2000 Maxima Not Starting - Fuel Pump ?

[bradfordrb]

Looking for a little help diagnosing / troubleshooting my recent problem

After cranking fine and driving across town to pick up something from the parts store, my maxima wouldn't crank back up. The engine sounded like it wanted to start but couldn't quite fire. Battery, starter, alternator all checked out ok. Never detected any gasoline odors at the tailpipe.

I suspected it might be fuel system related so we tried to listen for the fuel pump to run while attempting to crank and never heard anything (removed back seat to listen closely). Also sprayed a little carb cleaner in the air intake through the air filter box and the engine wanted to run while spraying the combustible fuel in.

After getting cold and going home for a while by calling a friend for a lift, I went back and tried to listen more closely for the fuel pump - still couldn't hear anything. Shook the wiring around a bit as I reassembled the rear seat and was about to give up but decided to try once more.. and the car cranked. Seemed to run ok as I drove it home so it wouldn't be stuck in the parking lot.

Any ideas / troubleshooting I can do?

Thanks for the help,Brian

Car is a 2000 Maxima SE~95k milesIgnition coils, spark plugs, and new MAF installed within the last year - coils and MAF triggered codes and ran poorly.

[s13sr20chris]

i see you have already done the maf and coils. they are common failures. you should be able to hear the pump as it is not quiet. another thing you can do is to squeeze the fuel lines. they will firm up when ther is fuel pressure. once the back seat(and seat backs) are removed you can easily access the fuel pump. may not be a bad idea to fiddle with it some. can you use a multimeter? it would be prudent to check the voltage at the pump.