Ok, so my car has been acting up. Mechanically I'm a noob, so if I use the wrong terms sorry. It won't always crank. The engine spins but it just wont fire. I've taken it to Nissan but they tell me unless it does it while it is there they can't diagnose it. Naturally, it never does it.

One time when it wouldn't fire I messed with the positive cable to the battery terminal and it started right up when I tried. I just left my car for a mechanic who works on only Nissans for a week to correct the problem. He felt it was the crank sensor and was supposed to replace it. Went to pick it up and he goes on to tell me he talked to Nissan and they felt it was best to replace the right and left distributor. This is where I hate being a moron. I don't know what these do.

He told me they tried it for the next few days and never had a problem with it cranking. Didn't really question him because I was just happy my car was "fixed". Well, it started doing it again just last night.

I really hope somebody can offer some advice and help me out. I've had to go out of town during the week for the past month and will be doing the same this month...so it is hard for me to keep having to mess with this crap.

 

My car sometimes doesn't want to turn over either. Turns out driving with less than 1/4 tank isn't good on the fuel pump. Less fuel= less weight (mass) assisting the pump, causing it to work harder= premature failure of the pump= car wont turn over. A car cranking and not starting can be an early sign of a failing fuel pump. This isn't always the case, but could be the culprit. I used to always drive around with 1/2 tank or less thinking less weight is always better (quicker), but is this case it isn't.

 

you have direct ignition (using coils) so there are no distributors. im not calling you out, but are you sure those are the parts they said to replace? if he charged you for replacing the distributor(s), you better show up first thing at his shop and demand an explanation/refund.
when you say it only does it sometimes, does it seem to do it for the first fireup after sitting for a while or after a short trip?

 

it is completely random. it will do it the first crank of the day or after it has been running.