Will not start

IVYJOHNSON

MEMBER
1996 NISSAN MAXIMA
21,000 MILES

We drove it out to my in-laws to replace the water pump. About halfway there the engine shut off no noise nothing and the car was still on. We got it to my in-laws and replaced the water pump made sure the timing chain was still in place to work and changed out the crank sensors. There is a weak spark and it’s turning over but won’t start.

Sunday, April 18th, 2021 AT 6:40 PM

3 Replies

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
110,126 POSTS

Hi,

If you have a weak spark, I need you to check the wiring harness behind the power steering pump pulley for damage. Contact between the power steering pump pulley and the ECCS sub-harness may be short-circuiting the sub-harness to ground, preventing the crankshaft position sensor-REF signal from reaching the ECM.

I attached a pic below showing where to check. This has been an issue with these vehicles. If you have been moving things around to locate a water pump leak, this may have happened.

Let me know.

Joe

See pic below.

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Sunday, April 18th, 2021 AT 7:19 PM

IVYJOHNSON

MEMBER
3 POSTS

We checked it out there is no obvious damage. We traced it as far back as we could. On the left side of that cored we don’t know what is/where it leads.

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Sunday, April 18th, 2021 AT 7:47 PM

HARRY P

MECHANIC
2,292 POSTS

Hello. It sounds like a few possibilities. I'm thinking the issue is probably in the coil. Weak sparks are usually caused by a failing ignition coil. I'm attaching some screenshots of AllDatas instructions on how to test the coil.

Another thing I'd do is to spray a decent amount of starting fluid into the intake and then crank it. If it fires then you have sparks.

If you haven't already, please check your fuses. A blown fuse can wreak havoc on a car. Fuse box information can be found in the owner's manual. The owner's manual is here: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://www.vadennissanservicecontracts.com/owners-manual/nissan/1996-Nissan-Maxima.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjk687npYnwAhXcQTABHa23AG8QFjAAegQIAxAC&usg=AOvVaw3AtZE1eUB39NFkvFxZdA5u

Finally, I'd like to get a scan to see if there are any clues hidden there. There may be a terrible code that gives us a better clue.

Try this and let me know what you find. We'll go from there

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