WTF!?!? I NEED HELP, PLEASE! MY CAR WON'T START!!!

[AddictionG35]

I don't know what happened, but my car was starting fine earlier today. I went to have my pop charger, 5/16 spacers and Stillen Cat-Back installed and it started fine afterwards. I drive home and shut it off, I come back out later to start it and go somewhere and all it does is make a lot of clicking noises and all the lights flicker. My car will not start, I used a multimeter on the battery and I get 11v so it can't be a dead battery. Any ideas? I called the dealer and left a message so I hope they can come out and look at it and they should be bringing me a loaner car. I am so ticked off. Please help me!

[JeromeS13]

Actually, 11volts at rest is pretty low. Have someone read the voltage at the battery, as you're trying to start it. If it drops below 10volts, that's probably your problem.

-Jerome

[zozoka1212]

+1 for Jerome

Zozoka

[AddictionG35]

Really? Wow, I didn't know that, but still, I guess I forgot to mention this but I did try to jump it off my friends Tahoe and it still didn't start, it just did the same thing.

[Gimli G35]

Could it be your starters not working ? ,

i had this problem in the 2000 maxima ,

i dont know if i should recommend this but , it doesnt hurt it to my belief,

Try taking a Long wrench , and tapping the STARTER a few times , than start the car,

If it starts up , than you need to see if you can get the starter fix , but make sure your narrow the problem down to that first .. dont want you blowing some money and then having that problem again ,

Just what i did to the Maxima and it worked

[AddictionG35]

Alright, cool... *grabs a wrench* now where's the starter?

[Gimli G35]

Dont tap tooooo hard , dont want you to damage the starter in the process , and im really unsure where it is ,

*Finds camera for pic*



its by the Steering column , top right corner i think ..

[AddictionG35]

I may be better off just letting the dealer look at it. Which kinda reminds me... there is ABSOLUTELY no reason why they should trip or try to blame the exhaust or the intake and spacers for this correct? Even if the MAF HAD been damaged it wouldn't result in this kinda problem and I assume if I got a SES light for a loose gas cap I would get one for a damaged MAF.

[Gimli G35]

keep us informed on how it turns out man , Hope you get back to peeling out backing out the driveway lol

[AddictionG35]

Me too, what a day to happen, just after getting home from having the intake/exhaust/spacers installed. . . I'll let you know how it goes.

[RED_DET]

I wouldn't worry to much about the exhaust and spacer, but I would definately put the stock air box back on before you have the dealer look at. It won't take you long to do this and you will have piece of mind, because we all know how dealers can be.

Did you check to make sure the battery cables were tight on the terminals?

[zozoka1212]

Have you get a chance to try her with all the new goodies in there before it died on you? What was the different in power(feeling)? Wow I just seen on the tv a Lincoln mkr. What a beauty.

Zozoka

[AddictionG35]

Zozoka - My extent of trying it out really was just driving it home... didn't even get to go WOT on it but I did like the new sound and the whine from the pop charger.

RED_DET - Had the MAF been damaged, I should get a SES light correct?

[Gimli G35]

im not really sure about a damaged MAF being a problem , but the Maxima has it once, and it made the car run very weird , ran too lean and stuff ...

with the Maxima we didnt get a SES\CEL for a few days , by that time the car wouldnt run properly,

Since it is damaged tho , the dealership would just replace that too im guessing ..

_-----EDIT-----_

Ok , heres all the solutions that you can TRY , for now 1 -Check the sparkplugs 2- See if any fuses burned out

[RED_DET]

Just depends.... but at this point you don't know what the problem is, more than likely the maf isn't causing the car to not start, but once it is running again, how do we know the maf isn't messed up, because you didn't really get to drive the car long enough after the mod install. Now the dealer is going to see you had the pop charger on their when its towed in for whatever issue it is having. Once they get the car running again and you can actually get some seat time behind it with the mods and find out the maf may have been damaged. Now you take it back in again and we all know what they going to say next, this item caused the maf to be damage.

[AddictionG35]

Oh no, I'm not saying mine IS damaged now I was just curious what indications I would get if it was.

[Gimli G35]

Considering that you had an autoshop install your popchargers \ z-tube. they should of been careful with the MAF ,

since i KNOW its very bothersome to get your car towed to the shop ,

when was the last time you had the sparkplugs changed? -- could cause failure to start

[smockers83]

If it sounds like its just about to start and dies immediately, it could be that a security code got tripped and needs to be reset. This happened to one of my friends (not a G) and for some reason the security system thought someone was trying to break in so the immobilizer was kicking in.

