Well as it stated I have a 2002 Maxima Automatic starting problem.. Here is what is going on Sometimes when I go to start it it just makes a click, just one single click... I have had the battery rested and it failed so it is a new battery then I noticed my negitave cable from the battery to the ground area was looking crappy so I bought a new nissan one, and the same with the positive side, well today I have had it it did it again so I took the started out and the auto store tested it 3 times and it passed all 3 times... Help has anyone had this problem and if so what was the fix this is driving me nuts... Oh I unpluged the trigger wire and it is clean and i put some dielectric grease in it for good mesures and I also did that about 3 months ago with out solving the problem...

 

so your saying when you turn the key, all you get is just a click? engine does turn over at all? I know you had your starter tested 3 times but it sounds like a starter problem. Those bench tests aren't always the most accurate because its being tested with no load.

 

I had this same issue and it was my starter. I remove mine and took it to autozone and it to passed three times. I took it to a junk yard and had it test it was spinning but wasn't engaging at all. Swapped it out and started right up afterwards.

 

Starter or Park/Neutral switch.

When it does it, try putting it in neutral rather than park and see if that works. Wiggle it while in neutral see if it makes a difference.

 

Thanks for all the sugestions/advise, Yes, Only a click when I turn the key.. I am waiting for the next time to check the neutral switch..Although it might not happen for 1-2 months or maybe the next time I go to start it it's a crap shoot.

 

It is your starter on its way out. I'd replace it with OEM without taking risk to be towed one day.

 

This has been doing this on and off since January of this year. I am not that guy that asks for advice and will say cant be that, I hope I can get 1 more start after it wont start so I can check the neutral switch then I will r&r the starter again and put in the new one.

 

It is definitely NOT the parking switch and you can check it now, without waiting for the 'next' time: just put it in any gear and try to start. Parking switch won't let you but you won't hear any clicks.

There's 'parking-neutral position relay' along the starting path which might potentially 'sound' like this - depends where do you hear this click from and how loud it is. If it is coming from starter then you're really asking for towing.

 

ok thank you all I will just change it a lifetime replacement from auto zone is 118 plus tax so I will just get it and swap it out

 

Yea I would change it as soon as you can, I had a slow/weak starting issue for 1.5 years and didn't know what it was so I just left it alone. One day all i got was "click" and nothing else. It took my starter a while to die but if I had known what it was I would have been replaced it.

 

I'd replace with OEM, unless AutoZone will cover your towing from whatever place you ended at with their 'lifetime replacement' unit. Even in that case I'd still go OEM . I went with 'good' aftermarket once due to circumstances and it simply cost me extra at the end. My total cost for replacing 2 starters was close to $700 within 1 year. This is just parts as aftermarket was nice enough to die on my driveway and I replaced them myself. The quality is simply not there.

 

See my start problem thread...I went through an Autozone starter in less than a week and finally switched to OEM. Wish I would have gone OEM first to save me $110.

Live and learn...

 

Other stuff clicks auidibly in the cabin when trying to start even if the car is in drive, try it

 

It does but my hope was that OP would try and notice if it's the same or not so it would allow separate starter from relay since he was the one who heard 'the click'. My bet is on the starter though as I don't recall relay going out on 5 gen.