My maxima has been having starting problems lately. For about a week, I noticed it taking longer to start. I was thinking it was the starter but then it didnt start at all so I tried jumping it and it cranked up. So I had the battery tested and it was bad so I replaced it last weekend. The car started fine for a couple days. But then while driving one day I stopped somewhere for about an hour, got back in the car and it wouldnt start. This time though, when I turned the key, I saw all the lights on my dash light up, then they all turned off when I tried to crank the car and it failed to start. After that, every time I put the key in and turned it, I had no lights. There was no power at all.

So I let it sit a couple of days, then went to start it and it started just fine. Dash lights came on, seemed like there was no problem.

Then the next day or so, I tried to start it and it wouldnt start. No dash lights, no power at all. I jumped it again, and it fired right up. So I had the alternator and starter tested. The alternator was fine, the starter was bad. So I replaced it.

Today, I have put the working alternator and new starter in the car, connect battery cables back and notice that when I opened my drivers door to get in that the lights on the door panel are flickering like they are trying to turn on but they dont have enough power to or a connection is fickle. I also notice that my security light it weak and fading while trying to blink. I put the key in the ignition and door lights go out and nothing happens when I turn the key. No power.

So I take a wrench and let it touch both terminals on the battery at the same time. I got a spark so the new battery isnt totally dead. But I bet if I try to jump the car, it will start.

Any ideas?

Thanks,
Matt

 

Make sure that the battery cables don't have a lot of (preferrably none) corrosion where the cable goes into the battery terminal clamp. Also check the ground cable were it connects to the chasis down below the battery.

 

You never explained why you replaced the alternator when in fact, you said you had it tested and it was fine.

Assuming you had a bad alternator in there, you could have very well drained your new battery. Need some clarity on your info....

 

He didn't say anything about replacing the alternator.

Sounds to me like a loose connection somewhere. :/

 

 

The op's post about the alternator is kind of unclear. You can interpret it either way, but I lean to the "took it out, had it tested and put it back in" side.

But he also says the car won't start and he leaves it sit for a couple of days and then the car started. I still like the bad connection theory.

 

That would make sense. Why take out the alternator though when it can be tested on the car... a lot of unnecessary work. Guess the car couldn't move, and therefore couldn't be tested...so he pulled it and had it tested.

Agree with you as well. I'd start looking there as well. Could possibly be the notorious intermittent bad transmission ground issue too...

 

When he puts jumper cables on and the car starts, this makes me think the battery terminal clamps are the culprit. The jumper cables are wiggling the connections.

 

Make sure the connections to the alternator and starter are connected correctly and grounded... I think your problem has always been with the starter... I got my started replaced 4 times... Pc of crap from Auto Zone

 

Sorry for the wording. I put the old alternator back in because it passed the test.

I noticed that what I go to put the positive battery cable on the battery terminal, I don't get any spark. So I tried hitting the battery terminal with the cable a bunch to get a spark and never did. Should I replace that cable?

 

The last couple times I put my battery in I didn't get a spark. So that doesn't necessarily mean anything

 

THIS!!! I'm dealing with this now on the white nightmare.

I'm about to re-locate the battery to the trunk so it's getting all new cables anyways... Till then... Random radio settings+clock time losings

Nah not necessarily.

Take a quick trip to your local auto parts store (wal-mart has this stuff too):

-Buy a battery terminal cleaner (little spray bottle)
-Buy a battery terminal cleaner brush (silver *****-esque thing)
-Buy sandpaper (buy a cheap 3 pack of rough to smooth)

Thennnnn

-Remove your battery and clean the terminals on it and the wires.
-Remove your battery tray and clean the ground cable's grounding point and terminal and sand it down a little bit, same for the ground on the engine block.

 

Thanks for that direction. I will try it today.

 

So I sanded down the ground mount on the car and replaced the ground terminal and it started! Thanks for all the help!