HELP, car won't start!!!
 

I went outside to change my sidemarker and clearance bulbs today. The at first struggled to start up but then started after I changed one bulb. I made nothing of it and changed all the bulbs, sides and clearance. I went to remote start my car again and the damn thing won't start. I doesn't even crank. It sounds like the starter is cranking but there is no ignition. All the lights turn on inside but pretty much turn off when the car tries to crank. Also, when I put the car in the ignition position, right before you turn the key to start it, the ABS light and BRAKE light do not turn off.

Now, I last drove the car last Thursday and it drove fine. Only thing wrong at the time was the right side clearance light was hanging off the car. I looked at the bulb today and saw that the glass looked "burned." Someone help please. I need to take my car to Philly tomorrow and need this fixed ASAP. If someone responds today, I will take my car to Maximum Tuning tomorrow.

Someone PLEASSSSSSSEEEEEE help!!!

Sounds like your battery is dead. Did you try using the key to start it. Mine did the same this with the remote starter, it would flash the lights then just not do anything. I think its a saftey feature in the starter. Mine just barely started with the key and I took it to replace the battery right then. Try jumping it and see if that works.

If your bulb is burned then you probably have a short somewhere. Check all the electrical for the bulbs you replaced. A short can cause your battery to drain so that would be more of a symptom.

The problem with the bulb is, it looks like the clip was broken and the bulb came out of the headlight. I removed the bulb and tried starting it, nothing. The car also does not start with the key. I hear some weird sound coming from the front of the car when the car is in the ignition position. It sounds like a whirring sound. Now when you say a short....the outside of the bulb was burned. Like it was in contact with something causing the outside to burn. I pray it's nothing major...I can't spend any more money on this car!!!

Get a jump and go to Autozone. They'll test the battery and install for free if a new one is needed.

check the ignition fuse...this happened to me once..

Which fuses am I looking for? Should I check inside the car or under the hood?

Would a dead fuse cause the lights to shut off when I try to crank the car?

a short wont cause a burned bulb, also, a direct short to ground will blow a fuse before it drains the battery.


id check the battery terminals first. loose, corrosion, etc. will cause that. also, after you crank ot or have the key on for a minute or so, see if the terminals/posts are hot.

if its not that, load test the battery.

:)

Ok, but why would the car do this all of a sudden. It started once and then wouldn't 5 min later. The battery also has not been changed or refilled since I got the car 4 years ago.

why wouldnt it happen all of a sudden? the heat is what creates the resistance, along with the poor connection. it may start, and then after running, the terminal gets hot. then you shut it off. then it doesnt start.

are the terminals not corroded or what? if the battery is 4 years old, its probably about time for a new one anyway...

Off to auto shop I go tomorrow.

Which size Optima do you guys recommend? I need to get rid of the stock battery!!

Just make sure it matches as close as possible with the stock battery voltage level.

Ok, so after a little searching, it seems that the 75/35 size RedTop fits the Maxima. Can anyone confirm this as I will be going tomorrow morning to get the batt.

That's what I have. Fits like a glove and performs great.

Cool, what modifications are needed? I know that that size is a universal fit.

None, at least for me. I put it in and connected it no problem...everything fit and worked fine.

Yup, that's the battery I have too. Make sure you pick up one with the plastic battery extender tray so that your terminals will reach the posts.

if the problem is the battery, just get a regular one and save the money...

Just installed the RedTop.....car fired right ip....except my alarm doesn't work now. Going to see Don soon.


Thanks for the help guys!!!

Bit of advise get rid of the remote start. Those things cause alot of problems in cars thats probably why your battery shorted out

Uhh, I doubt that. I've had the remote start for over 2 years now.

Only if its a shi1ty install.

umm... ALL 12volt automotive batteries are ~12.75 volts on a full charge. the voltage regulator/PCM dictate the vehicles operating voltage when the engine is running anyway... its the group that needs to be matched... size, essentially.


WOW.... wow. okay, for one... the battery wasnt shorted. it was at the end of its life. 4 years is decent for a battery. SECOND... it would have to be one SCREWED up install to mess the battery up. probably to the point where the thing wouldnt even work. E for effort, though.

I really hate aftermarket alarms installed on cars, I have a Integra in the shop now which had a "pro" install the alarm- the owner of the car does car alarm installs and his car would CUT ignition all togheter right after it was fired up. After removing the alarm out of the circuit the problem never re-occured, and the owner swore up and down that his CompuStart 500 dollar alarm is da bomb, yeah whatever... stick to OEM or prepare for problems down the road.

Aftermarket electrical installs should not affect anything on the car if the install is done well. Most installers are half-a55 and aren't worth a salt....honestly I think I am paying the price on the install of my remote start alarm. It seems to have a mind of its own sometimes. I have had to go back and redo some of the wiring because they did a half-a55 job.

My installer is top-notch and has worked on NUMEROUS cars here on Maxima.org. The problem WAS NOT from the remote start or ANY electrical accessories. The problem WAS the battery. I switched the battery and the car fired right up.