1996 Max cranks but doesn't start

Maxima Overdrive · #1 07-27-2003, 01:19 AM

My 1996 Maxima will crank strong but doesn't want to turn over. The problem has progressed from intermittent delay in turn over some of the time, to a constant delay all the time where I have to engage the ignition several times before the car starts. Today I almost drained the battery, cranking fine, but the engine never started. Performance is great once the engine is running, with a very smooth idle. Any suggestions?

maximafever · #2 07-28-2003, 05:55 PM

starter is going out, even if the teeth on the starter is good there could be an electrical problem with the solenoid.

NJMAXSELTD · #3 07-29-2003, 02:56 PM

Check both crank position sensors. There are two, one is called POS for pisition, it looks at the flywheel and is located just under the car on the transmission bell housing twards the front.

The other is called REF for reference and it looks at a timing ring on your drive pully. You can see that one by turning your wheels full right and looking behine the black plastic splash shield.

skids929 · #4 12-29-2003, 07:25 PM

I am having this same exact problem you are describing with a 98 Maxima se with 28K. It cranks strong but does takes a while to turn over and I have a feeling it will only get worse. I am wondering if you ever figured out what it was? I have been told so many things, particularly that the transmission needs to be dropped and some ground located in there needs to be cleaned. Was this what happened to yours? Let me know if you have a minute to help, I am desperate. THX!

Maxima Overdrive · #5 12-31-2003, 01:30 PM

My problem turned out to be the crank position sensor - I ended up taking it to Nissan Service because it was affecting my commute - so I'm not sure which of the two position sensors was changed. I hope this at least heads you in the right direction. Good luck!

skids929 · #6 12-31-2003, 01:55 PM

Thanks Maxima Overdrive...Tell me something though, was your check engine light on at the time? Because, although mine has the same symptoms the check engine light is not on.

Maxima Overdrive · #7 01-01-2004, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skids929

Thanks Maxima Overdrive...Tell me something though, was your check engine light on at the time? Because, although mine has the same symptoms the check engine light is not on.

My check engine light was already on from what I believe is a faulty Oxygen sensor - was on for almost a year before I had the crank problem. The crank is fixed but the check engine light is still on. You might try locating the sensors and cleaning them up to see if that helps.

skids929 · #8 01-01-2004, 05:39 PM

I am being told now that it there is a good possibility that it is the ground for the entire car which is located in the transmission. Because the car has such low miles (28k) for it's year the ground may very well have corroded from little use and need to be repositioned or cleaned. This is about a $500 job. I think I am going to pull the trigger and buy it even with the problem, it is such a nice clean smooth good running, vehicle I am awestruck whenever I am in it. I am thinking this car was a second car and maybe left at a beach/vacation house near the ocean or something, because the rotors were pretty rusted too.

I have a mechanic-friend looking at the whole car tomorrow and he will tell if it is worth chasing or not. Have you ever heard of the ground in the tranny needed to be checked?

jmd102 · #9 01-01-2004, 10:37 PM

I have never heard of a major ground being inside the transmission...that would be a first. If anything most ground connections that pass lots of juice are connected to the tranny bell housing via a large bolt.
Hmmmmmmmm if this is true please try and find out exactly where it goes...I'm curious as hell.
Mark

skids929 · #10 01-02-2004, 04:58 AM

I will let you know once I know for sure where it is. Apparently, there is a ground beyond the ground wire that hooks to the bell housing on the tranny. That has already been replaced on this car and it is still having cycling starts, I spoke with a couple of different Nissan dealers and they said some 98's have a problem with the ground which is located IN the transmission. They have to pull it down slightly, reposition or clean to get it to working properly.

1199 · #11 01-04-2004, 06:15 PM

HI:
The ground that is a mystery in the trans is simple. This is how it works:
1 Batt neg goes to a bracket to trans. The only way the ground can get to the engine is through the transmision mounting bolts the go trough to the engine.
2. once the mating surface betwwen the engine and trans bell housing corrodes it makes a poor engine ground.
3. When you have a poor engine ground the ecm main grounds are grounded to the intake.
4. poor grounds poor ecm function which in turns creates a cranking problem because spark and fuel are effected.
5. Good sign of problem, car cranks fast then slows down and it seems the crankshaft is going to bring up solid. good indication of poor ground and or crank (pos / ref) sensor problem

skids929 · #12 01-04-2004, 08:53 PM

That is almost verbatim how the Nissan tech described it to me. I actually dropped the car off tonight at Nissan for service. They are going to remove the transmission and clean the corrosion and the tech sounded pretty sure that would cure the problem. Since trying to diagnose this problem I have been cranking the motor on and off quite a bit which has tripped the check engine light, I am assuming it is something fuel related or plugs or something. I am hoping I don't have an ECM problem after all this.

skids929 · #13 01-06-2004, 06:48 AM

The ground is fixed perfectly! The car runs and starts like a top! Problem is now it shifts into overdrive too early for some reason. Before it was worked on I didn't have to use the OD/Off button, now when I am around town I have to keep it off. Any suggestions?

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