My 01 max has 81,000 miles on it and I am getting hesitant starts. Feels like the starter but I know it is not this. I've had the car for 10,000 miles and have had no problems. I am thinking these hard starts about 1 out of ten might be due to the MAF going or the engine coils. I use 93 octane gas religiously in the car. These hard starts don't matter if the engine is hot or cold. Any good thoughts would be appreciated in fixing this annoying problem. I just don't want to get stuck somewhere and the car doesn't start.
Paul

 

I have (and have had) this same problem.

 

over here...only if its cold though..it seems to have a REALLY hard time starting..sometimes doesnt even turn over..iabout every 1/35 times. No idea what it is...MAF?!

 

Does it run fine when it's already started? It could be your spark plugs or MAF.

BTW: you sure that it's not you battery?

 

Sorry to hear that man...is your Maxima still covered under a limited warranty from the dealer?

 

If it is not the battery, plugs, or coils, then your starter may be on its way out. It may sound like it is turning fast enough but it may not be. Within a couple of weeks you would find that when you turn the key nothing will happen. This is the point that the brushes have become too short to make proper contact with the armature.

 

i had the same problem for a long time. In recent years I've changed, battery, maf, coils, plugs, alternator and there is still starting hesitation.
The car showed similar symptoms when it had only 30k on it. Dealers could never duplicate the problem because it would occur once in 2 weeks or in really cold temp.

 

Im gonna' also go and say that it does it mostly when the car has about a 1/4 tank of gas.

 

Recently experienced this on our winter beater. Ended up being the stereo drawing too much current from the battery. It was installed with the ACC/BATT lines going to the battery such that it could be used with the ignition off. But even when the faceplate was removed, the standby current was enough to half drain the battery after 8-12hr, to the point where the starter would behave like it was dying. (i.e. occasional clicking with no cranking at all, or slow engine crank but then able to start after a few seconds)

Try to check your cars "standby current". By this I mean the current being used with everything shut off. Doors need to be closed, keys out of the ignition etc.

To do this put an appropriate ammeter between one of your battery posts and measure the current. It should be nearly non existant. I never measured the max but on the other car, i believe 180mA or 0.18A was sufficent to cause us problems. and the battery was a brand new red top btw

 

yeah thank god....i gotta go get it checked out..HEH warranty: 70,000 miles or 7 Years (i have 37,000 and only 5 years so far) Thanks for you sympathy...im gonan go get it checked out soon. BUT i have no cel and i dont seem to be throwing codes....my mechanic said my transmission seal is leaking and i should get it changed..and orgers said to simply unplug the MAF for a bit to throw a code...then plug it back in and take it to the dealer...what do you think?

 

I don't recommend letting your car go under a 1/2 tank in the winter. If you do, condensation will build in your tank and the lines, and that will contribute to the rough starts.

Try some gas line antifreeze (super cheap) and that should help with your problem.

 

Cool sig, mang.

 

I realized that this happens when I don't have much gas in the tank...less than 1/4 tank usually. Canadien alien I think you are right about the condensation getting in tank. Is this gas line antifreeze something you add to your gas tank before you fill up, like fuel injector cleaner??????Thanks for all of your input...

 

Thanks bro!

 

Yeah drop a bottle in before you fill up, as when you go to add gasoline, it'll slosh around in the tank and mix it up real good.

Otherwise if you put it in after, there might not be alot of room for it, and it'll just sorta sit on top of the gas and slowly mix itself.