Hey guys,

I've been having a starting problem with my car lately. I had the Check Engine Light come on, and it threw the code for the EVAP Canister Vent Control Valve. I took that valve off and cleaned it with WD-40 like some people on the forum had mentioned. That fixed my CEL (at least it hasn't come back on yet). The car worked yesterday, but it still had a little hesitation when I went to start it.

Today, it will not start at all. It just cranks and cranks and cranks, but will not turn over. The battery is fine because I can turn the radio on, roll the windows down, turn the lights on, etc. etc. etc. Any one have any ideas what the problem might be?

Thanks,
-Nick

 

what all is involved in removing the control valve on the evap canister? i would go there first and check that out and then look at your starter.. you never know with electrical stuff, there is always a possibility something went awry. good luck, not much help here sorry.

 

To remove the control valve on the EVAP canister, you just have to unclip a few hoses from the valve and pop it off. I checked to make sure I reconnected everything properly and it all looks good. I was thinking it could be either the starter or the alternator, but since my radio works and all, I think that leaves the alternator out. I have to check the starter. The thing is, the car kept cranking and cranking...it just wouldn't turn over. Isn't the starter the part that cranks the car?

Thanks,
-Nick

 

battery might have a short in it
happened to me
radeo, lights etc all work
but under heavy pull, like starting it would start the car

 

I guess I will try to jump it. If it starts, then that would mean that it's the battery, right?

-Nick

 

it's really hard to tell, check your grounds and make sure the terminals are on really tight. if the car cranks and cranks but doesn't turn over it's usually a sign of the starter, but like i said, it's hard to tell.

 

Update: The car doesn't crank any more. Just for the heck of it, I decided to attempt to start it again. All it does is click once when I turn the key and then nothing. I'm assuming that it's the starter.

-Nick

 

its the starter if its just clicking when turning the key too start the ignition.

 

Same things happened to my maxima. I called AAA to tow the car last week, the guy started it immediately. The mechanic said that it might be from the starter. I did not change it. No problem for ten days.

Today, same things happened again, click and click.

 

It sounds like your problem is definitely the starter. If you try starting and theres just a click, than it should be your starter. Although I had the same problem after I went to get gas at a gas station, after I paid for gas I get in my car and try to start, nothing but a click. I immediately assumed it was the starter, so I had to "pop Start" the car (aka "push starting") and then it started. I came home and checked it out and it turned out to be my new battery terminals I put on werent strong enough to hold the load(they were chrome ones that I bought because they looked nice-D'oh). So I immediately got some new terminals, that are stronger, but fugly.

-Nick

 

this is what happened too my parents 93 lumina (yea not a maxima). It would be fine for 3-4 days and then click click click etc.....and after a while of clicking it would finally crank. Got the starter replaced and everything was kosher

 

Well if you have been cranking to try to start it, you probably drained the battery. As for the original problem, I dunno. It's probably NOT the starter because up until you drained the battery, it was turning the car over fine correct? I would take a look at all the fuses and the crank angle sensor.

 

if your battery was still working, you could try the following. turn your key to the ON position for about 10 seconds without starting it. this starts the fuel flow to the engine. if it starts fine after that, u know its a problem with your fuel system, possibly the fuel filter.

 

Thing is it probably won't start. Please explain what the difference between turning the key to "on" and waiting is any different than turning the key or start and cranking the begezzus out it for a few minutes?

 

I'm saying that this worked for me when I had the same problem. Turning the key to ON for a few seconds without starting will turn on your fuel pump, which will flood the engine with fuel. My car had the same problem as described above, and the only way I could start it was by doing what I said. I ended up cleaning the EVAP valve, replacing my battery, and changing my fuel filter, the car runs fine now, so I'm not sure exactly what caused my problem.

 

Finally, the car started after about 3-4 hours. I am afraid that the situation is related to the temperature. Then I drove the car during the whole afternoon, no problem happened to the start.

 

That is really, really incorrect. Because no fuel will get into the engine if the injectors aren't firing.

 

 

Nick, after you charge you battery back up start checking both crank sensors. Those are a very common cause of a no-start condition. As our cars get older these sensors get weak and the ECU cannot read them anymore. Thats why the starting problem is intermittent(sp?) at first and then after a while your dead with a no start condition. I think the crank POS sensor is the one that will cause a no start condition when it fails. That sensor is located on the bell housing of the tranny twards the front of the car. Remove it and clean it up first to see if that gets you going. It's a magnetic pickup and tends to collect fine metalic dust over time which makes the signal weak over time. It may also have failed completely. The Haynes manual has specific tests for those sensors. That should get you started up again!

 

same thing happened to my car three times, including today. After I drove in local about 30 mins, I can not start it again and only hear the click. Last two times, after the engine cooled down (several hours later), I started the car and it worked well for several days.
I guess that it is starter problem, but someone told me that it can be fuel pump or fuel injector?



More suggestions would be appreciated.