlucky souls who has a 1999 Maxima that cranks all day but won't start. I've tried changing/cleaning various sensors:

both crank, cam, map;
cleaned the maf;
changed the spark plugs;
replaced the fuel filter;
replaced the starter;
and of course added grounds...

still no start...

I don't know that much about cars...however I noticed that the

*Water pump tab (on the cover) and the crank pulley alignment marks aren't aligned with each other...*

is that the source of my problem?

 

See if you are getting spark, check the security system/immobilizer.

 

You need spark, fuel, and air... make sure you're getting spark by pulling a coil and putting it up against metal to see if its sparks while someone cranks. If there IS spark then check fuel- make sure fuel pump fuse is good before disconnecting any fuel lines/hoses.

How certain are you that the crank position sensor you have in there is 100% functional? Is it new? thats probably the main culprit if fuel is being delivered.

 

the crank sensors are new...

I can hear the fuel pump and i can also smell gas when trying to start it... starter fluid did nothing also.

I haven't tested for spark yet...(wasn't sure how...i'll try this tomorrow)

what about the water pump tab and crank pulley not being aligned?

 

Hmm, ok so fuel is out of the question... unless of course it's just less pressure than needed but unlikely..

I don't wanna sound like a douche but.. the sensors ARE plugged in right? I've had friends ask for help and found that the problem with the new sensors is that they weren't connected

I have no idea what water pump tab you're talking about... that being said, I don't think it's important but I'll let someone else chime in on that...

 

yes all sensors are in the correct position and plugged in.

This video describes what I am talking about with the crank timing: http://youtu.be/V1jZn3h7GuU

I noticed on my car that the tab and the marks are not aligned...

 

Well, that mark you would check with a timing light when the car is running... unless you're getting a backfire/thump when your car cranks and tries to kind of start... if it doesnt thump/backfire when trying to crank, your timing is more than likely OK..

 

I do hear it backfire...i don't hear any thumps (as far as I can tell)

when cranking it sounds like it is about to start and then usually backfires or keeps cranking with no start

 

hmm.. starting to wonder if your chain skipped a tooth and actually did throw off the timing... are you sure it's getting proper fuel pressure? sounds like it gets barely enough. The fact that it tries to start tells me there's some sort of spark..

 

I'm not positive it's getting proper fuel pressure...

I can only say that I can hear the fuel pump turn on and starter fluid did nothing...

 

What was/were the last changes done to your motor that may have altered timing? ie- tensioner/guide replacement, water pump replacement, anything else?

 

Honestly I am not sure... I've only owned the car for 3 months... all the changes i've done are listed above in my first post...I have barely driven it...it used to crank,crank,...,crank, start then idle and run absolutely great...

now it only cranks... the car has about 240,000 miles on it.

 

if I am getting spark...would the next step be to check the timing? and to do that would I need to remove the timing cover?

 

Ignition switch? Did you clean the mating surface between starter and bellhousing of any corrosion?

 

im having the same problem with mine till i figured out to play with the iacv **** and played with it some it starts but never on the first crank..i cant keep turning it over..i have to crank for like 2 sec stop crank for 2 sec stop..i keep doing that till it hits and when it hits have to let up off the key or it will flood all to thell...but when it starts it runs perfect...

 

Then your missing spark.
You need a signal from both crank sensors to get spark.
If the timing chain skipped a tooth, you can still start, but with a misfire.
More than 1 tooth will leave you dead.

 

Is your Security Light staying lit while cranking? Sounds like your Immobilizer is activated, it's happened on all three 99's I've owned.

 

im surprised nobody mentioned a leaky injector.

pull the fuel pump fuse and all the plugs crank it with NO PLUGS and see if fuel comes out of the spark plug tubes.
replace all the plugs spray the everliving crap out of the TB with carb spray and crank if it stutters and spits like it wants to fire you need injectors

 

my security light aint on when im tring ta start it..ive replaced everything except iacv lol needed it anyways but other then that i have no problem with madd maxx running just the starting issue which ill be buyin a iacv friday on ebay

 

I haven't done any testing on it yet...(waiting for my friend to help me or tow it to a mechanic)...

but I tried to start the car yesterday...it fired right up...idled fine..I let it run for ten minutes...and shut her off...

went right back to cranking with no start....tried again today...with more cranking no start....

 

I finally got it back from the shop:

They said the computer was almost fried. They had to replace multiple shorts around the crank and cam sensors and around the ECU as well as the spark plugs which they stated were black...

it starts fine now except every so often it starts hard...I told them not to do anything further...final cost $400...they wanted $200 more to try to completely fix it. They said it may need another starter soon or fuel pump...

 

Do you have any info on how to do this? Im having a similar problem and am pretty confident its the security system/immobilizer
I couldn't even get the lid off the box where the immobilizer is...
Ill make a better post tomorrow but Im feeling sick as hell