Nissan Repair: 2000 Nissan Maxima SE wouldnt start (not even crank) for a while, then it was okay again later, nissan maxima se, nissan maxima

Question
Thanks for all your answers!  My question is a little different, perhaps, as my car just recently wouldn't start after I had been driving it earlier around town.  I parked for a short time and came back to the car and it wouldn't start.  The CD player even shot out my CD.  I couldn't even use my key fob to lock the car door.  (However, the odd thing is that as I walked back to the car, I unlocked via the key fob fine as I typically do and so I expected all to be fine).  So when I put the key in, the system was dead, no cranking or anything.. like lifeless.  I saw the secruity light was flashing, and it would flash when I didn't try to start the car.  Trying to start the car was just not the same, it wouldn't even crank.  I tried several times, then just left it for a couple hourse and came back.  I verified I hadn't left the lights on.  My husband just changed the ignigtion coils and spark plugs and its been working better in regard to mpg.  When I returned to the car later, same dead thing.. but I tried three times and one time it just 'worked'.  I drove it home and it didn't die on me.  Since then my husband has checked the connection on the battery and I have been testing out the car by starting it to try and see if it would fail again.  Husband did say the battery appeared to need water and we weren't aware of this.  He thought maybe a connector on the battery wasn't tightened, but I can't figure out why it wouldn't work for a bit then did work.. We noticed a light under the front passenger leg room area and couldn't remember if it is always on either but we need it up in the very corner while driving at night.. not sure if this is anything new.  No codes have come on since my husband got the 1320 code and changed all the engine coils out.  Thanks so much for your time and expertise!!!  I just don't know if I can trust the car by going out now in winter.

Answer
Ellen,

It sounds like the battery is failing.  You would think the thing would die all at once.  But, it has been my experience on my Stanza, 2000 Maxima and 350Z that when the battery starts to fail the electrical system does strange things.  Plus, you said the battery fluid was low.  Batteries tend to fail after three or more years and when the weather changes to hot or cold.  I would run the car over to Autozone or Checker and get a free electrical test.  They have a unit they bring out to the car and check the charging system and a load test on the battery.  If the battery is defective they should find it.