I recently bought an 01 AE Max (currently 47k on it) and now that it's gotten colder starting it has become more and more difficult. Generally, I'll try starting it and it'll crank just fine and start after 3 or so cranks. It'll get up to around 1k rpms and die. I'll restart it and it'll restart just fine getting to around 1.5k rpms. I thought it was just my battery not giving enough current so I replaced it. That didn't really change anything so I figured it was maybe a fuel problem. I changed the fuel filter (what a PITA) and now acceleration is better, but starting it isn't any easier. Sparkplugs were replaced as preventative maintenance also. The alternator is only a year old as well. Not really sure what else it could be, and I really don't want to keep throwing money at this.

 

CEL on? Did you pull any codes?

 

Nope no codes

 

OK, what happens next? When you give it gas, will it get above 1.5K RPM? Will it keep running or does it die? Or what?

Looks like your battery is OK. I would suspect one/more of (Fuel Pressure Regulator (FPR), FP Relay, Fuel Rail) and/or the Crank Sensor. Also, perhaps your fuel injectors are clogged; adding a fuel injector cleaner to your gas is a reasonable precaution. Finally, can you tell whether the car does not have enough fuel, or whether it has too much fuel and is flooding itself (gas smell would indicate).

At any rate, if you want help, you need to give us a better description; see my questions above.

 

you may have a problem with your mass air flow sensor.

 

Yes, when I give it gas it'll go above 1.5k rpm. It stays running after. FP relay should be fine, checked it when I did my filter. And I put in some fuel injector cleaner already.

 

OK, do what Jetman suggested - check/clean the MAF.

 

one of the crank sensors

 

sorry, forgot to say that I took the MAF out and it didn't look dirty at all, not sure though since it's kind of hard to see

 

is there anyway to know which one?

 

Since you can maintain RPM 'manually' I'd try to clean throttle body first, esp butterfly plate. At idle the plate is almost closed and if the dirt got there over time it won't let enough air through and engine will die.

 

Don't ever ACTUALLY TOUCH IT.

 

check the crankshaft sensor. replaced mine this week. starting problems suck because there can be so many causes.

 

So, let me sum it up: The problem is that the car does hold idle. Once you give it gas, it runs OK.

Given this problem description, I suggest the following:

• Clean or replace your MAF ($77 from Courtesy Nissan). Re. cleaning, MAF cleaner is about $13 from most shops. There is a post "how to clean your MAF under $10" or, something like that, on this forum. However, cleaning will not help if the MAF itself is worn out. In either case, just inspecting it, as you did, is not sufficient. I would just replace it.
• Your IACV may be at fault. If it were, you should see P0505, but perhaps not. The FSM tells you how to test the IACV.

Start with the MAF. It's much easier to get to, and much cheaper to replace. Also, it is the more likely source of your problem - my car had the same issue and replacing my MAF fixed it.