Ok, we all know that 4th/5th gens here have had starting problems. Mainly, the engine cranks and cranks (i.e.
battery is ok) but does not turn over. It has happened to me like half a dozen times over three years. What I've
noticed is that it's like there isn't enough gas getting in to fire the engine up.

So I was thinking, sometimes stepping on the gas a little doesn't fix the difficult starting, so how about
this...maybe it's an ECU problem. The ECU does change fuel mixture settings depending whether it's a warm or
cold start. I've found that my starting problems always occur when the car has been parked for a couple hours. It
has never had trouble starting when its cold (like in the morning). So maybe, whichever temp sensor tells the ECU
to choose from rich (cold start) mixture or lean (warm start) mixture is giving a faulty reading. Or better yet,
maybe the place where the sensor is located is in a particular warm part of the engine, so while the rest of the
engine is cold, the sensor still records a high coolant temp. Hence, when the car has been parked a few hours, and
the engine temp is essentially "cold", the sensor detects "warm" and when you try to start your car, the ECU
doesn't send a rich enough fuel mixture to turn the engine over.

What do you think? It's only a theory, but I refuse to believe that problems with the engine not turning over can
be the result of a bad starter, since each time I've had that problem the starter sounded just fine.

 

Possible... if that's teh case, I may have a defective temp sensor... I usually only have starting problems in the morning, ie cold car.

-Shing

 

Who in the hell told you that? hehe.

Sounds like a damn fine theory to me bro.

 

Hehe...just off the top of my head. I only posted my technical idea because I was sick of reading posts about non Maxima roadkills, which mods to get for XXXdollars, and group deals on appearance (i.e. non-performance) mods.

Seriously...doesn't it seems like 90% of all the posts here on BBS are so irrelevant? I remember the good ole days with Andi's and Chad's BBS...when the posts were actually Maxima related. Now it's just Supra vs. Vette roadkills and HID vs Superwhite bulb posts.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Jeff92se
[I]Who in the hell told you that? hehe.

Sounds like a damn fine theory to me bro.

[QUOTE][i]

 

Yup. I even hesitate to list what I just did on my car becuase no one gives a flying crap.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Eric L.
[I]Hehe...just off the top of my head. I only posted my technical idea because I was sick of reading posts about non Maxima roadkills, which mods to get for XXXdollars, and group deals on appearance (i.e. non-performance) mods.

Seriously...doesn't it seems like 90% of all the posts here on BBS are so irrelevant? I remember the good ole days with Andi's and Chad's BBS...when the posts were actually Maxima related. Now it's just Supra vs. Vette roadkills and HID vs Superwhite bulb posts.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Jeff92se
[I]Who in the hell told you that? hehe.

Sounds like a damn fine theory to me bro.

 

yeah...I wish people enlight me with these kind of knowledge...share the wealth....especially since I
am quite blind on tech stuff...but hey..we have to learn
some how some time...
^_^
we need more tech stuff here....they are becoming extinct like the dinosaur...which is very sad...
keep them coming...

 

The BBS used to be very tech oriented, but unfortunately all the confusion from off topic posts and such caused a bunch of shutdowns of the old BBS, and slowly people left and never came back again. Now we have a whole new set of members, and now that the Maxima has more aftermarket support, the topics here tend to focus on mods and less problem solving and maintenance.

But yeah, if you were around in the old days, like three years ago, then you would see a huge difference as the old "Maxima BBS" evolved into what it is today.

 

do you have a theory for the cold start problem? i only have starting probs in the morning before i go to work, i always have to press the gas and rev the car...please help?

 

there should be a recall or something! i bet there are thousands of maximas that have this type of starting problem! i'm hesitating to take it to the same dealer...they were unable to pinpoint the problem last time.

 

If you always have to press the gas, there is something wrong. You should never have to press the gas to start the car. If the problem is persistent, take it the dealer, leave it overnight, and show them the problem. Your 98 Maxima should still be under warranty. If the dealer refuses to repair it even after you show them the problem, tell them that NO CAR with fuel injection requires stepping on the gas to start it. The days of goosing the accelerator on a start died after the carburetor dissapeared.

 

My theory is a slow and weak fuel pump... for hte most part, if I get in and crank... that's when I would run into not starting... but if I get in, turn to on position... wait 10 seconds, crank, it's ok... That's my theory on that.

-Shing

 

Eric,

I think we can go on for days about how this BBS has a lot of irrelavent posts. Jeff and I were talking about this in an email ealier... he posted about lighten flywheel... a very legit mod, probably = to gains of an intake(in terms of 1/4 times)... but no one reads it. But if you ask about blue blubs or clear tails... man, it gets lots of replies...

4th gens are pretty inexpensive to buy second hand these days... pretty soon, there will be a lot of maxima with clear tail lights running around.

I wonder... do they make clears for 5 series? M5? MBs? I hope not...

-Shing

 

True true...I miss the "real performance mod" posts too.

BTW, 2000+ 5-series come with whited out rear signal lights already. And the front signals (on the corners) are also white but flash amber.

 

I jsut don't want Altezza type tails for my M5... I think it's gay... looks stupid on the Altezza... It's funny... I remember people's number one reason for modding the heck out of a max was to be "different"... yet, people are going after the same things as the "other group"(aka honda boys)... you know Altezza tail lights, clear tail lights, etc.

It's funny.. yeah a lot of people rag on the honda community... yes there are lots of idiots in the honda community... and lots of ugly as sin cars... but you know, there's also more knowledge as a whole. Engine swaps, hybrid engines(example is teh one I am building right now... B16A bottom end, Type R pistons, Type R head, cams, etc, type R intake manifold), just in general crazy stuff. I suppose that's the price to pay for "fame"... you'll have people that just hate for no reason.

Oh well on a more maxima related note... going on 8500miles between oil change.. I think I am changing it today.

-Shing

 

Shing, I went 7500 miles on my last Amsoil change and had a sample sent to Blackstone. Got the results back, and the oil visc/etc all looked good. Within spec. The trace materials test came back with some #s a little on the high side...forget which...but Blackstone did recommend that I need to watch the engine and have another sample sent. I kinda don't think those results were legit, though, because I didn't run the engine and get the oil warm before draining...didn'r realize that until after it was drained. Apparently, the trace materials in the oil won't be homogenously distributed unless the engine's been running. I'll send my sample in again and have it retested.

Bottom line, though, is that the Amsoil itself went 7500 miles with no problem.

On the other subject, I think the stock 4th gen fuel system is undersized also. The 5th gens broke out the injector rails such that they have their own feed/return/regulator. I don't know whether the fuel pump was upgraded also, but just that injector rail change should keep the rear cylinders from starving...might not solve the starting problem, though. FWIW, I've never had any significant trouble starting my car, cold or hot.