Infiniti i35 sometimes wont start

[Ant Monifah]

Wassup everyone Im new here first time ever joining a forum but anyway I have no where else to turn. My 2002 infiniti i35 (175k) starts on the first start of the day but the second try it will either crank slowly and turn on or not crank at all and I just hear one click. My battery and altenator checks out fine. I tried moving the gear to neutral and still nothing. I only have a check engine light for catalytic converter the one by the manifold and I have changed spark plugs and coils. If the car doesnt crank over i usually wait about 2hrs and it will turn on first try. Can it be the starter? If it is how can I get it checked? I already have the converter just need to install it Im jus worried because people keep telling me to junk the car but I know its a good car. Thanks in advance for any help you guys can give me...

[centralcoaster33]

Hi Ant, could be the starter contacts are wearing out and on their last leg, could be solenoid issues, could be your ignition switch, could be the starter relay going bad. The thorough way to test the starter and solenoid is to remove it and take it to a shop or parts place that can test starters.

This thread may or may not help you:
1991-1994-240sx-starter-not-turning-eng ... 49966.html

Also see your FSM. Chapters can be found here:
http://www.nicoclub.com/FSM/I35/2002/

Start with the FWD chapter for table of contents.

[Ant Monifah]

Thanks for responding..I had my starter, battery, and alternator tested today and everything is working properly. The car has been starting all day today sometimes a little slower by that I mean slower cranking. I dont get whats goin on with the car I ran the codes and got P0011 and P0021 for intake valve timing bank 1 and 2. What can I do to fix this? Do I have to worry about my car not starting again randomly? Is it something with my engine?
Thanks in advance.

[centralcoaster33]

I'm not sure. I searched a bit and found some people had issue with warm starts because their temp sensor wasn't working correctly, but they also had overheating issues. Others said they had a timing issue and it would be a crank or cam sensor. You have a cam sensor that watches the timing and it's throwing codes, so it could be that. I'm still skeptical though, because I would think your starter would at least crank the engine over. So, I think you should look at the FSM chapters. The EC chapter will have info about your timing codes and how to diagnose those. It will also have things for undetectable faults (stuff that doesn't trigger a check engine light or a code) and maybe that will discuss your starter situation. Please look at the FSM and let me know if you find stuff you'd like help with.

[Ant Monifah]

I dont have any overheating issues so I think my temp sensor is ok. I have replaced crank and cam sensors few months ago because I had slip light on so now they're good or should be. So far I know I need an oil change and a torque converter. Today the car is still starting just on warm starts takes a little longer than usual however, I am getting a rattling noise when I turn the car on and off also between 1.5k-2.2k RPM. I mostly hear the rattling noise by the front passenger side by firewall. Can this be the converter? Also my local mechanic is telling me to get a new starter that sometimes they can work good for the test and still be going. Is this true? My car also blows alot of smoke from exhaust my tail pipe is kind of loose I was told and I kno I need my left valve cover also due to leakage. What problems can cause this? How can I get exhaust smoke and rattling to stop? Thank you

[Costee]

I ran the codes and got P0011 and P0021 for intake valve timing bank 1 and 2. What can I do to fix this? Do I have to worry about my car not starting again randomly? Is it something with my engine?
Thanks in advance.

Possibly change your crank and camshaft sensors.