2004 Maxima SE Intermittent Cold Start Problem
cmbott
02-05-2004, 07:34 PM
I have had 2 cases this winter with my new 2004 Maxima where I had problems with the car starting and running in the morning when the temperature has been below 20 degrees faherenheit.
In the first case, I was warming up the car and after about 10 minutes (when I came back out of the house to go to work) I found it stalled. I then restarted it, backed out of the driveway and ATTEMPTED to drive to work. The car would only get up to about 30 MPH and would then stall. I got the car back in the driveway after a couple iterations of the above described problem....called the dealer and they stopped by the house to check it out.....Surprise!....the car started right up (this was that evening after temperatures rose into the low 30's).
The second case was this past Monday. I tried to start the car and I couldn't get it to start at all.....it sort of fired up once, but when I gave it gas, the engine wouldn't go above about 3500 RPM's and then stalled. I called the dealership and someone came right over (the dealership is nearby) and and recreated the problem. They then towed the car to the dealership...hooked it up to see if it would "code", and, of course, it started right up....no code to help them figure out the problem.
Now the car has been there for almost a week, and they have been unable to recreate the problem (it has warmed up...lows in the 30's). I am reluctant to take the car back until the problem is diagnosed and resolved.
Any thoughts on what could be the culprit for this unacceptable problem with a brand new car with less than 5,000 miles?
In the first case, I was warming up the car and after about 10 minutes (when I came back out of the house to go to work) I found it stalled. I then restarted it, backed out of the driveway and ATTEMPTED to drive to work. The car would only get up to about 30 MPH and would then stall. I got the car back in the driveway after a couple iterations of the above described problem....called the dealer and they stopped by the house to check it out.....Surprise!....the car started right up (this was that evening after temperatures rose into the low 30's).
The second case was this past Monday. I tried to start the car and I couldn't get it to start at all.....it sort of fired up once, but when I gave it gas, the engine wouldn't go above about 3500 RPM's and then stalled. I called the dealership and someone came right over (the dealership is nearby) and and recreated the problem. They then towed the car to the dealership...hooked it up to see if it would "code", and, of course, it started right up....no code to help them figure out the problem.
Now the car has been there for almost a week, and they have been unable to recreate the problem (it has warmed up...lows in the 30's). I am reluctant to take the car back until the problem is diagnosed and resolved.
Any thoughts on what could be the culprit for this unacceptable problem with a brand new car with less than 5,000 miles?
Automotive Network, Inc., Copyright ©2026