In either case, try disconnecting the battery for awhile and see what happens or try and reset the computer...do a search on that for instructions, its in the forum somewhere.

[RED_DET]

I know what you are saying. I'm just saying that after you get the car fixed and then something happens to the maf or already has, which more than likely its fine, I don't want Infiniti to jack you around because of the pop charger. Normally simple mods, dealerships don't have a problem with. But if you ever have problems with the maf, you can bet your *** they are going to blame the problem on that pop charger. If I ever have to take mine in for any engine warranty issues, there won't be a pop charger on there.

[zozoka1212]

it's weird for sure. Too bad you couldn't even try it out. Man I can imagine how pissed you are.

Zozoka

[AddictionG35]

[/QUOTE]

when was the last time you had the sparkplugs changed? -- could cause failure to start

Hmmm... well, um... never... lol. I've owned the car for less than a month, not quite more than 3 weeks at the most.

If it sounds like its just about to start and dies immediately, it could be that a security code got tripped and needs to be reset. This happened to one of my friends (not a G) and for some reason the security system thought someone was trying to break in so the immobilizer was kicking in.

In either case, try disconnecting the battery for awhile and see what happens or try and reset the computer...do a search on that for instructions, its in the forum somewhere.

Yeah, it doesn't even sound like it's turning over or even trying to, it's just clicking and the lights all flicker until I stop turning the key. As for the reset, omg those instructions look complicated as heck. Do I have to do all the steps for like pedal position memory and idle air and all that, or just the ECU reset steps?

I know what you are saying. I'm just saying that after you get the car fixed and then something happens to the maf or already has, which more than likely its fine, I don't want Infiniti to jack you around because of the pop charger. Normally simple mods, dealerships don't have a problem with. But if you ever have problems with the maf, you can bet your *** they are going to blame the problem on that pop charger. If I ever have to take mine in for any engine warranty issues, there won't be a pop charger on there.

God I wish I could do it, but between now and tomorrow, I have no way or time that I could. Being in the Army and all, I have to be to work at 5am and need to be up way sooner to get my son off to daycare. And being that it's past midnight now and I have no flashlight...

I just pray they don't try to jack me on the pop charger as you said.

it's weird for sure. Too bad you couldn't even try it out. Man I can imagine how pissed you are.

Zozoka

Oh trust me, I am furious, I am seeing red and it's not cause my G is red. I had to take my son to bed early just so that I could make sure I wouldn't take anything out on him just cause I was so pissed off.

By the way, I never told you thank you Smockers, but thank you so much for your help with the Nav/DVD info.

[smockers83]

Just do the ECU. I remember someone else having to do this awhile ago when they installed their POP Charger.

[Gimli G35]

WOW !! you just jolted my memory ! .....

Like most G modders \ SUPER MODDERS tell you to remember ..

Any mods that effect air flow you MUST reset the ECU if your car starts acting weird ...

I think your car stopped running \ starting because its very LEAN right now which still sucks because resetting the ECU requires a 5-10 mile drive right after resetting it

[jlo0109]

The G's ECU is not the learning type? So does that mean everytime I add something onto the car I have to reset the ECU? Resetting the ECU I can just take the battery out and drain it and put it back in rite?

[joe603]

I've added the spacer and popcharger and didn't have to reset the ECU...

[Gimli G35]

The G WILL learn , sometimes it takes longer for it to learn , sometimes it takes longer for it to get reset

G's have a mind of their own i guess

[telcoman]

I believe you have got a weak or dead cell in the battery? The battery voltage in a non running vehicle should measure 12.6 volts. When the ignition goes into the start position the voltage should not drop very much.Without a voltmeter handy, turn on your headlights. Attempt to start the car. If the headlights go out replace the battery. If that is the original battery just go to Sears or the dealer if you prefer & replace it. Get the best battery from Sears (Gold) with the longest warranty or get OEM from the Infinity dealer.

Telcoman

[Gimli G35]

he tried to JUMP the car also , but it wouldnt start

[telcoman]

Probably too much of a voltage drop? A shorted cell in the battery may be the cause? I'm willing to bet if the existing battery was removed and a good battery from another vehicle was substituted, the vehicle will start.The battery cable connectors both positive and negative may need to be cleaned up of any corrosion also. If this is the original battery it is time to replace it.

Telcoman

[Gimli G35]

Could be it , take in mind he hasnt changed the spark plugs in 3 months , and who knows when the previous owner did also

Check the spark plugs while your checking the battery