I have a potentially deadly problem with my 133,000-mile, 1999 Nissan Maxima. It might be related to the crank sensor on newer Maxima, a steering column lock, a faulty ignition switch, faulty clutch depression switch, and the anti-theft kill switch, perhaps even a random ground. The problem was conceivably catastrophic. Upon entering my car using the remote, occasionally the car won't respond, and must be unlocked manually. In these instances, neither the dome lights nor the headlights shine. When the ignition key is rotated to the start position, as the clutch is being depressed, sometimes the gauge lights appear and then quickly fade and disappear; the car just doesn't crank. A faint, diminishing telltale buzzing sound can be heard. What's worse, this can happen spontaneously while driving, in which case the car's steering wheel locks and the brakes become inoperable. I have had this happen on three occasions, twice while driving in a mall parking lot (February and March ''07) and the other time (just last week) while turning into my neighbor's driveway, to take out her oak tree. The ignition crank sensor must slip into an inoperable mode during driving or while attempting to start the car, or the anti-theft switch somehow interferes with starting, operation or driving. Maybe the master ignition coil is failing (but that doesn't explain the headlight and dome light problems). The clutch switch may not engage when its pedal is being depressed. Sometimes, I can restart the car after an incident in which it was parked for a while. My battery is brand new, and there don't seem to be any shorts as far as I can tell. But nothing electrically works (not even the radio) when I have to unlock the car manually. I am very concerned about driving the car beyond my neighborhood. I might have to become a hermit, or worse, a college professor. Any ideas? the car is in excellent shape otherwise and has all service records.

- Dublin, OH, USA