Ive noticed lately my max is getting hard to start. I can hop in it sometimes and it starts right up, other times it just cranks and cranks. I have to keep turning the key off usually about 3 times then it will start. I put plugs in it about 6 months ago. After it starts it runs pretty good, it doesn't seem to idle as smooth as it use to.

Any ideas ??

 

Any codes?? Hows your starter? Cam sensor would do this...mine did and it id not throw a code until it was totally shot and I just kept cranking the car over.

 

No codes, starter is brand new... is there a way to check the sensor or do I have to wait for it to quit ?

 

I'm sure there is a way to test it, but I know nothing about what it should test at. I got mine at a junk yard for $5. You could try one off of someones working Max...it's one 10mm bolt located on the passenger side of the engine, on the timing chain cover. It's about a 10 second swap. You may also want t search around for "Fuel Pressure Regulator". I seem to recall that if that goes bad, you will also get the intermittent start.

Edit: give these threads a read an see if they help. I did not read them all the way through.

http://forums.maxima.org/4th-generat...ard-start.html
https://maxima.org/showthread.php?t=649171

Forgot to mention, try cleaning both CRANK sensors as well. There is one just below the crank pulley on the passenger side and a second one on the tranny where it meets the motor. That one will be mounted facing the front of the car, the other will be facing the pssenger side wheel.

 

i would recommend cleaning the one on the bell housing, since they are a magnet they pick up metal pretty good, you could have it messing with the pick up if there is chunks stuck to it. auto or manual?

 

same problem here man, Ive replaced/checked so many things, but between it killing batteries and starters just trying to figure out what the problem is, it has become very troublesome. I am nearing the end of the list of things to check/do though

 

I had the same issue. Eventually, I replaced the crank sensor at the bell housing and the problem went away. Never a code and the sensor ohmed out as OK - my shop had to put a scope on it to find it.

 

mines a auto trans... ill check both sensors.. is the one on the bell housing hard to get to ?

 

You could also clean your throttle body and start using TCW3. In my previous Max, when I cleaned the TB for the 1st time after 120K miles, before it was starting OK. After the cleaning it started up like a champion. Adding TCW3 to my present I30 has had the car hit ignition faster, too. You know, before it was crank-crank-start-start-run. With TCW3 it became crank-start-start-run. That start sound is when you hear the spark plugs firing but the engine isn't quite there yet. When you do hear that start sound, though, you can let go of the key because the momentum is going and the will start from there. Point of no return, so to speak.

If you've never done any of that, you should do it anyway.....your car will thank you.

 

thanks dw.. ill clean the TB, I just took off the cam and front crank sensor and cleaned them it seemed to help. I cant see how to get to the rear crank sensor ??

 

front of car almost center but just a lil off to driver side...lay on ground and look where motor meets tranny about 1/3rd of way from bottom of engine...could also follow wires down to it,you have 2 plugs @ front of car right in front of exhaust manifold,the 4 wire plug runs down to the 3 wire sensor,held in with 1 bolt and I believe its a 10mm head...guess I couldve just told you to use the search feature(seems to be a common phrase in this forum) but I gave and received a lot of help in other forums Ive belonged to and like to pass on whatever knowledge I can instead of just flaming people

 

thanks LON.. yeah I know whatcha mean, I try and reply instead of saying use search. Whats the point of having a forum if you constantly are told to use search ? Ill get under there and look for it. Since I cleaned the other two sensors it seems to be starting better already