5th Generation Maxima (2000-2003) Learn more about the 5th Generation Maxima, including the VQ30DE-K and VQ35DE engines.

Car will not stay on or turn on

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 05-03-2016, 02:02 PM
  #1  
Member
Thread Starter
 
egali045's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Chicago,IL
Posts: 235
Car will not stay on or turn on

Hello,

I got a maxima 2002 that might be the end of it's life not quite sure yet. Hoping you guys may have any suggestions or past experiences.

Well, the car no longer turns on.
Battery was bought last year because of the same reason but now it won't start at all. It turns off as I start driving. I have to jump start the car but I have to keep accelerating or else it will turn off.

The only lights that are on are the battery lights and the BRAKE light.

Now, my guess is the alternator?


Tomorrow, I am having the car tow to my house since it's stuck in a neighborhood parked.
egali045 is offline  
Old 05-03-2016, 02:04 PM
  #2  
Senior Member
 
maxinout93's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Columbia SC
Posts: 2,284
sounds like an alternator issue
maxinout93 is offline  
Old 05-03-2016, 02:05 PM
  #3  
Bad *** Newb
iTrader: (7)
 
Child_uv_KoRn's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 4,943
Yep, easy fix, though.

If it's not far away, swap the battery out or fully charge it and drive it home. I'd disconnect the wire to alternator in case it drains the batt, but I bet you can drive for 30 mins during the day.

Last edited by Child_uv_KoRn; 05-03-2016 at 02:09 PM.
Child_uv_KoRn is offline  
Old 05-03-2016, 02:41 PM
  #4  
Member
Thread Starter
 
egali045's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Chicago,IL
Posts: 235
Perfect. Sounds like a project for this weekend. What else should I be worried about when/after replacing the alternator?
egali045 is offline  
Old 05-03-2016, 02:59 PM
  #5  
Bad *** Newb
iTrader: (7)
 
Child_uv_KoRn's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 4,943
Originally Posted by egali045
Perfect. Sounds like a project for this weekend. What else should I be worried about when/after replacing the alternator?
Not getting a junk alternator is going to be your problem. Its seems like everyone has been getting junkers b/c they're remanned. I wouldn't even think about autozone.

I go to the junkyards and pick up the ones that have been replaced
Alternatively, if you know the mileage of the vehicles, you could grab a low mile OEM one.

I believe anything from a 4th-6th gen maxima, plus the muranos/altimas/quests with the original VQ35 should work.
Child_uv_KoRn is offline  
Old 05-03-2016, 05:34 PM
  #6  
Senior Member
iTrader: (3)
 
Derrick2k2SE's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Pensacola, FL
Posts: 2,499
Originally Posted by Child_uv_KoRn
Not getting a junk alternator is going to be your problem. Its seems like everyone has been getting junkers b/c they're remanned. I wouldn't even think about autozone.

I go to the junkyards and pick up the ones that have been replaced
Alternatively, if you know the mileage of the vehicles, you could grab a low mile OEM one.

I believe anything from a 4th-6th gen maxima, plus the muranos/altimas/quests with the original VQ35 should work.
^^this^^

I recently found a 5th gen in the u-pull it yard that someone was obviously "throwing parts" at before junking it. Pulled a new starter, IACV and MAF.

The wifes starter was getting weak and at 300,000 I figured a new Hitachi IACV wouldn't be a bad swap along with the bypass.

One way to tell the mileage in the junk yard is to look for oil change stickers on the windshield or door jam. That'll give a rough estimate within a few thousand miles.
Derrick2k2SE is offline  
Old 05-03-2016, 05:40 PM
  #7  
Bad *** Newb
iTrader: (7)
 
Child_uv_KoRn's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 4,943
Originally Posted by Derrick2k2SE
^^this^^

I recently found a 5th gen in the u-pull it yard that someone was obviously "throwing parts" at before junking it. Pulled a new starter, IACV and MAF.

The wifes starter was getting weak and at 300,000 I figured a new Hitachi IACV wouldn't be a bad swap along with the bypass.

