Cold Cranking Procedure For V36

[The Max]

Hey guys,

Just doing my homework here but having my V36 sitting in the garage for the past 5 months and never started, I need to figure out the cold cranking procedure for these vehicles. It's a ritual I used to do with my old Maxima whenever I got back home from such a long absence, changing the oil and filter as well as taking out the spark plugs and dripping some oil down the cylinders and then finally cold cranking the engine without fuel for about 30 seconds, or until sufficient oil pressure would build up.

Of course, back in the day with an old '92 model car, that was a piece of cake with the old ignition barrel but now it's a push-to-start system so it's trickier.

Is there an elegant way to do this or will the ECU freak out and avoid powering the starter motor if I were to remove the fuse for the fuel pump? Otherwise, my other option will be to manually actuate the starter motor using external wiring at the IPDM in the engine bay instead.

[iamhe77]

Check battery for signs of life, if okay start car as per normal

Edited August 24, 2012 by iamhe77

[The Max]

Battery will be fine as I've had it disconnected but I'm not inclined to start the car as per normal though. I'd much rather take the extra time to give the engine some TLC.

[V35_Paul]

It will be fine.

[PN-Mad]

There is an "elegant" solution, in either getting diagnostic software (uprev) or buying Consult (14,000) and using that to turn off the fuel pump and release fuel pressure when the car is cranked. However, as the others have suggested; just start the car mate. Its not a EH Holden...

Plus cranking it will kill your starter prematurely.

[The Max]

Excellent. I have both the Osiris Tuner as well as a Nissan Consult 3+ kit ($1600 Chinese knock-off with software). I'll do my homework when I fly back home soon.

As for killing the starter motor, it's easier to replace one of those than it is to freshen up an engine. I can live with that. My Maxima lasted for 16 years before the starter needed replacing and that was after a course of 4 cold crankings over 8 years.

The VG was better for it.

Edited August 24, 2012 by The Max

[PN-Mad]

when you turn on the ignition (to connect to the ECU), the pump will prime and pressurise the system. Using Cipher, turn the fuel pump off. Car will start briefly, but run out of fuel and die quickly. Then I guess you can crank if you want. I guess other options would be to disconnect your fuel pump via either the fuel lines, or the electric power to the pump. Might throw a CEL then.

But I'm still of the just Start the car camp...

[sonicii]

Agree with the others.. Don't think cold cranking is necessary. Never did this in my old maxima after extended periods of inactivity. Never had any issues with it. It didn't burn any oil and ran great until a broken crank snout shot it dead at 290,000km.

[t5iv]

Not a fan of cold crankIng. As long as the fluids are in relatively food condition, I wouldnt bother. Just be gentle until everything starts flowing like it should. Then you can really give it to her.

Does that sound sexual?

[The Max]

Heheh. Not really that sexual considering my car is a bloke for if it were a female, I'd be more of a gentleman with it.

Anyway, thanks for all the tips guys. I'm not going to start a debate about the pros and cons of cold cranking, as that wasn't the aim of this thread, but at least now I know what I can do to perform it. I'll have to get my hands on the manuals for the Consult 3+ software to gain a little more insight before I get back home.

Thanks again guys.