Hi Org,
I need some help desperately...My mechanic friend replaced my clutch in my 95 nissan max and now the car will not start. All cylinders are firing, it wants to start but will just not go. He called a friend at Nissan and they said it may because he turned the flywheel manuallly to clean it, but the transmission was out of the car when he did this... PLEASE HELP...I have no ride to get home...

 

there is some crank position sensor in there that he must have forgot to plug in. yes you have to take the whole sh@t apart ...

 

Crank position sensor (POS) is located on the outside of the transmission bell housing, under the car and it looks at the flywheel. Check to make sure that sensor is plugged in and producing the correct signal from the pickups on the flywheel.

 

+1 on the POS....

 

make sure the crank (POS) is clean in addition to checking if its plugged in properly.

 

Thanks guys....I'll let the mechanic know to check for this(POS)...Would this by any chance cause the compression in the engine to be reduced? He said the current compression in the cylinders are 0, 30 and 30 in the front cylinders and should be in the 100's...he currently has the engine apart to check for a bent valve...any suggestions...

 

if ur compression was that low....u would notice some serious power loss..how was it running before u did the clutch

 

It was hard to accelerate especially going up an incline...then it just finally stopped on the highway and would not move, which is when the mechanic said it was the clutch...The engine would start up without problems but the car would not move went put in gear...Also, the car keeps shutting off sometimes, which i think was the coolant temp sensor....even though it was replaced, it kept on dying off an on...The engine started up right before the clutch change so im not sure what the problem is now...

 

I had the exact same problem when I did my clutch, I forgot to pulg that sensor back into the side of the bell housing...just do that and it should crank right up

 

is there anything you have to do to manually time the car? i replaced the motor in my car and now it seems like the timings off. any help on what it could be would be greatly appreciated

 

The timing is NOT adjustable... no matter what anybody tells you. It all controlled by the ECU from inputs by the crankshaft (POS+REF) and camshaft position sensors. If the timing is messed up then one of those are not functioning properly.

 

+1 on crank sensor. Mine came loose during a hard shift once and my car just died in the road.

 

If you got a Fidanza flywheel and didn't transfer the timing ring from the old one to the new one, then you will have to do that for the car to start. That's what happened to mine. The mechanic thought the teeth for the starter would allow the sensor to still work and he was just going to get a longer sensor until he called a tech from the company. They will have to tap new holes in the flywheel for the ring and make sure it's balanced etc... (if it's the timing ring.)

 

Well...as of today the car is still apart and not working...The Mechanice check to see if their where any bent valves...and all are good. So he is now going to put it back together and see if it works....He said he checked the crank sensor when it would initially start and it was dirty...he cleaned it at the time but it still wouldnt start. Hopefully it starts up when he puts it back together today or tomorrow...Anyone know if the crank sensor would need to be replaced it doesnt work?

 

1. Your mechanic seems like a moron.
2. Please do not spread misinformation. You DO NOT have to tap new holes. The holes are already there and designed so when the signal plate is attached to the flyhwheel, everything will be balanced.

 

Bump.......

 

I WISH I was spreading misinformation, the flywheel I got did NOT have holes tapped in it for my signal ring. I don't lie. I don't know why it didn't have them.

 

Well, not looking for a fight, but I live in Maine. We're not exactly infested with import and performance oriented mechanics. So yes, my mechanic could be a moron, he races at a local track as well as being his own mechanic on his own self sponsered car,, I trust him, Say what you will.

 

You got the wrong flywheel then. Everybody else that has the fidanza including myself have not had an issue with this.

 

Fair enough.

 

I am having the same exact problem now. Just did the swap and the car won't start. Car started fine before the swap. We did the swap on my frineds about a month ago and that went fine so its not like we are new at this. Car cranks but just won't turn over.

 

Update: The car STILL will not start..It is cranking like its going to start but just will not start. ORG PLEASE HELP...We have been pouring over this car for the last 8days and 8hours last nite. We think the crank sensor is bad and will try to get a new one from the dealer....Anyone know where to get an OEM sensor on a Sunday in NYC/CT? All the parts departments are closed on Sunday...HELP ME...

 

why dont you get a haynes manual and do a resistance check on it. did you guys check the ground wire bteween the engine and transmission?

 

Where is that located? Didn't know about that?

 

He has the haynes manual and we have gone through it cover to cover. We also checked the ground wire too..

 

Find another mechanic.

He diagnosed / changed your clutch because your car wouldn't move, now it doesn't start so he does a compression test (low readings????) and takes the engine apart to check for a bent valve after the fact? Please, he's an idiot, thats absolutely insane mechanical logic.

 

Im begining to think the same thing....If i cant get this thing to work by tomorrow, its gonna be towed to the stearlership....which i would hate to do..Please if anyone knows how to solve this problem, PLEASE let me know a.s.a.p.

 

I know people are going to probably flame me on this, it was discussed in the past but here goes. Try using a large gauge ground wire to go from one of your starter's connecting bolts to the battery negative (you can use a jumper cable for testing). My car had a similar problem once and it was discovered, at Nissan's time and money, that when they did my clutch swap they didn't clean the clutch housing and engine mating surfaces and when it was reassembled there wasn't a sufficient ground circuit for the starter to achieve it's full potential. The starter would engage and rotate the engine but it couldn't rotate the engine the required 300 rpms for starting. Nissan yanked the tranny out again, cleaned the surfaces and viola!! Good luck.

 

Thanks Toolrocks...i have given up and will be towing it to the Nissan Dealership for them to figure it out....it just not worth the aggravation trying to figure this out anymore...

 

I hear ya, keep us posted.

 

Update: Well i towed the car to the dealership in CT(Bob Sharp Nissan) on Monday and as of today they can't figure out what the hell the problem is....they hooked it up to the computer, checked the crank sensors...blah blah blah and nothing...zilch. Now they want about $1000 to pull down the tranny to and check in there.....I guess this is the end of the Max cos im not about to keep drop any more dough on this stupid **** problem...If i cant get anyone to fix it for way less money, i will be selling/parting the car out...

 

Dude thats got to suck, sounds like you need to host a Maxima Meet @ your house.. get some lads round with spanners!! Would be a shame to bin the car

 

Before you bail on the car - do that jumper thing I mentioned also check the crank sensors.