My Xterra won't start

[XXXTERRA]

Help...my Xterra won't start!!

[Add pissed off attitude] What the hell is going on here with my truck? Everything seems to be happening to me, accident, repaint the hatch, engine seal leak and now it won't start.

Long weekend here and I can't go anywhere. I checked the battery and it's at 12.67 volts sitting idle, all plugs are ok, so now what?[Stop pissed off attitude]

Can someone point me to the starter. Where is it and what does it look like? If you could provide a visual that would really help.

[Lance]

Won't start, battery has juice, plugs are ok...that means you cranked it, and the plugs are firing (Sparking), or you looked at them, and they had no physical signs of damage? (Big Difference)

The first thing to check on a start prob is the flow of juice. If the plugs are sparking, then go to the fuel system. There is a valve that you can unscrew the cap, and press, to see if the injectors are getting gas...if they are not...your fuel pump is the next thing to check...you can hear it running to restore pressure after bleeding the pressure with the check valve...if its running, its probably pumping, unless a seal is blown/you have another leak, etc....if you leave the check valve open...and you spray gas all over when the pump runs...the system is ok (You may be blind or on your way to a case of liver cancer...but the fuel system is ok...) - (A rag to shield/absorb potential spray is an alternative...) :O

I have no pics.


Try the above while you wait for someone else to respond.


Good Luck!





- Lance

[XXXTERRA]

Thanks Lance. Some of the suggestions are probably too advanced for me, but I can give it a try and yes I only looked for physical signs on the plugs and wires.

If it helps, when I go to start the X all the interior warning lights come on as well as the beep, beep, beep, just like normal. When I turn the key however, nothing but silence. There is no tick,tick,tick,tick or roor,roor,roor,roor, coming from the engine or anything. Sound fx's are cool.

Thanks again for the help, my wife is really pissed(she missed a hair appointment)

[ScottG]

I haven't had this problem with my Xterra, but with my Nissan Sentra the safety switch which only allows the engine to start in "Park" or "Nuetral" sometimes acts up. The car won't do anything in "Park," but if I put it in "Nuetral" it will start. If you have an automatic, this may be the problem. See if it will start in "Neutral," rather than "Park." There maybe something similar on the manual transimission which only allows it to start with the clutch in.

[XXXTERRA]

I went out to the X to try a few of the suggestions from this board. Before I began I thought I would give it one more try, put the key in, turn and WHAM it starts. I did not touch anything except for the key. Now I'm even more affraid to drive it because who knows when it won't start again. I was going to head up north for the day, but that is out of the question now.

What can this be? is it the starter? where is it and can I test it ?

I know these are a lot of questions, but I have nothing else to do

Thanks again

[ScottG]

My guess is that it is an electrical problem; maybe the switch I mentioned above. My Sentra does exactly what you have describe and it only occurs once ever couple of months. Electrical problems can be difficult to diaginos. Even if you take it to the dealer, if it doesn't occur when you take it in, they probably can't help you much.

[neil]

i am 99% sure it is your starter although its odd for it to go bad so early.

next time you have problems starting, just take a metal rod (like the jack wrench or something) and give the starter a good tap. that will get it going again. you can do that until you get it replaced (if it is the starter, that is).

[ScottG]

I think if it were the starter, it would make some noise. You would hear the clicking of the solinoid or something. Who knows? You better take it to the dealer.

[rednec]

If you do any wheeling and have submerged the starter it can mess it up. I had to replace the starter on my truck for that reason. Heck, I just got my X back after 3 months. I misjudged a water/mud hole and majorly submerged the engine. The dealer ended up putting a used engine in it(insurance was paying for it). I had approx. 33k on my truck. The new engine has about 6k. It was a very hard lesson learned.

[Xcanuk]

My first thought was the shifter position on your A/T... Did you or have you brought your X in for the recall ?? I know its for a clip to lock the shifter position in place, can't remember the exact details.

[Lance]

Stupid switches can be bitc*#@'s...

I have had manual's that you have to have the clutch all the way in, or the power to the starter is cut off, essentially to prevent you from starting up in gear, ramming someone and calling a lawyer...the automatics have a similar switch for neutral/park...if these switches go bad (Next on Opra, when good switches go bad...)...you get the same symptoms...turn the key, and lights, etc work...but the starter is strangely quiet.

A bad starter usually clicks or makes other plaintive noises, a hum, something you can detect while under the hood.

If you have a circuit tester, you can check the terminals that connect the starter to its go go juice...if its getting power...then it IS a bad starter...if it's not...its something upstream of the starter.

There is sometimes a fuse that runs this interlock...if you find and pull this fuse...it bypasses the interlock...allowing you to start-up in gear...useful off road if you have a non-hand throttled manual for example, and you stall on a hill, and need one foot for the brake, one for the gas, and one for the clutch...

I have not looked for the X's fuse yet...just been heel and toe-ing two pedals as needed...otherwise I would tell you which one to pull myself.

If you have no luck...let me know, and I'll take a look see later.

[XXXTERRA]

So far the problem has not happened again since that first time on Sat. I'm going to bring the X in for service this week and I 'll have them look it over. My concern now is not having the X start or having it stop while driving. I don't know what to make of this and it has me second guessing about leaving the house.

Thanks for all your help and I'll go take a look for that fuse now. P.S. Where can I find the starter?

[Xlax]

I assume you have an automatic?. When I picked my X up from the dealership I tried to turn the key and NOTHING ! I vent in to the dealer and tossed him the keys, he looked at me with a grin. You can not start the engine with out the clutch pressed all the way down. it turnedout that the damm flormats were reversed thus disabeling the ignition....

I would shoot for electronic. if you do nto hear a click sound or the starter does not complain it is an indicator that you are not getting juice to the starter....

Warranty?

[Speed]

Sounds very much like the A/T lockout switch. If it were the starter you would most likely (almost certainly, probably, best guess etc) hear other noises coming from the starter/electical system.

[Powerguy37]

You might also want to check the ignition fuse under the hood. It's on the left if you're standing in front looking at the engine. If it goes, it will act the way you described.

-Dana :sun: