lately my 96 is taking longer to start after it sits for a while, like in the morning when i go to work and evening when going home. it would crank for upwards of 2-3 seconds before it starts. it has no problem starting after its already been driving, only when it sits for a long period of time. sometimes its rather embarassing. i'm buying parts for the 60k tuneup and am wondering if i should pick up a new ignition switch. i already replaced the fuel pump with a walbro unit few months ago. the starter was replaced about 3 years ago and it passed autozone's bench test when i brought it in few months ago. the crank position sensor is rather expensive so i plan to clean it before buying a new one. i will replace the plugs when i do the tuneup. i have about 25k miles on the copper plugs that are currently in the motor.

can anybody tell me what else might be the cause of my long starts?

thanks

 

Search around and there are literally thousands of threads about long (as well as hard) starting conditions.

Ignition switch IME isn't really a likely culprit, mostly what you see with a bad one is that it will intermittently lose connection, and you won't be able to start.

 

there were two instances in the last 5-6 months where i turned off the car to go to a store or something, then later returned and it will not start or crank or click or anything. i would turn the key, the dash lights would go off for a split second and immediately turn back on, but the car would no start. then after a while, maybe around 15-20 minutes of panicking and kept trying the key, opening the hood and fuse boxes and other random acts of desperation, it would start up as if nothing was wrong.

 

May very well be the ignition switch, in that case. It's only ~$20 or so...I remember when I priced one a while back, the dealer was the cheapest in town and the only one to have one in stock.

 

It could be the ignition switch, I'm having the same problem. Check out your grounds, and are your battery terminals clean?

 

minor corrosion, I cleaned it a few months ago. I should clean it again while I'm working under the hood

 

Hey pmohr
Kind of an off topic question, but i see that pic you posted about the OBD scanners I was wondering if you can do a paper clip method in the 95's and ground to contacts to make it spit out codes(they do that in fords). I'll search but this happened to be an opportunity while I was thinking of it.

 

Ignition switch is common on these vehicles at my parts counter

 

For ABS codes, paper clip works. Not for DTCs. http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=76800

 

isnt this usually the beginning signs of a starter going bad? take it to autozone/checker/chief's and have them check it out. it's free anyway

 

Yes the starter was tested few months ago in autozone and passed. It does have a lifetime warranty from them when it does fail tho

 

I C.. thanks dude. Looks like I will have to replace my ignition switch soon too, as mine had a similar symptom.

 

Update, after changing the ignition coil, fuel filter, fuel pump, and spark plugs throughout the past couple of months, the random long start problem still remains. If I park at work in the morning, then start the car at lunch time, it would take longer to start than normal. Then after lunch, on the way back to work, it starts right up, within fractions of a second, whereas before it would crank for 2 – 3 seconds before it fires up.

What else should I look at, on my list for this weekend is to clean and test the crankshaft position sensors. Other than that I’m not sure what else to do. Please advise.

 

Any ideas? I’m planning on working on the car this weekend so any input now is greatly appreciated.

 

Do you have an alarm. Even if you dont, you should locate the plug harness under the stearing column and using a test light, locate the wire that turns hot when key is in cranking position. simply run a wire from this harness "starter" wire to the starter coil. you will have to cut the plug because the coil wire is short. good luck...

 

i did use to have an alarm that died. when i replaced the ignition switch, the new wiring no long connects to the alarm.