One way to tell the mileage in the junk yard is to look for oil change stickers on the windshield or door jam. That'll give a rough estimate within a few thousand miles.
Good call. There's also sometimes registration/insurance/repair documentation in the glove box.
Child_uv_KoRn is offline  
Old 05-03-2016, 05:51 PM
  #8  
Senior Member
iTrader: (3)
 
Derrick2k2SE's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Pensacola, FL
Posts: 2,499
Originally Posted by egali045
Perfect. Sounds like a project for this weekend. What else should I be worried about when/after replacing the alternator?
It's not too bad of a job.

*Make sure you disconnect the battery first if you don't want any fireworks.

*You'll have to unbolt the AC compressor to fit the alternator out but you don't have to disconnect the lines. Do that first and don't bother trying to work around it.

*It's a good time to replace the belts if they're old.
Derrick2k2SE is offline  
Old 05-03-2016, 08:47 PM
  #9  
Senior Member
 
maxiiiboy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: California
Posts: 1,445
Originally Posted by derrick2k2se
it's not too bad of a job.

*make sure you disconnect the battery first if you don't want any fireworks.

*you'll have to unbolt the ac compressor to fit the alternator out but you don't have to disconnect the lines. Do that first and don't bother trying to work around it.

*it's a good time to replace the belts if they're old.
^^^ +1 !!!
maxiiiboy is offline  
Old 06-08-2018, 07:58 PM
  #10  
Newbie - Just Registered
 
egray's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 3
Hi, I'm curious about the brake light being on. Today my 2002 Maxima suddenly wouldn't start. We took the battery off and took to Nissan. They said battery was good but low and it should be charged. We tried to charge it, but nothing happened - everything dead, nothing works EXCEPT the back lights were on!! We had to disconnect the battery to bet the brake lights to go off. The battery is not very old and we had an alternator put on it a couple years ago. It only has 134,000 miles on it. Is this any thing like your problem? We are totally stumped with everything being dead except the back lights burning. Can't find anything else working - can't even roll up windows. Got to have it towed, but don't know whether it has to be Nissan or i another garage could determine problem. Nissan will charge a fortune, so don't want to use unless I have to. Let me know if any of this is like your problem. Thanks!!!

UPDATE - had to have the car towed and it was the brake peddle stop. I didn't know but my brake l ights had been staying on because this little plastic/rubber piece had broken off. So, it run the batter completelydown. Don't think all cars have this but the Nissan Maxima does. It was just under $100 to fix. Most of that labor - I read on the internet that the part is only $10.99 - rest is labor if you take to a shop. Look on youtube to see how you can fix yourself.

Last edited by egray; 06-13-2018 at 03:15 PM.
egray is offline  
Old 06-08-2018, 08:13 PM
  #11  
Junior Member
 
beelineparts's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 20
Originally Posted by egray
Hi, I'm curious about the brake light being on. Today my 2002 Maxima suddenly wouldn't start. We took the battery off and took to Nissan. They said battery was good but low and it should be charged. We tried to charge it, but nothing happened - everything dead, nothing works EXCEPT the back lights were on!! We had to disconnect the battery to bet the brake lights to go off. The battery is not very old and we had an alternator put on it a couple years ago. It only has 134,000 miles on it. Is this any thing like your problem? We are totally stumped with everything being dead except the back lights burning. Can't find anything else working - can't even roll up windows. Got to have it towed, but don't know whether it has to be Nissan or i another garage could determine problem. Nissan will charge a fortune, so don't want to use unless I have to. Let me know if any of this is like your problem. Thanks!!!
If you find out your problem and you need parts, check out our site. We offer free shipping and we have coupons for 10% off purchases over $25
https://www.beelineparts.com/
beelineparts is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
TimGo
5th Generation Maxima (2000-2003)
3
02-21-2015 03:02 PM
KDog125
4th Generation Maxima (1995-1999)
4
11-18-2009 08:54 AM
D1NOnly34
4th Generation Maxima (1995-1999)
17
06-28-2005 07:40 AM
GoldMax90
3rd Generation Maxima (1989-1994)
25
12-19-2002 02:15 PM
davemax
4th Generation Maxima (1995-1999)
5
07-30-2002 07:19 PM



Quick Reply: Car will not stay on or turn on



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 02:04 AM.