So today as I was walking to my car, I unlocked my doors using my keyfob and watched the lights come on to show it unlocked. Then I got in and when i put the key in the ignition and turned it, the engine didn't even turn over. The really weird part is that from the moment I unlocked the doors to getting in my car (few seconds) my car lost power and none of the lights came on (warning lights and courtesy/dome etc). I then freaked out because I just brought my car in monday for a $150 sensor (front crash sensor) and popped my hood to inspect the fuse on the battery and my amplifier cable. As I got in my car hoping that it would somehow work, it did. The engine turned over and started without hesitation, but my trip calculator was reset, radio stations were reset, and for some reason the clock read 17:05. Last time I checked the clock wasn't able to read military time? When I reset the clock it wouldn't go past 12.

I didn't search before I made this post because I couldn't think of anything that wasn't vague. Sorry about that.

Any idea what happened? I thought it was my timing belt, but the car started up and drove fine (no SES or any weird lights). I also haven't done anything to my car for a few weeks.

Thanks in advance!

 

Check your battery cables..one of them may be loose.

 

This ^
Happened to me on my 4th gen couple of times, turned out to be the ground battery cable was loose.

 

Will do. I was thinking the worst haha this car costs me too much money.

Thanks!

 

Happens to my 02 from time to time, and has happened to me on several other cars before. Replacing the battery terminals has always worked for me. I get the quick clamp/release terminals too, and it costs me about $6 and 10-15 minutes of time.

-Nathan

 

You may want to clean your battery connector terminals. Corrosion and stuff built up on the terminals can cause issues. It might also be a good idea to have your battery tested (most auto part stores will do this for free).

 

Hi

May be its because of loosing battery cables...

 

So I made three different trips yesterday and nothing happened. But when I was leaving the gym today (same place as yesterday) it happened. Everything was fine until I turned the key, then I lost power. And popping the hood fixed it. I noticed that when I lock my car with the key fob, the security light stays on (lit not flashing) for a few minutes. I don't remember that happening before

 

Do you have an OEM security system, or an aftermarket alarm system installed? It sounds like there is some security issue where either the key chip is not recognized (for whatever reason) or an issue with the security system.

If you have an OEM system you probably want to call the shop (dealer?) where it was serviced last. Maybe they have some thoughts on the issue.

 

Sounds like the hood pin switch may be acting up

 

I have the OEM one that came with the car, I don't have any records since I bought it last year. I drop my keys a lot lol so maybe it's the chip in the key? Or when I had the front crash sensor replaced on Monday they did something by mistake? I don't know much about cars, but this sounds like too much of a coincidence to be a battery issue

 

Call the service department and talk to them about it...they can probably provide some better insight.

 

Ok thanks guys. I'm going to try using my other key until I have time to call them

 

Why? I wonder if in all this confusion you found time to clean and tighten battery post terminals as few members already suggested. What you described fits that perfectly - when you turn the key to start the current from the battery increases 10x so if the posts are dirty or cables are loose the bad contact they provide will become worse and you'd lose power altogether. Opening the hood creates vibration which restores the contact but not for long. Just clean the posts, do yourself a favor .

 

Your security light staying on after you lock the car happens when the system detects that the battery has been disconnected since it was last armed. It's there to get your attention, like it has, in case someone could have disconnected your battery in order to bypass the security system and then break into your car. It is not because of the chip in the key, and it is not because of the because of a crash sensor, and it is not because of a hood latch switch.

If you will just start with the simplest, and least expensive option, I promise you will be on the right track. Clean the battery terminals with a brush and even some B12 or MAFS cleaner if you want. And if that doesn't work then replace both terminals.

You're getting way ahead of yourself, and you're coming to a very rash, and potentially expensive solution before you've even attempted any of the simple and cheap potential solutions. Quite foolish in my opinion. In the end, it's your car, so do your own thing, and good luck.

-Nathan

 

my car is doing some weird funky electrical stuff too, i am going to clean my battery terminals like you suggested and see how it goes

 

I may have a little insight on this issue...

Recently I stalled my car from shifting to drive from reverse too fast.now I sometimes come to the car and it has no power or it loses power during driving sometimes. Brand new battery and battery clamps by the way.

Iits touchy, I have the positive clamped as hard as possible. It has to be held by zip ties because if it moves to the left it loses power. I know its a issue in the positive cable, like a loose wire in it or something. Like something got yanked when the car stalled and jumped.

Its very annoying to have yo basically open the hood daily to just tap the positive clamp so I get power. Very frustrating issue...

 

I ended up using pliers and closing the terminals as tight as possible so they won't come off.

You guys need to chill out when people don't take your advice right away. I'm not trying to start an argument, but there was no need to get responses like you guys gave me. I checked the terminals and they were fine so i dismissed it. There was especially no need to call me foolish for trying something and saying it didn't work. No one I talked to thought closing the terminals as tight as possible and hammering them on would work besides my mechanic. This is supposed to be a community to talk about maximas and ask for help when you need it, not attack people for not being as informed as you are.

 

NO...YOU need to chill out. No one attacked you in the posts. Calm down and understand where many of the senior members are coming from.

Wait...are you calling this an attack?

This is nothing...

Everyday we have idiots (not call you one) ask random questions who do not follow basic and logical sequence when fixing a problems. Think about how many of those people we respond to and try to help only to find they are not taking our advice. Go look up "Occam's Razor".

You are right, this is a Maxima community to talk, make improvements, and troubleshoot where necessary.

What did you expect when you asked a question about a problem? You should have expected us to respond to you with what may be the problem and things to check. If you don't check these things, then what the hell did you come on here for?

Something else to consider, when people who know more about something than you do it is probably prudent to take their advice. Obviously, your mechanic knew more and told you what it can be, and many of the people in this thread did the same. Yet...you didn't take the advice initially.

Come on man...think about it from our perspective.

 

I get what your saying ...but it really didn't seem like you were listening to them nor did you care.

 

Im fine lol im not mad or anything. It just amazes me that every time I post something people are rude when they reply. I followed everything you guys said, I just forgot to reply back. Its not cool to be called foolish and everything when you ask for help with something.

Edit: I'm not calling that an attack or anything. There's just better ways to handle things. I googled that problem, asked around to my friends who are into cars, searched here, and posted. I'm not mad at anyone or anything, I don't really care that much lol. I just don't appreciate being called foolish and getting replies like that.

I also said 'will do' when i was first told about checking the terminals. Ill admit that I didn't expect to have to tighten them to the point of breaking (my pos terminal snapped), but I did imply that I was going to check.

I didn't want to start a fight, so let's not. This really isn't worth arguing about and I'm sorry if I caused any trouble, that wasn't my intention.

 

Obviously you have an issue with it since you brought it up.

No fighting needed, but just understand where the people are coming from who take the time out of their day to help you.

In the same light keep in mind when you start a thread asking for help and get replies it is your responsibility to keep up with it. If you don't...well then people are less likely to help you.

 

dudes, i fixed the problem.. it was a bad battery and ended up getting a new one, the end!

 

mine went dead today at the same time as i was turning the moon roof hex nut and now i think i have blown a fuse or ruined the starter?