Xterra Won't Start

Hi,

I'm hoping someone will be able to help me. I have a 2WD 2006 Xterra S with almost 50K on it. It has the manual transmission (6speed).

So, everything was fine. I left work yesterday, car started fine...no problems. Drove for about 45 minutes and stopped at a store...picked up some beer. Got back in the xterra and it would not start. It does not turnover. All lights come on, radio, battery voltage looks good and does not drop when trying to start. There is no turnover or cranking sound. However you can here something smooth spin for a few seconds. When under the car, I think that the spinning is the starter but it is very quite...anyone ever heard of something like that???

The car kick starts just fine. AFter kick starting, I had no problem driving home.

ONe more thing. About 5 days ago, when driving I heard something "rattling" from the front end... It went away fairly quickly and than came back once while accelerating. I was never able to find out what it was.

About 6 months ago I changed the battery. I fairly confident the batter is good.

So, of course, I'm thinking the starter. Anyone have other suggestions or agree? Is the starter hard to remove and install? Could it be the switch under the clutch pedel?

Well, thanks to everyone for any help. Aloha, MIke

Ahh, just figured it out.

It is not the starter. On the clutch pedel plate there is a rubber thingy that pushes the butten in when you push the clutch pedel in. The rubber stopper thingy broke off so the clutch in switch was not being pushed in and therefore the car would not start.

So, I made some homemade device to handle do that for me... It is just a temporary thing. I'm thinking that autopart stores do not carry this and it may be hard to get from nissan. Any suggestions or just keep the home made thing...Currently installed with tape.

As for the spinning noise when I try to start...fuel pump priming? Just curious at this point.

Thanks, Mike

It's called the Clutch Interlock Bypass Switch (CIBS). There used to be a guy "coolerman" who made kits for bypassing it, but I think I heard his e-mail isn't working anymore.

I have the kit, and it's great for offroading and starting on a hill in-gear, using the starter motor. Also for when camping in your truck and you want to start the engine for heat from the back seats. :smile:

Here's a thread on it:

http://www.xterraownersclub.com/reviews/coolerman_cibs01.html

Regarding the "spinning noise", I get that sometimes when not depressing the clutch [hard] all the way at startup. My guess is it's related to the CIBS problem you're having.