Car struggles to start intermittently

[vanuatoo]

I have around 130,000 miles on my 2003 A/T 4WD SE.

It started around 6 months ago, I don't drive it regularly, but sometimes I turn the key and it does not start.

If I turn off and then try again, it starts.

I don't have Check Engine light on.

 

I searched and it could be Ignition Switch. I'm eager to replace it, I guess it's not a big deal but only thing that worries me is if I need to reprogram key after that.

Open to other suggestions as well.

[EricCR]

I just replaced my ignition switch thinking it was faulty (it was in fact a starter motor issue). You don't have to reprogram the keys after that. The transponder radio is not part of that switch. If you go back a few pages you'll find my thread with some pictures on how to replace the switch. It's super easy, but try to buy it OEM. Good luck!

[vanuatoo]

Thanks for the response.

 

At what mileage your starter died?

 

Is there a way to diagnose whether it's starter or ignition switch?

[EricCR]

When you say "turn the key, it doesn't start" do you hear the starter motor turning or no sounds at all? If the starter is turning but the engine doesn't start then it's of course not the starter. If there's no sound at all (maybe just a click from the relay) then it could be the starter.

 

My 2003 has around 160k miles and the starter had clearly been repaired before.

 

My symptoms were "turned key, relay clicked but starter didn't spin. Kept the key in the starting position and after about 20 or 30 seconds the starter came back to life and engine started right up". That delay was getting worse so it was only a matter of time before the car left me stranded. Replaced ignition switch, that did nothing so I replaced the starter motor and it was as good as new.

[vanuatoo]

I need to check precisely, but from what I remember, there is no sound sometimes.

 

I don't know if it's related or not but I have another problem, not sure if it's related. It's also intermittent, sometimes my radio does not turn on. But if I pull the 15 amp fuse from the box under the steering column and put it back, then it turns on. Can faulty ignition switch cause this? I checked the fuse, it's fine. I even switched it from the spare. It's 6 CD changer Bose Audio.

Edited April 9 by vanuatoo

[EricCR]

Maybe. Ignition switch failures tend to cause all sorts of weird glitches and it's common in Nissans for it to fail, so I'd change it, it's a simple job and relatively cheap. But I would also look at the relays in the engine bay. Try swapping identical relays and see if some of those issues go away.

 

To give you an example: my AC was randomly spewing warm air. I replaced the HVAC module and it was doing the same thing. I even disconnected the air mixing actuator. In the end the problem was the relay that controls the AC compressor which was intermittently failing and I found it by swapping it with the fog light relay. My fog lights started acting up and the AC started working fine. So check relays too. Start from the cheaper, simpler things then move on to the complex. I'd leave the starter for last. It's not easy to replace, access down there is terrible.

[19eddies]

I had the same issue with mine and after 7 hours of diagnosing it turned out to be the neutral safety switch. Replaced that and problem solved

[vanuatoo]

Today it failed to start multiple times. With the hood closed I hear that when you try to crank, one loud click is heard from underneath the engine but it does not start.

I tried one trick after 20 times of starting it, don't know if it's coincidence or not. I slightly moved the shift lever from P towards R and then when I cranked it started immediately.

 

Could it be again any of: Ignition switch, neutral safety switch or starter? Or we can eliminate some from the list?

[Slartibartfast]

I would think the loud click is the starter engaging but not starting, which would point to the starter itself--but, yeah, starting right up when you wiggle the shifter sounds like a neutral safety switch issue. I would check whether you get the same click if you try to start it in gear, and see if the same wiggle trick works the next time it acts up.

 

I had an intermittent no start/weak start issue with mine for a while that turned out to be wiring between the switch and the starter (old alarm system). I never would've expected a bad connection there to cause slow starts, but none of the other stuff I replaced fixed it, and it hasn't acted up once since I got the old alarm out of there.

[vanuatoo]

After that incident, I looked at the fusebox under the hood and wiggled NP Relay, wanted to take out, but it's fighting me, did not force. I pressed on relay just to make sure it's seated properly. I have not done anything else. 

 

Car started 4 times after that on the first try, without any problem.

Really confused what it could be.

[Slartibartfast]

Intermittent issues are always a PITA to track down! And then when you fix it, you're left wondering if you actually fixed it, or if it's just off the fritz for now.