Starts, won't crank, no spark, stuck in theft mode?

[MattFransonPA]

97 Pathfinder. Wouldn't turn over/crank, so had it towed to the garage and the mechanic took the distributor off and said it's not getting spark and the fuel injectors aren't firing. His scanner couldn't read either. He said he talked to another mechanic and that it's stuck in theft mode. I read online about a Nissan Altima that had this problem and it was suggested that the key can be turned to 'on' and then disconnect the battery for 10 minutes, then reconnect and cycle key to off and on and off and on and it should start. That didn't work. My key doesn't have a chip, it's a regular key. I bought this used in 2007 and this is the first time this has happened. He was going to disconnect the battery overnight and reconnect and see if that helped but I haven't heard yet if that worked. If not I'll have to have it towed to a Nissan dealer which is 45 minutes away.

[Towncivilian]

Does the security light blink after a failed start?

[MattFransonPA]

I'm not sure. I don't have it here to test it and I can't remember if it still blinked when I tried starting it before. If it does or doesn't, what does it mean?

[Towncivilian]

If it blinks, the start issue is due to the security system.

[MattFransonPA]

Ok, so if that's the case how do I fix it?

[Towncivilian]

Try following the preliminary check described on page EL-226 of the factory service manual.

Edited August 6, 2013 by Towncivilian

[MattFransonPA]

Thanks!

[MattFransonPA]

It was the camshaft sensor. Had a new distributor installed and now it runs. I had read elsewhere online that no spark and no fuel injector pulse means either the anti-theft system or the distributor.

[Alkorahil]

That makes sense, as the motor can not start without the input from the sensor and it is protecting itself.