1999 Maxima GLE - engine cranks, won't start

[yooperhoughton]

Hi everyone,

Forgive me if I'm being a total newbie here. My 1999 Maxima GLE has been working swimmingly lately. All of the sudden as I pulled into the gas station today, the left passenger speaker stopped working (completely muted), the ABS light came on, and then the radio stopped working entirely. At that point, the vehicle was running fine, but I tried to restart the car, and although the engine was actually making engine-y sounds (no clicking, certainly not silent, but not "begging" as some problems create), but it wouldn't start.

I went back a few hours later, and it started right up. Took it home, and on the fourth try, it did it again.

The Maxima has just over 138k.

I really know nothing about other key components (as requested in the forum guidelines for high-miles). I'm not precisely entirely car-literate, and it was a "hand me down" of sorts a few years ago. Nothing on the dash indicates anything out of the ordinary except for that random ABS light this morning.

I'm the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

I have had no recent repairs or maintenance to speak of.

Anyone have any insight? If I have a starting point of what to test and look at, I'd feel better about this. I appreciate your help in advance.

Thank you!

[sx moneypit]

Is the engine turning over and not starting, or is it not cranking at all?




-Ben

[yooperhoughton]

It turns over and doesn't start.

[sx moneypit]

It could be something in the security system, was the check engine light on the last time it ran?

[yooperhoughton]

No, it wasn't. The air bag light's been flashing again, but I know that's just a matter of re-Googling the appropriate combination of button-pusing and key-turning to fix that. But no check engine light.

[sx moneypit]

According to Identifix the majority of the problems have been the security system,you might want to try another ignition key.
They have also had some issues with the crankshaft position sensor and camshaft sensors.I would make sure the battery connections are good and check all of your fuses if you haven't already done that.



-Ben

[bennynthedesert]

I'm having the same problem or close to it just wanted to know if you ever get yours figured out and if you did what was the problem. First time it happened to me I was able to jump the car but now I cant even jump it. It cranks like it wants to start but doesn't start. I'm stomped.

[XPLRN]

Curious as to what you/OP/Yooper found to be the solution to the problem you descibed??

[loced1]

Did anyone come up with a solution for this? My 00 I30 started acting up this morning. I'm not sure if it's coincidence, but soon after I turned on my rear defroster, my gauges and stereo started flickering. My ABS, Air Bag and Seat Belt lights came on. Then they went off. Kept doing this intermittently all the way to work. Other than that, it ran fine. I did pull my dash and A/C unit apart this weekend to do some painting and replace my bulbs with LED's. But, I don't think that would have this affect. And I've driven the car 3 days after I did the work with no problems. I have had some issues with my engine getting hot when stuck in traffic at idle for a long time. My A/C gets warm and temp peaks until I start rolling again. Could it be the ECU maybe?

I've got 109k miles. Haven't had any major issues in the 2 years I've owned the car.

[loystock]

Problem with the original poster more likely has to do with the alternator. You can also start checking the alternator and related wiring, including the battery. A good alternator must be charging at >13.8 VDC (spec is 14.1 to 14.7 VDC). A fully charged battery (engine off) must have 12.6 VDC or more.

Weird things do happen with a failing alternator.