Well I tried starting the car after looking at some cars at the dealership. So I try to start it and it's dead silence. I can hear some small clicking noises. Then like 40min later...I try again without touching it....The car cranks but sounds like it wants to die. So before it dies I hurry and accelerate while in park....then the car start like normal....Now sometimes it cranks and sometimes it just stays silent... What should I do, I don't want to drive the car around....How can I narrow the problem down....Please Help My Poor Maxima......

Chris

 

it could be a low or dead battery. check the fluid level, you may need to add some water. see what happens when you turn your lights on after you have started your car, it will probaply die. if it does, it is for sure the battery.

 

could also be the fuel filter.. i had the same problem, car wouldnt start, so i changed the battery, but that didn't help much. so then i changed out the fuel filter, and it started totally fine after that.. what a waste of money on the battery.

a sure way to tell if its the fuel filter is the following. without starting the car, turn your key to the ON position, and leave it there for about 15 seconds. this turns on the fuel pump and gets fuel to your engine. if the car starts fine after doing this, and doesn't start if you don't, then its definetely the fuel filter

good luck

 

well i forgot to mention that I stried to start the car with a jump pack....that didn't work....all the electronics work and lights....

Chris

 

If everything acts like normal except when you turn the key on, it is definetly your battery. You either have a bad connection or a dead battery. The connections need to be checked first to save time and money. Take the battery posts off and clean them good. If you have corrosion at all, make a mixture of baking soda and water and pour over the corrosion and terminal. Clean with a wire brush and be sure and do the same to the battery post itself. If your connections are not the problem, take your battery to have checked. Bad batteries can sometimes hold a charge for a small period of time (i.e. running the car for a little bit will make it act like everything is ok but the next morning it's dead again).

It could also be your starter. Doubtful but possible. If none of the above turn out to be the problem have your starter also checked where you get the battery checked out.

Finally, the only other thing it could be if nothing else checks out; Ignition switch. Check this as last resort.

Good luck.

 

i tested the fuel thing as spiff56747 said and it didn't work and I also checked the water in the battery..all was fine and now i can't start the car at all.....

Chris

 

I'm telling you, I think that it's either your battery or possibly the starter or ignition switch. Have the battery checked out first. This is the cheapest and quickest check. Just because the battery has water doesn't always mean it's good. It's a sign but not a definite one. Have the battery checked. Just take it out the car and take it to the auto part store and check it. Then do the rest of the troubleshooting listed above. You will save a lot time and money if you do it in the order listed.

 

yeah but what if we tried to use those portable jump start things to start the car and it still doesn't work????

Chris

 

If the light s work and the car wont start its the starter, and not the aleternator luckily this time.

 

Something as simple as bad connections (either thru corrosion build up or loose) will also not let it be jumped either. Also, most portable jumpers will only put out "real world" about 400-500 cca for a few secs. They are good for just "jumping", but if you have other problems such as listed above (connections, battery, starter, or ignition)you will not start.

Do you have full power everywhere else? i.e. do your lights work fine? stereo? PW? warning lights? If so, check starter and ignition switch. If not, check connections and battery.

 

yeah all my electronics work and lights.....

Chris

 

check you tire pressure, no wait, the windshield washer fluid might be low, is the gas tank on tight enough?

 

Do you have a stick? Are you pushing the clutch all the way down? Fuses and relays okay? Clean the posts, check water, and then try to jump start it and let it run for a few minutes. If it runs or starts okay monitor it by seeing if the car will start the next day. If it doesn't, I would check the alternator fuses, or fuse link. If they are okay you may need to get your alternator checked out. What would have caused the battery to drain down? My gfs car had a similar problem, I put her battery on a charger and her car ran great for a few days, then all the charge was out of the battery and the car died. Turns out, the car was running completely off the battery. The alternator wasn't putting any power out. Hope you don't have a problem w/ the alternator. Good luck. LEt us know what happens.