so basically... how come some maximas start immediately when they turn the key, when others (like mine) take a couple turn-overs before they start. I always thought it meant the starter is being worn down but i'm sure it has to do w/ somethin else. Can someone enlighten me?

 

my maxima used to be like that last year and I had to replace the starter and it started like a dream everyday after

 

deng maybe the 141k miles on my starter isn't helping.

 

yea I think its about time you need a new one. Oh BTW they will charge you a core charge until you return your old starter(like $60)

 

mine now takes a few turns before it starts and its still the original starter since new (97) and 45k miles. you think I need a new starter already?

 

I wouldn't go replacing starters until they start to fail. They usually start making noises when they're ready to go. What's wrong with letting the engine turn over 3-4 times before it fires anyway? By cranking it first you will build oil pressure before the ECU spikes the rpm to 1500 which should help prevent wear on startup.

 

I was going to say what about a weak fuel pump?

 

Or clogged fuel filter? It seems like any fuel delivery problem would affect the startup time.

 

or bad plugs, clogged injectors, etc... there are many things that contribute to a car starting quickly. I'd give it a good tune up before blaming the starter.

 

Make sure you have good connections, tight, no corrosion.

 

Sometimes when I start my car and its could it will make a zzzzzz (buzing whine sound) right after it starts. Anyone know what this is?

 

My car is weird too. I had the starter replaced at 138k, right now I am on 164k. This is what it does when its really cold on the first startup. I have to start the car and depress the gas enough not too hard and not too slow, to allow the car to run. During the entire day I dont have to worry about that anymore, until the next cold morning. If its Spring/Summer type mornings, its starts fine. I know its not the starter, because that issue was fixed a while ago. I just can't figure out what it is "per i miei della vita e l'automobile."

 

well if temprature is affecting your startup, it's more likely a electrical prob. Now that i think of it... i think i may need a new fuel filter.

 

1500??? When it's cold outside....mine spikes to over 2000 on start-up and then immediately drops to 1500....is that normal???

When it's warm outside it will spike barley over 1000 and then sit at about 1200.

 

yeah, mine too. anyone?

 

if your car doesnt start on the first try sometimes, but then if you leave it in the ON position for about 10 seconds, and then try to start, and it starts immediately, it's probably your fuel filter. I had the same problem, and replaced the whole battery, when it was a simple 5 dollar fix to replace the fuel filter

 

Sounds like someone's strangling a duck in there?

That's you starter running with no lubrication. It makes this sound especially in the cold. You can take it apart and re-lube it. Easy job. Folow the instructions from motorvate's site here;

http://www.motorvate.ca/auto/maxima/starter/starter.htm

Motorvate is a very good technical DIY site for the 4th gen Maxima.


DW

 

what about getting new ground wires for your car and mimicking the hyperground kit, maybe it will help?

 

Sometimes its an easy fix, like this

 

Check the battery. I put a new battery in my car and I give it 1/2 a crank and it starts.

 

tried it in hopes to shorten the cranking time.... no luck. It's not a biggy, i DO have a 141k miles on that darn thing so ill keep it till it dies, then replace it myself.

 

2 things:

1) When's the last time you cleaned your throttle body?? When I cleaned mine, the car used to start and idle high at 1100 rpms. After the cleaning, the car jumped to life when started at 1800 rpms. I cleaned my throttle body after 110,000 miles

2) When you start your car, I suggest you let the key sit in the run position before you crank. This gives the feul pump a moment to "energize", build up the pressure in the feul lines.

If you do have to clean your TB, make to use stuff that is safe for feul injected engines. Don't use regular carbuerator cleaner.

DW

 

Thaks for the tip. Been doing this for a few months now. Will this wear out my starter?

 

Eventually it will, because the starter motor has to work much harder to turn the gears. When I re-lubbed mine, there was still grease in there, it just wasn't plentiful. I got the gears open ad shoved a whole wad of lithium grease into all the nooks and crannies and have had smooth sailing ever since.

DW