Hi guys,
I recently bought my 2nd maxima, an 03 maxima SE. I started having problems last week. Sometimes, when it's hot, it has trouble starting. Today, my car just died while i was stopped at a red light. I was able to start it and go home without noticing anything different with car. When i got home, I tried to start it again but it wouldn't start anymore. Waited for 2 minutes and tried again.. It turned for a while but it finally started. At the same time, I noticed the tcs and the slip light on the dash staying on. Now they won't go off.

What could be the issue here? Abs sensor? Could be for the tcs light, but can't be related to the rough starts! Any ideas? Thanks guys!

 

First thing I'd check is alternator/battery

 

Done. No problem there..

 

What excatly did you do to check them? First thing that came to mind was the alternator on its way out.

 

It's not gonna be the alternator or battery.

and
means that the battery was charged enough to turn the engine over; ergo, the battery and alternator are fine. If the alternator wasn't re-charging the battery, he wouldn't have been able to re-start his car at the red light or turn it over for an extended time at home before it started.

OP, I'd be suspicious of previous owner removing the SES bulb, your TCS and SLIP lights should not be on, accompanied by a hard start issue, without it being lit.

Get your codes, then come back and search. My bet's on your cam or crank position sensor(s) failing, but your SES light would be on as a result.

 

Thanks for the detailed response. I'll go check what codes it will give me. I'll keep you posted.

 

Had to bring this back up because I'm having a same problem. My mechanic told me same thing about cam or crank sensor. To OP did you get it solved yet? and what was the problem.

RECALL: 2002 - 2003 Nissan Maxima
NHTSA Campaign Number: 03V455000
www.nhtsa.dot.gov

Manufacturer NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Recall Date: 11/17/2003
Potential Number Of Units Affected: 630000
Description ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Summary ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE CIRCUIT BOARD FOR THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR MAY HAVE AN IMPROPER SOLDER JOINT DUE TO SOLDER DEFORMATION CAUSED BY HEAT STRESS ACCELERATED BY THE EXISTENCE OF FLUX RESIDUE DURING THE SOLDERING PROCESS.
Consequence THIS COULD CAUSE THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" WARNING LIGHT TO COME ON, CREATE A NO START CONDITION, CAUSE REDUCED ENGINE POWER, OR CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STOP RUNNING WITHOUT WARNING DURING VEHICLE OPERATION, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CRANK POSITION SENSORS. VEHICLES INVOLVED IN A PREVIOUS RECALL CAMPAIGN, 01V357, ARE ALSO INCLUDED IN THIS NEW CAMPAIGN. THE REPLACEMENT SENSORS USED IN THAT CAMPAIGN ARE ALSO AFFECTED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON DECEMBER 22, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261 OR INFINITI AT 1-800-662-6200.

 

If the crank sounds strong, then it is most likely one or more of the camshaft position sensors in your engine, a common failure item. You may be covered under the recall. I had the exact same problem last month, but I'm p!ssed that my VIN wasn't on the recall, so I had to buy the part and replace myself, which luckily was not too bad to do.

Good luck. Most likely it's your bank 1 sensor. It is very dangerous, as my car stalled as I was going about 30 mph slowing at a red light!

 

My car is not stalling. It just take forever to start. And is If I leave it idle for little while it shuts off on me.

 

I was told by a service advisor that when those two lights are on, it means that one or more of the plugs are not firing right. In my case it was that after changing the intake gasket one of the conectors for the rear bank was not conected.

 

Yes, it can stall WHILE you're driving, whether you're on a residential road or on a highway. Get it fixed immediately or call up your stealership with your VIN for them to check if your ride is eligible for the recall or not.

I was pissed when I stalled.....I coulda nailed a car or something. Nissan quality has definitely gone downhill.

 

I already did and set an appointment for it. Getting fixed Tuesday for free. Nothing but the best when you get done free from stealership.

 

had the same problem with my 2000 auto and it was the coil pack they said they missed caused the transmission to think the car was slipping and caused the TCS light and slip light to come on. changed the coil pack problem gone.