gag

We have a 98 Maxima SE with 150k mi. on it, and it recently died on the road.
My Wife has been using this car to go to work 10 mins.away. Bought it new and maintained it, only knew needs a valve cover job and adding oil as needed. She turned key and it was tight turning key but started car fine, then drove it a few hundred feet and stopped to talk to a friend, put it in park, and then heard a loud metal grating noise from engine and smelled a "burnt cigarette smell."
She then put it in drive, the noise stopped, and she was able to drive the car into a parking spot and put in park again idling, no noise now. Then after 5 mins. idling the car died and couldn't start. She turned the key and silence, no clicking, nothing. She had lights and interior lights, buzzers, but no dashboard lights came on when she turned key. Checked battery cables and tight, no corrosion, and battery is low, not dead. What do you think could be the issue? Really want to keep it, otherwise body and interior is great 98 max.SE

Fakie J Farkerton

iTrader: (51)

We have timing chains, not belts..I'm guessing something seized and fried a belt.

Visual inspection should tell you a lot.

On a side note..if you have the time, do the valve cover gasket yourself.
Front is cake, rear is just time consuming..not hard.

dwapenyi

iTrader: (3)

There was a recall on 98 Maxima alternators. Sounds like yours may not have been replaced. Call Nissan corporate and give them your VIN number....they'll tell u what to do.

njmaxseltd

iTrader: (19)

What's strange is the fact that the ignition is no longer turning anything on.
A couple of possibilities:
1) Alternator burnt up, shorted and blew a main fuse.
2) Ignition switch failed.

What makes me thing it's ignition switch related is that she said turning the key was tight. The noise she may have heard could have been the starter. The switch may not have come back to the run position and left the starter engaged with the flywheel. You could have some damage there, but let's get power back first.

Check for a blown main fusible link, their under the hood. If that's ok, check the ignition switch, it's actually a common failure item.

Keep us posted on what you find.

gag

Thanks for this, I wasn't contacted, and I called my dealer service and they confirmed I need it. Thanks for your input.

gag

Yes, agree and thanks. I told the guy the key crank was tight before the noise, and told him your scenario. He doesn't seem to listen too good though, and I said, for $97/hr diagnostic work start with this please. He said maybe she heard a backfire. I said no, it was metal/metal sound, jeeezzzz. BTW, he did mention he checked ALT/Start/Battery and all fine so far.


Yea thanks, he said nothing showing on visual, but who knows. Ok, maybe I'll look into doing the covers, since that'll be a good savings. Thanks for the idea encouragement.

dwapenyi

iTrader: (3)

Count yourself fortunate...some maximas have caught on fire because of that particular recall

Quickywd01

iTrader: (16)

I have two '97's and this info. scared the heck out of me when I found out about this. I couldn't believe it.

dwapenyi

iTrader: (3)

My I30 is my 2nd Gen 4. My previous 98 Maxima had the recall but I had to search it out and get it fixed. When I bought this I30, the alternator was already taken care of by the dealer.....chalk that up to the grey poupon factor?......same car.

gag

yes, and fortunate you posted here for me. Mechanic just said not the Alt., but if we can get it fired up, I'll have it changed at the dealer.


They should check recalls with Nissan even if you're in for a brake job anywhere else as a courtesy. People move around these days more, and that'll help us with this major fire potential defects.

NismoMaximaA32

-__- I got a 97 Maxima Se I didn't know Nissan still covered this defect. I replaced the alternator twice.

Fakie J Farkerton

iTrader: (51)

It's not all. My girl and I both have '97's and were not part of the recall.

gag

This was posted here in error also, should be in Newbie thread-will do, thank you FF

dwapenyi

iTrader: (3)

Get someone to charge your battery. You should be able to make it to the dealer after that.


Once I took my sentra to Nissan. I had already spoken to Nissan corporate and they confirmed there was a recall on the ebrake (or something I dont quite remember). Anyway, I went to the dealer, DID NOT tell them about the recall, but I suggested that "I think" there's a recall on this car. I waited to see what they would do. 2 days went by and they kept stalling.

Finally I decided to tell them that I spoke to Nissan Corporate. Even before I could finish my sentence they said they knew about and took care of it, no charge, of course.

It's like the words Nissan and Corporate are kryptonite to a Nissan dealer lol

gag

OK, thanks, and here's what was wrong with it.

Just picked up the car from the shop and the total cost was $550. It needed an ignition switch, some fuses, relays, and a new starter; the flywheel was fine. Dealer said there is a recall for a new alternator if its still the original, so next is that. So, not as bad as I thought, and back on the road, but will keep it local for now.