I Did a search.....

Both my fiancee and I have 2k2 Max. Sometimes hers won't start. It will turnover, but won't start up at all. Eventually after several minutes of trying it will start. The few times it happened while I was with her it start up after a few turns. But, It has taken so long a couple of times when she was by herself that she has called me to call AAA only for it to eventually start.

Has anyone else here had this problem? What do you think it could be?

Oh, her Max is bone stock.

 

Perhaps a coil or electronic (ignition) problem? See if you can figure out a pattern so when you take it to the dealer, you can reproduce it for them. Like, cold starts only...short trips...etc.

ARFF

 

Take it back to the dealer.

 

I took it back to the dealer, but it's nothing they can do if they can't duplicate it. It only happens about 2 or 3 times a month.

 

does it happen after you start the car for less than a minute? Like to just move it to another spot in the driveway? or a *really* short trip?

 

hey I have the same problem. It's been going on for couple months now, but whever i take it back to the dealer, they are never able to DUPLICATE the problem. Now they are guessing its the thing (key) that you put under your steering wheel....if you take it off than car won't start. but i doubt its that...cuz i never remove that.

jeff---mine is not b/c of short trips

 

...but I was reading the manual last night about the Nissan Immobilizer keys. Apparently they can be affected by toll or gas paying devices on your keychain. Any one with the starting problem have those as well?

 

I've had that happen to me. It sometimes happens when I start the car with either the heat or the AC on. It tries to start but just won't and out of habit, I pump the gas while it's trying to start. I guess at that point I end up Flooding it or something because if I leave it alone for 5 mins or so, and try again, it starts right up.

I'm an idiot when it comes to the inner workings of my cars, so I'm sure a few of you are laughing right now.

Not sure what causes it, but the only times it's ever happened to me is when I have either the heat or A/C on when starting

Tom

 

same for me as well... dang maxima's and their funny quirks...

 

I think this has come up in a bunch of other threads, but it's been happening to me too ever since I bought the car a year and a half ago. Nissan did duplicate the problem and replaced something called the crank angle sensor, but it didn't fix anything and the car still does it. I'm not even really sure if they did the work or just told me something to humor me, but they had my car for three days.

 

Guys, try this, put your key in and turn it to the ON position leave it there for a few seconds, you should hear the fuel pump go for a few seconds. After it stops then turn the key to start.

grey2002_ny - Pumping the gas won't do anything, you're fuel injected. Pumping the gas while starting is for carbureted cars.

 

don't know about 2k2 since it's different from my 2k shift console, but when it happens to me, i pull the shifter back to N or D and push it back up the P position. i think it's the shifter not knowing it's in Park. starts fine afterwards.

it's only happened to me a handful of times but this does the trick every time.

 

I'm thinking fuel pump too.

My wife's 2k2 honda accord just started this with her. Only when it's cold so far. It all started on a day I washed it for her. I finished it, started it to move and stopped it, just like TimW mentioned...

TimW, the way you mentioned that seems like you know the cause for the short start part of this? I've thought about that for a while and can't think of any reason a short start should do that, but I did notie this with our Honda so I'm curios...

 

OK, one trhing we haven't cleared is what kind of starting problem!?

Is it turning over and not "catching" starting?

Is it turning over, almost starting but never gets there?

Does it just not even trying turning over?

This has to be answered first. The last option would be the Auto not in park or clutch not all the way in. Though there can be other reasons.

 

TURN THE KEY, HEAR A CLICK, AND NOTHING HAPPENS

 

It's turning over, almost starting but never gets there.. Maybe it's the oxygenated gas that we are forced to use in the winter (At least here in NY)

 

I've never had a problem starting my 2K2 Max.

Well, pumping might not, but flooring it actually might... not sure about the Max though, maybe mechanic could answer for sure.

See http://cartalk.cars.com/Columns/Arch...tember/05.html
http://cartalk.cars.com/Columns/NEW_...99/May/04.html
http://cartalk.cars.com/Columns/Arch.../April/14.html.

 

Yeah, it just turnsover almost starting, but it want catch.

 

Mine does the "turning over, almost starting but never gets there." I wouldn't chalk it up to the oxygenated gas, because this is a year round thing with my car. I've tried pursuing this issue with 2 different dealerships and Nissan North America but I still haven't gotten anywhere yet.

 

I thought this was a common problem with the 2k & 2k1, but this is the first person with a 2k2+ that I have seen post. If you take it to the dealer, drop it off the night before, that way it has all night to sit. That will probably increase the chances of it not starting. It could be a coil I guess, but since the coils are on the plug, wouldn't it just make it run rough, rather than not start? Your problem could be a bunch of different things: Fuel pump, fuel, fuel filter, spark plug, coil, ECM, on and on and on. We could speculate all day long.

Good Luck

 

when the car cranks but doesn't fire, it's usually due to not enough spark and/or too much fuel. Timing also comes into play but I doubt that this is the root of the problem (ie CAS).