I have 9000 miles now, and at least 5 times a week, when I go to start the car soon after it was turned off, it takes 2 attempts to start the car. Anyone else see this?

Thanks.

 

I hear you.. That happens to me too. Although, it happens more so when the car's been off for a little while. I dunno. Is that a TSB out on that one?

 

maybe has to do something with the imobilzer. could you describe what happenes in a better way

 

Well, when I start the car, it has a hard time cranking over. For the most part, it'll just hesitate for a few seconds, then it'll start. But sometimes, it just dies. Then I just turn the key again and she'll start right up. I've noticed that it happens a lot more frequently when I park my car on an incline for longer periods of time.

 

if it malfunctions, youre pretty screwed... that TSB on the immobilizer leaves you stranded.

I will assume that you have switched gas stations in 9000 miles.

I would think you fuel fouled plugs or a faulty coil. My car cleared up at 6000, but one thing the 3rd and 4th gen-ers suggested was to hold the key in the "on" position for about 5 seconds before cranking. It seemed to help. basically it was allowing the fuel system to pressurize. The dealer said there was no way that could help, but they couldnt find a problem either, so... Anyway, it seemed to help me.

at the very least, bug the dealer alot before 12K. after 12K, they get alot less helpful. (everything is completely covered to 12K, no exceptions - in theory)

 

Check your battery cable and make sure it is tight. That can cause it I know some max's have had that be the prob.

 

I am pretty sure its the imobilzer because if you lets say on a hill then it can't read the key because its in a different angle( i don't know how that happenes becasue i never had this probelm). If you take it to the dealer they might figure it out and maybe adjust the "reader" for the imobilzer, maybe it doesn't sit in a right angle to see if the key matches in order to start the car.

 

well, I have heard of too many keys causing a problem (weight).. No, it isnt the immobilizer, at least not this. This problem occurs when you turn the car off after a short drive, then come back within a few minutes to restart. It seems that if the trip was less then 10 mins and it its more than 90 degrees outside, there is a 30% chance it wont start on the first crank.

You could be right about the hill thing, but this problem has a very clear pattern with the short drive time and quick restart.

 

I second this, try diff. key.

 

It's called "Hot start". The problem is the residual fuel left in the fuel lines. During the short period of time that the car was shutdown,especially in hot weather,the fuel
takes on the gaseous form. So when you first start the car,all you do is burning fumes. Pressing on the gas pedal while cranking it should help.

 

I have had this problem on a few occasions, whether it be on short trips or long and in the day time and or at night time. In hot weather and in cool temperatures.

 

I think I didn't clarify enough in my previous post: the outside temperature plays a role,because it usually happens when it's hot.But-it's the underhood temps that cause gas to boil.So if the car was driven untill it fully warmed up,and then shutdown and restarted without sufficient cool-off peroid,then we might experience "hot start".

And,again,it only happened a few times with my old car,so other factors can contribute as well,like quality of fuel.
On that my limited knowledge expires..

 

In the owner's manual, "it says that if the car has been sitting for 30 minutes or less, push the gas pedal to the floor while starting." That is VERY odd I think. It says this is only for manual transmission cars, but I am sure everyone posting here doesn't have a 5-spd. What I have started to do is turn the key until the light on the dash come on and wait a second before starting. You can hear the fuel pump for a second while doing this. "Knock on Wood", but it seems to help. I haven't had the problem since. I know it sucks when it happens, but it could be ALOT worse.

 

Do you have a Mobil Speedpass or something similar in the car, or more specifically on your keys?

This I know can screw up the immobilizer thingie.

 

Thanks for bringing that up. Never thought of that. Yet another possibilty.

 

Half the people on this post are taliking about the problem of cranking the car and then having it shut off and having to crank again-something with the fuel flow or leftover fuel in the line.

The other half are talking about turning the key and NOTHING happening-that would be the immobilizer.

I think the original question was about the first topic(fuel related). That was one of the first posts I had about my '01. From what I heard then, "just get used to it". I have found that letting the car idle for a few seconds after you stop and waiting a few seconds before you start, does the trick.

 

I always let it ding 5 times before I turn it over. Never had a start problem in 8300 miles. srm

 

As Daniel B Martin and others said many times Maxima has electrical fuel pump which is got powered after you turn the key into "ON" but not "START" yet. It simply means that letting pump to do its business for several seconds should solve the problem.

 

It happens in the winter time as well. Usually when the tank it 2 thirds empty, and both at work at home I park on a angle. It just cranks a few times, then I let go of the key, then I try starting it again, and it turnsover. Dealer said it may be low fuel pressure, which they can test for.

Oh well, at least its just not me.

 

I don't know if this would help, but I also experienced the same thing, and when I brought the car for the 7,500 mile service, the problem was pretty much solved. It only happened once since then.

 

Yes, I have noticed that mine is sometimes also hard to start with only 6,500 mi.

Chuck
'01 Stealth Max AE

 

ok the problem is when u put the key in and turn it really fast the cars fuel pump hasnt cranked the fuel through the lines so it is lacking and when u turn it to the last position and let it sit before cranking it will pressurize and start without i problem it happens to me all of the time!

 

Well....The "immobilizer" you talk of is called a transponder. It sits on the ingnition lock cylinder. It reads the little chip that is in your key for your specific car. If the transponder is bad, the car will turn to the on position but will not crank. They key will turn to the crank position, but will not crank over. I am in agreement with the "hot start" problem. The fuel pump prims the system after about 2 seconds. It is not a coil, because the max has a coil on plug design. If a coil was bad you would have a miss-fire.

food for thought
Ryan