Long story, but car won't start

[rxf610]

I got a free 1995 pathfinder, but the catch is it doesn't run. Story behind it.

One morning the old owner woke up to the alarm sounding. He was in a hurry, so he figured the battery would die and it would stop. Came home replaced battery, nothing. I towed it home and could only get the alarm to come back on, but not start. I bought a new aftermarket alarm. I installed it and got dash power and every accessory, but now when I try and start it I hear a clicking from inside the automatic tranny when the key gets to the "on" position, and then it barely turns. I think the alarm going off burnt something up. The passenger side lights don't work. I tried 2 batteries and had the starter checked. I am so lost as to what to try. If anything like this has happened to anyone else or if someone has a suggestion, let me know. I checked all fuses and tried the check relay in all the relays.

[88pathoffroad]

To eliminate simple inline ignition wire shorts as a problem, you can spark the starter manually from the + terminal to the solenoid to get it to start without going through any switches or relays beforehand. As long as the key is turned on, that is. Your problem sounds like a toughie, it'll take some looking in to.

[jj big shoe]

Are you sure the previous owner just let the battery die or did he start pulling at wires to try and get the alarm to shut off? I know I'm like a broken record, but the passenger lights' wiring is right by all the fusible links. He might have ripped something loose. Check the Garage Section under Old Topics. There's a Factory Service Manual for a '94 there that might help.

Good luck.

[TrailChaser]

I'm with 88.

 

The ignition has been a problem with my pathy for a while. I wired the trigger wire to a start button that I put on the dash when my ignition went out. Now I have to turn the key to on.(If I turn it all the way like I'm trying to start it nuthing happens.) With the key in the "on" position I push the button and it engages the starter. When it starts I let go and drive.

 

All you have to do to see if this is your rig's problem is... Find the starter. It's on the passenger side below the oil filter.(great place for it.) Find the single wire comming off the starter.(not the oil pressure wire) When you find it unplug it. Now run a wire from the pos (+) terminal of your battery to the starter side of that disconnected wire.

 

If the battery and starter are both good the engine will turn over no matter what gear it's in, what the computer is doing, the key can even be turned off and the engine will turn over. (so be careful and watch your hands/arms/tools)

 

Hopes this helps a little.

[ILoveMyPatty]

My alarm made it so my Pathy wouldn't start.

I was messing with the switch under the dash, at school.. making it chirp at people walking by. What I didn't know is that the switch I was messing with was to set the alarm to different settings. Long story short, a new starter was put in, but didn't fix the problem. But, me pulling the fuse out of the alarm fixed it. I had to compression start it for several days.

 

I dono if that would be the problem?

[rxf610]

I couldn't get the old alarm to turn off, so I bought a new one and just used the old wiring harness. I will try the manual start. I know the starter is good as i just had it checked at an auto parts store. It sounds like when I put the key to start, the starter moves ever so slowly. I know it is actually moving, because the fan moves and the rotor spins a little, but not enough to start the car. When I watched them test it though it spun faster than the new motor, so it isn't the actual motor or solenoid. Just trying to get a guess on where to start.

[fordsho90]

look under your dash for a switch might be toggle or a push button switch it is an override for just this purpose and other alsomost place install put this override switch in.and if there isnt one fid your wiring harnees and look for a wire tied in....it will be kinda obviou cause it will look out of place should be red or yellow disconnect cap and it will bypass your alarm.....and if you cant find it see if you can bumpstart and taske it to bestbuy where they do installs and give the kid in back 50.00 and let him do the work for ya

[Guest BLKPATHY95]

This may not seem pertinent but I ripped out the whole friggin alarm box from under the drivers seat because the alarm would go off if you sneezed too hard. Have no complaints now. Do you really need the alarm? I hate them.

[rxf610]

To eliminate simple inline ignition wire shorts as a problem, you can spark the starter manually from the + terminal to the solenoid to get it to start without going through any switches or relays beforehand. As long as the key is turned on, that is. Your problem sounds like a toughie, it'll take some looking in to.

I guess it is inline. Thanks 88. I hit it with a 12v from the battery to the starter switch and it kicked over. It doesn't have much gas, so it wouldn't "start", but I either need to find the problem of the wiring, or make my own start switch. What do you all think?