Saturday morning I woke up and my Maxima wouldn't turn over. I have a 2k Auto completely stock with 50,000 and I have already replaced my battery around 30,000 miles or so. All interior lights come on and after trying to start there is a buzzing that is coming from the engine and it sounds like it is coming from the starter. After a couple of tries all I get is a rapid clicking. I had previously had my Maxima in for starter issues because it sounded like it was sticking when the car started, basicly grinding as if I was still trying to turn the key after the car started. My friend who also had a Nissan with a bad starter previously said it sounded exactly the way it did when his went.

Sunday I don't touch the car at all. Then on Monday morning after a little hesitation it starts. I drive to the dealer and leave the car. They try all day but it starts without a problem and they keep it overnight since I have access to a car. Today they test it and comepletely dead. At which point they take a reading on the battery and it is low, but I don't remember what number they said. They then test it later this afternoon and the battery has slowly regained juice while the car was sitting in the garage not being worked on. I told them to just go ahead and replace the battery, but they still see no problem with the starter. ANy ideas or suggestions on what might be the cause?

 

If your starter is clicking, then it was probably not enough amps to crank it over. If its grinding then its a possiblity the starter is bad. You may have them check the alternator out. Batteries can regain charge over time. It's like if u leave ur lights on a old car and come out and its dead. if u turn off the lights, sometimes if ur lucky u may get it to crank over. But have them check your alternator and electrics and make sure nothing is shorting out anywhere.

 

sounds like a bad alternator

 

thats what i was thinking after reading the first few lines of your post the altenator

 

Battery is dead -- it will slowly regain enough juice as it sits (heavy sulfation?) -- when you drove it you were able to charge it just enough to get a few starts out of it. While the engine is running if your battery light is not on I would not suspect the alternator. Still, a good charging system test is in order -- starter amp draw, alternator output amps/volts (at least 70/14) battery CCA load test (at least 300) and battery switch-on and switch-off voltage (at least 12.0 and 11.6? iirc)

If the new battery goes dead again then you will know either there is a draw on the system from something or your alternator is not operating right.

 

I had a similar experience, wouldn't turn over at all from Sat. night to Mon. morning, but could hear the starter spinning after releasing the key. Suspected a starter solenoid, had it towed to an independant shop where it started fine all day. Evidently the solenoid was sticking and was shaken loose during the tow.

Called dealer, he said this does happen occasionally but wouldn't suggest replacing starter until it repeated the behavior, that I may never have another problem. That was three months ago, NO problems since. Good luck!

 

I think i'm going through the same problem...I will replace the battery to see if that was the problem, if not, something is draining the batt when the car is off...