Very cold morning... 3 degrees. 2003 Maxima SE (135K miles) started just fine. Was on the highway for about 30 min. and stopped for a coffee. Returned to the car and no-start situation. Dash lights all lit, but no starter solenoid click, no noise of any kind while turning the key. Tried several times, key off then to start, and same result. Jiggled the shifter (automatic) thinking the Park lockout was stuck, still nothing. Removed key, then inserted and turned... still nothing. A few more rounds of remove key and moving shifter and, after a second or so delay, car started. No issues the rest of day (made several stops) or for the past few weeks, although I don't drive it much in the winter, favoring the SUV.

Starter? No starter solenoid click, so thinking not.
Key? I keep the valet key in the car so will try that key if it happens again.
Park lockout switch? Perhaps.
Security circuit in BCM? I hope not!

Another note... just remembered that the alternator was replaced (it died) a few weeks prior to this starting issue. Possible connection (or lack thereof)?

Normally, when very slowly turning the key, there's one faint click when the clock display goes out, then another click, the clock comes back on, and the starter engages. when the issue occurs, there are no clicks at all, and the clock stays on. THis is leading me to think it's a security or lockout condition and not a starter or solenoid.

Any thoughts and/or troubleshooting ideas? Been afraid to take the car for fear of getting stranded, but may be the only way to get the issue to occur again.

 

Well, you have listed the major potential causes.
If your problem is related to security (bad key/NATS/BCM/etc.), then the red security light should be on solid when cranking.
It could be your starter; perhaps your solenoid is intermittently not engaging. This is what my starter did just before it failed solid.
And it could be your ignition switch; you may want to wiggle it some more to get an idea whether it's at fault or not.
In either case, measuring the voltage on the starter would answer some of these questions. However, you would have to remove the air box to do that ...... .

 

Sounds like starter solenoid to me. This is exactly how they fail.

You can test by jumping the starter the next time it happens. I'm sure it'll fire right up.

It can't be NATS b/c it doesn't crank. Ign sw could happen, but it's rare (and easily testable).

Air box should go in the trash just for the amount of space it wastes.

 

Good point.
It looks like the starter is about to go, just like mine did.

 

I thought starter at first since similar issue with a previous car, but... wouldn't I hear the starter solenoid (unless it's bad) click and... why wouldn't I get the first click (when the clock goes out) if it's the starter?

Good idea on the "Security" light, but all the idiot lights were on so it may be on by default anyway. How do you "jump the starter" and is it easily done on the side of the road? Also heard cases where tapping the starter with a hammer, pipe, whatever sometimes lets it start. I don't remember where the starter is located and if it's accessible from top or bottom (with all those plastic shrouds).

Guess next step is to rule out the starter.

 

There is no audible click on 3.5s that I recall. I assume you're expecting to hear the relay?

 

There are two clicks when slowly turning the key... one when the clock shuts off and a second just before the starter engages. In the "no start" situation, I heard neither.

 

Ah, I thought you meant just for the starter only.

I figured you would have replace the starter already.