00 QX4 Not starting

[cjsmith0703]

Hey. Last week I bought a 2000 QX4 from a friend. I’ve drove it since then. This morning, I went out to crack it up and nothing happened. The lights/gauges came on when I turned key over, but when I kept turning the key, nothing happened. No noise, nothing. What should I check? Thanks

[PapaSmurf2k3]

A jump start would rule out any battery issues. If you hook the cables up and it still doesn't start, its most likely your starter that has gone bad.

[cjsmith0703]

I hooked up my multimeter when I got in from work today. Battery showed 12.3v . From what I know, it should at least be 12.6, right? Thinking about just going to get new battery tomorrow. Every time I’ve had a starter problem, it’s alwats clicked. This is giving no noise. I noticed the displays were dimmed today too.

[QX4ME]

12.3V battery is not necessarily bad until its load test indicates so.

[cjsmith0703]

Ok thanks. I’m going to take it in the morning to get tested

[PapaSmurf2k3]

12.3V battery is not necessarily bad until its load test indicates so.

Bingo.
Also, make sure your terminals and cables aren't corroded or anything.

[AlanAZ]

I don't know the differences between a '03 and a '00, but a failed starter relay would give those symptoms.

[cjsmith0703]

I went and got a new battery first thing this morning. Put it in but still no luck getting it cranked. Lights came on and all gages, but still no noise when I tried to turn it over. Only noise I heard was a clicking in the dash when I turned the key. Any other ideas of what it could be?

[QX4ME]

I think battery + terminal has two wiring cables, one goes to starter through a fusible link(?) the other goes to rest of other things. Have you checked the fusible link see if it's open? My next guess is the bad starter or bad starter connection.

[cjsmith0703]

Where is the starter relay located? I tapped the starter with hammer and it did not help anything.

[QX4ME]

Somewhere in this forum you can find factory service manual (FSM?). It should help you a lot. Could starter relay be under the hood in one of the fuse boxes? Or could it be the relay you said you can hear behind the dash when you turned the key?

[AlanAZ]

On an '03, the starter relay is a relay box on passenger side behind battery. If you hear a click there, the relay is good. No clicks, the relay could be bad.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Most likely the starter itself.
Did the battery actually test bad and that's why you replaced it?
Here's FSMs:
www.nicoclub.com/fsm

[cjsmith0703]

The guy at Auto part store said the battery was swelling pretty bad so I went ahead and got one. The relay must be different in the 00. I’m not seeing it anywhere in the fuse box behind battery. No click noise there. It’s coming from the one inside the car

[cjsmith0703]

http://s1274.photobucket.com/user/cjsmi ... 9.jpg.html

Hopefully that link worked. Could it be the terminals? They are pretty disgusting. Battery has power though as it turns everything on, just does nothing when I turn key

[QX4ME]

If the pictured terminals are what you have now, that is so terrible. 12V will drop a lot t the starter side due to the high contact resistance. All other electrical stuff take much lower current so they are okay. Treat both terminals and cable clamp (so called?) with battery terminal brush, put them all the way down to maximize the contact area, screw them on tight, and coat them with vaseline or special terminal spray to prevent corrosion.

Hope the starter is good.

[cjsmith0703]

I just did that. I cleaned the mess out of them. Still turned the inside stuff on but no crank, just the clicking. I may be taking off the starter and taking it to get tested. That just looks like such a pain

[04pathse]

maybe try applying power directly to the starter before removing it to see if it will crank.

[cjsmith0703]

How would I do that on this car? Starter is located underneath and not really easily accessible

[cjsmith0703]

I rememeber that the service engine light was on before I parked it. Would it benefit to buy computer to pull codes? Will it still read it without cranking? If so that would help greatly bc I really don’t want to keep spending on parts

[cjsmith0703]

Does anyone know what the relays are above the fuses in the cabin box? I’ve figured that is where clicking is but I cannot seem to find any diagram to let me know what those relays are for.

[04pathse]

I rememeber that the service engine light was on before I parked it. Would it benefit to buy computer to pull codes? Will it still read it without cranking? If so that would help greatly bc I really don’t want to keep spending on parts

Yes, definitely get the code or codes that present, you do not need to be able to crank, just need to turn ignition key to "run" to get the codes.

[04pathse]

Does anyone know what the relays are above the fuses in the cabin box? I’ve figured that is where clicking is but I cannot seem to find any diagram to let me know what those relays are for.

The clicking you are hearing is most likely the "ignition" relay

page EL-341 is engine, bay page EL-342 is cabin

http://www.nicoclub.com/service-manual?fsm=QX4/2000/EL

[cjsmith0703]

Thanks. I was having trouble finding that and the FSM was a huge help. I will check that out. Is it possible to check with multi meter?

[cjsmith0703]

Have not had much time to mess with it today. I did get code reader and it read P-1605 that comes up transmission communication I think? I can hear fuel pump but nothing else. I felt the relays and the accessory relay was the one that was clicking. I could hold it while turning key and felt. The others did nothing I think.

From a quick glance of web, does not look like the p1605 code should not keep it from running

[cjsmith0703]

SOLVED!!! So I posted earlier about pulling code and getting P-1605. After that I decided to just brave the cold and go check the a/t fuse. I checked it yesterday but it was not blown. I just decided to switch that 10a fuse anyways since I had some extras. Car cranked right up after that! Hopefully that’s it and there will not be anything else. It’s a 2000 with 240 Miles so will prob be back soon hahha

[04pathse]

Did you say you checked all the fuses in the cabin fuse box?

This person had a similar issue but on a 2000 Frontier which are very similar to the Pathfinder and QX4 and it turned out to be a blown Engine Control Fuse (10Amp). He was also getting the P1605 code.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bqiFsv_Q7E