Ignition Problem!!!

M

mhkeyemd

Member
Location
Orange County, CA
I had 8 to 9 episodes of non-start although the engine was cranking and a long cranking before the engine started for last one year. I took my car into the local dealer, and they said that they couldn't help me because they couldn't "duplicate" my problem and did not see error codes. Once my car starts, it runs fine. Also, when it is just cranking and not starting, I don't see any warning lights on my gauge panel. I have 53K miles on my car, so my warranty is going to run out soon. Does anyone have any ideas why this is happening. Could this be like the others who had cam/crank sensor issues? Man, I'm getting frustrated with my Infiniti dealer. I just imagine them charging me $2000 for a work after my car runs out of the warranty.
 
I would suggest going to another dealer. It doesnt sound right what you described.

do you keep up with maintenance on you FX? like changing air filters and stuff? what kind of gas are you using? have you checked your spark plugs?

if you dont mind the drive, Metro Infiniti (Duarte) has done many members here right.... ask for Cheryl.
 
Yes, I have kept the maintenance to the dot. Everything was changed according whatever the dealer recommended. I use premium gas only from Shell, Mobile, 76, and Chevron...but, mostly Shell. I haven't changed the spark plugs because the dealer did not mention anything. I think I will take your recommendation. I will try a different dealer. I will go to Mission Viejo first. If I'm not satisfied, then I will try Duarte. Thanks. Funny thing is that this happens often in the morning. Again, I live in Southern California, so it's not the cold weather.
 
One time only my car cranked and cranked and did not start. I jumped in the Wife's car and left. Later that night, it started right up. Never happened again, but still bothers me. Out of warranty in about a month.
 
when my FX died recently and would not start back up, dealer found the cause to be an inoperative fuel pump. Could that be the case for you? Maybe those times that it would not start were indications that the fuel pump was beginning to fail. Just throwing that out there. Good luck with your fix. Hopefully whatever it is will fall under the 70k powertrain warranty.
 
So a funny thing happend this evening...

I was working with some of the wiring in the engine bay and thought I hooked everything back up. Turns out I left a single ground un-attached. It produced exactly the ignition failure you just described.

If you take your engine cover off, the ground I omitted is front and center. I hooked it back up (just a bolt into the crank case) and it started up right away. Maybe just check to make sure there is no oxidation under this connection? If this particular ground was making intermittent connection, it could produce exactly your problem. It's a long shot, but easy to check...
 
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Thanks! I had many theories, but obviously I can't prove any of them. I was thinking (1) it may be the fuel injection?, (2) ignition coil?, (3) spark plugs?, (4) crank/camshaft position sensors?, (5) fuel pump?, and (6) some other electronics... I am not as proficient in mechanical work as some of you guys are, so I am going to make an appointment with Mission Viejo Infiniti. Anyone with positive or negative experiences at Mission Viejo? (P.S. I went to Tustin Infiniti before.)
 
Hi I think that I have the same exact issue as you. Sometimes in the morning I try to start up my car and it just keeps on cranking, then I turn the it all the way off and retry it the second time then it starts right up. It just recently started to happen more often the past few weeks. It also doesnt just happen in the morning but it happens randomly and it is annoying as all hell. My thoughts were could it be the fuel pump as well. Please for the love of god, if you or anybody else figures this out, please let me know. I notice that you also have an 06, could it be an issue with certain 06's

---------- Post added at 03:44 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:13 PM ----------

Hi again, I talked to one of my buddies that works at an infiniti dealership in the service department. I told him about the situation and he said that since I have the intelligent key for my car, it could have a bad signal sometimes with the vehicle itself. So I might try using my other intelligent key for a little while and seeing if it continues to happen. Just a thought.
 
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Yah, I heard about the I-key excuse from Tustin Infiniti. Actually, about 6 months ago, they told me the same thing. They reprogrammed both of my keys. Guess what...it never solved the problem. Just like you, this random long cranking before the engine turns over is happening more frequently. I feel like it is a mechanical problem, not electronics. I thought it was electronics as well in the beginning, but I have this ill feeling that there is an intrinsic mechanical problem in the ignition system... may it be the fuel pump, spark plugs, some sensors, fuel injections... Something sinister is going on. I have made an appointment at Mission Viejo Infiniti for next Tuesday. Let me tell you guys what they say. So far, I have heard every excuse from Tustin Infiniti, such as I-Key reprogramming, the keypod to my daughter's daycare is interfering with the signal, and of course, there is no problem at all. Anyway, it happened again today. It took me 5-6 seconds to start my car....a long cranking before the engine turns over. I'm wondering, if there is enough of this complaint, Infiniti may do a recall on their ignition system for certain models.
 
check your fuel pressure sometimes a bad fuel pump will do this instead of going to crank it in the morning put it acc mode (the spot before crank) then start. try that. could be a bad ground that need to be redone, lift it off, clean and reconnect.
 
