Maxima...Won't start sometimes....HELP!!

[Ms Wiz]

Hi everyone.
My daughter purchased a 95 Maxima a few months back & has had problems with the car from the beginning. She is in Kentucky while I (Her mom) am in TX. Want to help her fix this car so need as much input as I can possibly get. The car will run & drive fine, then won't start at all. Sometimes she can get in it three times & it starts fine, or sometimes 6 or 7. Does not matter if the engine is cool or warm. It will crank, but not catch. Has not quit on her while driving, say at a stop light, but if she goes to the store, it may not start when she comes back out. Please offer any suggestions & please try to be as specific as possible. Thanks in advance for any help you can give.

[Nahkapohjola]

Originally Posted by Ms Wiz

...problems with the car from the beginning. ...

You have found out the reason why the car was sold...

Gas engine needs IV issues: air, gas, spark for combustion (=engine run); plus nowadays alas the ECU also... EngineComputerUnit ctrols all; if power supply (ECU relay, ign sw etc) malfunctions, no spark, no injection... Vic versa, if spark ok, ECU has pwr and most possibly healthy an 'alive'.

For diagnosing spark & ECU, I've always have spare sparkplug in trunk: install spare into plugwire and test WHILE problem is acute, view for spark. Ask smbdy to teach howTo. (Note: no danger in this DIY tst, nobody has ever died on car electronics). Typically girls dont wanna do this, but as her mama is writing in HERE, her daughter has to be smtg special...

When ign is switched on, does ?? the gaspump (under rear seat) keep the noise (compare this small noise to when instance when engine starts. If not, pump or its circuits, relay intermittently dead.)

Defining one of those problem sources before taking it to repair shop, reduces lots troubleshooting costs. After this, its easier to dig deeper.

For edu, check out http://www.cardomain.com/ride/748507/14
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/748507/10

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