Last week I got a 1999 Nissan Maxima (140K miles). The car runs and drives very well. The only problem I've encountered is that once in a while (maybe 15-20% of the time), the car will start up but then stall out right away. When this happens I'll wait a minute then restart the car --sometimes it starts right back up; sometimes it'll crank and not start on the second try, but it's always started on the third try.
The car idles pretty well. It's never stalled out while driving or another time besides during startup.
I had the car inspected a few days ago and got a clean bill of health. Today I changed the air filter and the fuel filter, but that didn't resolve the issue. I plan on replacing the spark plugs next week, which I hope is the problem. I was gonna replace them either way since I just got the car.
Does anyone have any ideas of what this might be? I've been searching online and some people say it's probably not the fuel pump, some say it probably is the fuel pump. I guess I figured that if it was the fuel pump, wouldn't I notice other issues (choppy idling, etc.)?
I should also note that the car's gas tank has been at least 1/2 full since I got it, so it wasn't low on fuel or anything.
Edit: I forgot to mention that the car's fuel indicator light has been on since I got it. I recently filled the tank up, but the fuel light is still on. I'm wondering if this could have anything to do with it.

 

Start by cleaning the throttle body (TB). Then clean the idle air control valve (IACV) if cleaning the TB doesn't do the trick.

 

Thanks for the info. This is definitely a fresh perspective on the issue. I also forgot to mention a possibly important piece of information. Here's the edit to my post: "I forgot to mention that the car's fuel indicator light has been on since I got it. I recently filled the tank up, but the fuel light is still on. I'm wondering if this could have anything to do with it."

 

No, just check your fuses and there is a fuel gauge sensor that could be bad it would be in the fuel tank. The harness and the bcm check them out.

 

Hey,
I am actually having the same issue with my 1999 Nissan Maxima which also has over $140k miles on it. The dealer told me I need a new cam shaft position sensor. It came up as a diagnostic code even though I don't get a check engine light. I had the car there for a long time for a different issue and couldn't leave it there any longer so I left without having it changed. I did a quick search online and it sounds like a relatively easy thing to replace. Can anyone recommend the best place to buy OEM Nissan parts from?

 

Interesting. My check engine light isn't on either. Is that the only symptom you're experiencing the issue with starting?
You got me thinking now... I just went out to my car, popped the hood to look at the sensor. I noticed there's a lot of oil near it —like oil has been leaking out of it. I wonder if this is relatively normal. Does yours have oil around it? The good thing is the part doesn't cost much money and it's very easy to install yourself. Crossing my fingers that this is the problem.

 

I'm very happy to say that you were absolutely right.
I took my throttle body and IACV out and cleaned them thoroughly. I also replaced them with new factory gaskets.
Since doing this my car hasn't stalled once. Granted, it's only been 2 days, but I've been doing a lot of driving. In the past 3 weeks, my car would stall 40-50% of the time after starting. The past 2 days 0% stalling.
Thanks again, Wizard.