I usually put it on ON mode (one after ACC) for about 1-2 seconds before I start the car. I figured the trend of this long cranking. It happens usually after I park my car for a long time. It could be in the morning or in the afternoon/evening as long as I parked my car for several hours. The fact that it is happening more frequently (first happened every 3-4 months, now happens once or twice a week), it is telling me that it is from some "wear-tear" process in one or multiple ignition system device(s). I am fearing that my car will stop in middle of the freeway because the fuel pump, fuel injection, or something will be completely done on one of these days. I still have my 2003 Audi A4 1.8T Quattro. It is 7 years old. Some people made fun of Audi for its unreliability. However, in my experience, at least, Audi mechanics would figure out the problem in one shot and fixed it for free under warranty...
 
Yeah I understand it just sucks that you are having these problems from your fx. since yours is a 06 I would just take it to the dealer and demand they fix it, you will have a loaner until they do.
 
Hey again, I recently changed my key and now I am using my other I-key to see if that is the reason why I am having starting issues. I have also taken out my Mass Air Flow sensor and sprayed the hell out of with CNC MAF cleaner. Letting it air dry and making sure not to touch it or using anything to wipe it down. I did this a couple of days ago and havent had any issues so far. I just went outside and started it right up and didnt have any problems. It has been sitting for about 24 hours since I last started it up and I didnt have to put it on ACC or ON for 1-2 seconds at all I just hopped in my fx and just turned it and it started. I dont know if my problem is fixed but so far it seems like it is working fine. I dont know if it is because I changed out my key for another I-Key or if the mass air flow sensor was dirty. I will let all you guys know how my situation is later on during the week to see if my problem is totally fixed. I forgot to also disconnect my negative terminal on my battery to reset the computer just to start off fresh. Ill go outside and do that in a little bit.
 
I just dropped my car off at Mission Viejo Infiniti. The service consultant said it sounded like the fuel injection might be leaking and flooding one of the cylinders. As I crank the engine, the flooded cylinder burns off the fuel then it starts after a long cranking. Well, I am leaving the car overnight. By the way, this morning, my car started very sluggishly. It started with a very "wimpy" engine noise. Then, after 1-2 seconds later, the engine rev'd and the engine noise normalized. I am still convinced that it is most likely from a defective fuel injection or fuel pump. I will let you guys know what happens to my car. At least this service consultant was thinking and proactive about the problem that I'm dealing with versus Tustin Infiniti service consultants were ...uhh... useless with no "thinking".
 
When you said the engine reved and then sounded normal--That sounds like an injector bleeding too much fuel at start up.
 
I got a call from Mission Viejo Infiniti. He said that my throttle body was "caked" with carbon deposits. Also, they said they got the error code from the computer that pointed to the Throttle Body (Tustin Infiniti said that there was no error code). He said that it is recommended that the throttle body to be cleaned or checked every 30,000 miles or 15,000 miles if you used generic gasoline. He told me that it was never taken care by the other dealers (I bought my car at Costa Mesa, which closed one year later; then, I went to Tustin). He was going to change it for free under the factory warranty. Another thing... I had complained to Tustin Infiniti about the squeaking brake noises for about 6 months. They said it was normal. Guess what...MV Infiniti said that my brakes were almost metal to metal. Also, my drive belt was cracked. Man, how can Tustin Infiniti miss so many calls??? If you live in Orange County (CA), avoid Tustin Infiniti at all cost!!! I called Tustin Infiniti and left a message to their service manager. I am not sure if their mechanics are factory-certified. I'm going to pick up my car tomorrow or maybe Thursday. I'll let you guys know if my problem is solved with this throttle body issue. Thanks for all your input.
 
Just got the FX back because recently it was "hesitating" when the engine is started in the morning. They found the throttle plate stick/loose. The throttle body assembly was replaced and reset idle was done.

Good luck with yours!

I have an 06 also, serviced at Miller Infinti.
 
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damn, as I was reading this thread I was thinking gotta be a dirty throttle body, you're describing the exact symptoms... a dirty throttle body is making the base idle too low & the computer takes a bit of time to compensate, causing the hard start. it can also cause an occasional start & stall & even an idle that hunts up or down a bit too much right after starting too...
 
I picked up my car just now. The code was P0223 (Throttle position sensor 1 circuit high input). The service consultant showed me the old throttle body. The throttle plate was stuck due the thick carbon deposits around the plate. Also, the throttle plate would not completely close all the way due to the deposit. He thought that, while I was starting my car, the throttle plate was not opening up correctly to start the engine. So, they changed the throttle body, and it was reprogrammed. At the dealer, it started right away without any hesitation. It drove fine on the freeway. It didn't feel sluggish at all and had good acceleration. Well, I am going to park it overnight and started it tomorrow morning. I am going to see if my car will have anymore ignition problems. I will check it out for next several weeks. I hope this information can help others.
 
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