After replacing the ignition switch and starter, my starting problem still exists; turning the key the 1st time does not start the car, I just hear what sounds like the starter gear engaging, then it stops. Turning the key a 2nd time starts the car everytime as if nothing is wrong. One thing I did notice is that I don't have this problem in the morning, it's only when I try to start the car when I leave work in the afternoon. Not sure if it's heat related. So after reading a lot of posts on this issue, I'm starting to lean towards the Park/Neutral position switch. Has anyone had any luck adjusting or cleaning this switch or should I just replace it with a new one? I priced them and the one for the auto trans is about $130.

Joe

 

So your just getting a "click" and then nothing on the first turn of the key?
Have you checked your battery connections, cables and grounds?

 

It's not really a "click", but more like a "clunk". It sounds like the starter solenoid kicks out the starter gear and then nothing. When I turn the key again, it starts fine. I will clean my battery connections and grounds and see if that helps. When I leave work today, I will try starting in Neutral.

 

Well, I started my car in neutral this afternoon and it started just fine. I will continue to start the car in neutral as a test.

 

i was having that same problem, it was the electrical part of my ignition switch, (that plug with the two swrews that you have to unplug to change the ignition lock cylinder.

 

It may very well just be out of adjustment. Before you try to start it for the first time, row through the gears and come back to Park. See if it starts then.

It's possible it's coming out of alignment during the starting process, otherwise you wouldn't hear anything at all. When you do hear the clunk and it stops, keep the key turned and move the shifter around in Park.

 

Travis1129: My ignition switch is new, I just replaced it about a month ago. I'm guessing that is what you did?

 

pmohr: That's a good idea, but my car always starts on the 2nd try so I really wouldn't know for sure if rowing thru the gears on the 2nd try would do it. I'm 99.9999999% sure that my car never starts on the 1st try when I leave work in the afternoon. That's why I started it in neutral yesterday and it started right up on the 1st try. So how does one adjust the park/neutral switch???

 

Keep the key in the start position, don't release it. Then move the shifter to see if it turns the starter.

 

Thanks for the replies. This is the 2nd day that I started my car, in neutral, on the 1st try.

 

sounds like he wants to re-align his degree at which the starter lines up to the motor. i know if its off one or 2 degrees that this will happen?? i think i had the same problem with another nissan i had.

 

How does one re-align the starter on the Maxima? I just replaced the starter, thinking that was my problem, and I didn't see any adjustments. Just 2 large bolts. Besides, how would a starter alignment affect the fact that my car does not start on the first try while in park, but has started on the 1st try in neutral??

P.S. I see that you are located in Collegeville! I'm down off the Ridge in Lower Providence!!

 

There is no 'alignment adjustment' for the starter. It goes in one way and one way only.

 

That's what I thought...

 

it was a guess as stated, i replaced one in a toyota and was told if it was not put in right that it would'nt run properly. just my expierience with a starter issue i had before that sounded like it might apply to your problem. im in trappe/collegeville man, i go to evansburg and valley forge all the time. im probably headin over there this weekend on saturday afternoon around 1:30-2:00. pm me if you want to put something together. i know some people in here would probably be down.

 

Thanks for the invite, but I won't be around this weekend.

 

my car was giving me starting issues yesterday. turned the key and it went click (like the sound a dead battery makes just a tad louder). gave the started a nice wack with pair of vice grips i hold my hood up with and it started rite up... hope this helps but u said u replaced the starter so idk