adamsanders

iTrader: (12)

I am just wondering if this sounds like the symptoms of a bad ignition switch, and if not, what do you think?

My car used to be a little touching starting up. Maybe 2% of the time I would turn the key, nothing would happen; try again, it starts right up. I didn't really think too much of it since it didn't happen often, and now it rarely ever happens.

Then, last year I took my car to get the E-check. They told me to turn it off and go wait for them to finish. A few minutes later, the tech comes in and asks me if my car has a killswitch because he can't get it to start. I get worried, go out to my car, turn the key and it starts right up. He looks at me kind of weird, then finishes up the testing.

Now recently I have been teaching my girlfriend how to drive, and she cannot start my car at all! I don't know what it is, she turns the key and nothing happens. I reach over and voila, it starts right up. And this happens every time.

Any thoughts? Do I just have the magic touch? Any ideas are appreciated.

Mr.A32ftw

iTrader: (12)

I have this same problem. I never really looked into why it was doing it cause it always started for me.

97maximachief

iTrader: (1)

My car does the same, now it won't start! I can pop start it but it just cranks. I get it to Start but I have to give it lots of gas and cross my fingers. I recently changed the clutch and fly wheel. Found a loose ground changed my starter and crankshaft positioning sensor. I have to click the ignition back and forth until it cranks. Any ideas? I'll post a update after the new ignition. (97maximachief@gmail.com)Also looking for a 97 cluster with white faces for a 5 speed. My cluster is analog

eddie982

iTrader: (10)

Looks like we all have some starting problem lol!! The OP's issue seems really confounding.
My car only starts in neutral, the CEL light is on, havent checked the codes though..

haydeno

iTrader: (1)

I had intermitent starting problem where it would take between 1 and 20 tries to start it and found my grounds rusted to hell, replaced them and now starts 90% of time first time(other 10% takes 2 tries after jiggling shifter). Check you grounds.

mrfliboi

i have da same problem.. wat i do to get it on sometimes is push da shifter up wen its in park.. and she starts. sometimes it just clicks, but i really dont kno. im pretty sure u have a stick so this may not help. some people tell me its da ignition or the starter or the fuel pump.. but i jus bought a new starter and i hear the fuel pump go on.. sometimes it cranks a lil and then start.. its weird..

gto400no1

iTrader: (5)

Sounds like a good anti-theft system to me...

DBear

If you turn the key and the starter doesn't even engage but all the dash lights go on, see my posts 13 and 18 here: http://forums.maxima.org/4th-generat...ml#post7075437. Took me ages to figure out, but it's been perfect for over 2 years (except for one time when the tape slipped out).

MaximaMashing

Was having trouble starting but got new starter and altornater and starts great

Leo_Koneval

iTrader: (4)

Yeah that is strange the other day I was bring my car to the school shop to change a few gaskets and after we changed the oil and such my buddy went to start the car but it wouldn't start. He asked my if I had a kill switch or if I disconnected the battery, and so I was like OH **** I don't have a kill switch and the battery is right in front of me and it looks pretty connected and so I ran over and turned the key and it cranked right over.

And I've never had a starting problem ever,

So I made fun of him because he is a mechanic in training and couldn't turn the key to start the car, but he swore that he turned the key all the way and it wouldn't crank. And so I am still kind of scratching my head wondering if something was really wrong with my car in that instant or if it was something else.

xsmooth69x

the harry potter magic kill switch

maxima278

iTrader: (3)

I've had 2 4th gens and I think at least one pathfinder with this problem... It's just the ignition mechanism wearing out. I had a mechanic offer to rebuild one for me, but I declined since I was selling the car anyway.

car_boy_16

After you've owned the same Maxima for a while, the DNA control unit learns your specific acid structure and logs it for future start references. Totally normal, to reset the bioinformatic box it do a search, it's been covered a few times before.

modenaf1

iTrader: (3)

Are you turning the key and the starter isn't cranking over? 99% sure it is your ignition switch. You can get one from a dealer for about 20 bucks and its a 10 minute job.

96i30azn

I'm thinking your ignition switch is on its way out but hanging on by a thread. Maybe unknowingly, you've gotten used to this and you're putting a bit of lateral pressure on the key that nobody else does and this is enough to make the switch contact.

95franklin

Bahahah!

Goomz

iTrader: (1)

is your car stick? if so, check the 2 pin sensor above the clutch pedal that allows the car to start when the clutch is down...not sure what its called but i had the same problem in a previous car...to quick troubleshoot, all i did was strip both wires back, and twist them together to ground the switch, and never needed to press the clutch in to start the car again. now that is not necessarily safe, but it will tell you that its bad.

theres two switches...one for the car to start, and one for cruise control i believe...make sure u got the right one.

JSR15

I have this same problem, but I know my ignition switch is going so I have my own little way of turning the key that others don't know how to do. It's really kinda sad lol.

sgtboehn

iTrader: (3)

Have you tried grounding out the bellhousing? Do this, take a pair of jumper cables and clamp on one end the bolt right below the Ckshft pos sensor and then clamp the other end to the neg. post on your battery and see if that does the trick. I had this same problem after a motor swap and the ground wire to the bellhousing worked like a charm.

DennisMik

iTrader: (2)

Thay's what I say. If you can't dazzle 'em with brilliance, baffle 'em with bullsheet.