having trouble starting my max

hi all, to say teh least im far from car handy, i can understand terminology just fine for the most part but have never done any major work to a vehicle....

my basic problem is the car sometimes has trouble starting, it is fairly random when it happens (IE sometimes after its been running for a little while other times when the engine is cold) it started around January after i had the starter changed, since then, i have had to get a new engine and a new clutch (long story, basically timing chain stretched jumped some gears and bend the valves in 3 cylinders - new clutch was just something the mechanic "noticed" when dissassembling it) so i figured the car would be fine, but today as i was leaving work for my break (car had been sitting for about 3-4 hrs) it took a good 3 tries to get it to catch.

the car will turn over, but will not catch, and it takes usually 3 or 4 tries for me to get it going.

for refrence the car is a 1997 maxima GXE 5spd about 95k (on new/Used engine)

Oh, how about the spark plugs? Have you looked into that? I think you are dealing with a process of elimination here. That is usually a good place to start.

HAAHAHHAHAHHH Take advice from someone that went through this crap. Don't Buy anything. Take it to the Nissan Dealer not back alley machenics. I had the same problem, it was not the spark plugs, camshaft, crankshaft, MAF sensor, starter, battery, etc etc. Changed about everything possible. Anyway long story short it was a grounding in the transmission. Paid less then $100.00 to find out what it was. That was my case your case might be different. Take it to someone with Nissan experience Best of luck.

You know something i will bet you that, it is the grounding in the transmission because yours is 5 speed manual trans same with mine. I replaced the clutch on it and the people did not clean the ground out in the transmission and i had the problem. SO your story is "for refrence the car is a 1997 maxima GXE 5spd about 95k (on new/Used engine) the engines was replaced so i would take it to the dealer and get it checked out. I am gonna take a guess as of now. 90% is your grounding in your transmission. Best of luck again. Any other questions feel free to email me at


[email protected]

im going to bump this up because i still need some help, i had the Crankshaft positioning sensor changed, throttlebody sensor changed, and some other work done to it, currently this has cost me 2.2k and im still having the same *edit* problem, the mechanic is now telling me the computer is shot and i need a new one, is that possible?

NO its not you ECU, if your ECU was bad your car wouldn't start up. SO take my advice pay $75-100 to get it checked out by a NISSAN dealer. Enough Said!

Ok, my car is still giving me a lot of trouble at this point the car refuses to start, its been in the shop for 2 weeks now. evidently 3 out of the 6 cylinders fire, its really wierd, its not like 1 bank doesnt fire, but 2 cylinders on one bank fire, the other 2 do not, and 2 cylinders on the top bank fire and one doesnt. the mechanic replaced the computer (at a $600 cost to me...) and it still will not start now

X represents firing cylinders
O represents cylinders that do not fire

OXX - bank 1

OOX - bank 2

He and the other mechanics he has consulted are at a total loss as to why this is happening

he has checked every ground, every wire, for a loose connection or a short but he claims that none are found. if you guys could give me any imput i would appreciate it a great deal, thanks

Are the coil packs and injectors checked out?

its been in the shop for 2 weeks now.

- "Contact your lawyer": they are robbing you, using themselves the parts you buy for them...
- If new ECU did not help, demand them to put the old one back (one hour job).
- Change shop: Troubleshooting should be through in few hours... If not, the mechanics are not qualified.
- start asking where people around you repair their cars...
- just do not accept; tell them you go to Nissan HQ.

its been in the shop for 2 weeks now.

- "Contact your lawyer": they are robbing you, using themselves the parts you buy for them...
- If new ECU did not help, demand them to put the old one back (one hour job).
- Change shop: Troubleshooting should be through in few hours... If not, the mechanics are not qualified.
- start asking where people around you repair their cars...
- just do not accept; tell them you go to Nissan HQ.

this person was reccommended to me by more than one mechanic, as being the best in foriegn cars (electrical and otherwise) we discussed putting the old computer back in and he acually said that he would do that so i could send it back,unfortunatly he is at a complete loss as to what the problem is (as for the car being in the shop 2 weeks, remember thanksgiving weekend came and went also so there are 4 days off right there) i am for the time being just looking for some advice as to what the problem could be, and for the person who asked i am almost 100% certian he checked the coils, and the wires.

Did you do what the one guy said and check the ground??

Also I had a problem with mine and as it turned out it was just dirty fuel injectors. I invested in a cleaning where they completely blow out anything and that fixed me up.

"this person was reccommended to me by more than one mechanic"
-Ok. Still, Troubleshooting is different ability than replacing parts, one can be very good, tidy and meticulous repairman without any troubleshooting skills. Sorry.

"checked the coils, and the wires."
- You do not mention spark plugs. Even new ones can be dead. Change.

First thing in troubleshooting is to define the problem. As far as I can understand from your story, your problem [the only one?] is three cylinders not firing in separate banks. Correct?
Q: Are all the three cylinders intermittent or totally dead?

Testing: Take any spare spark plug, insert the dead cylider coil in it, ground the plug threads to engine block, now start: spark should be visible. If not, electronics malfunctioning.

Next swap parts from one functioning cylinder to one nonfunctional:
1. spark plug. -test. 2. Coil with wiring. -test. 3. Fuel injector. -test.
Any changes? If not, the problem is not electrical but inside the engine, most probably valves. If there are changes, one should be able to define which parts to change...

At phase 3. Make comperssion test to see if compression is on acceptable level - compare the two cylinders. Ok? [of course this guy says that all six cylinders should be open, but that is NOT necessary to verify if valves do not properly close]

The above things should already have been done in the first place...

Find ouside help, call Nissan Service HQ. I remember one new VW I once had, and could not get adequate help from the VW service dpt. After going through my salesman, he did take my car to the VW porsche specialist. This man found the problem instantly, changed carburetor and that was it. He was a real troublesooter! Now you need somebody like him. Cannot reach from here...