1997 Pathfinder SE Won't start, but does buzz?

[ArcherV20]

I have a 1997 Nissan Pathfinder and just today it started to act up. Here's the situation.

My Dad went to the bank in the truck, did his bank stuff, came back out car wouldn't start. I drive out to pick him up - and by that time, the truck had for some reason decided to start running again and he drove it home.

Finally got it home, turned it off, tried to start it again. And nothing. Hooked it up to the battery charger, and nothing. It doesn't turn, or make any noise to suggest its trying to crank, it doesn't make any clicking noises either..Also the lights, radio, interior lamps, gauge lights, still work.

The weirdest part, is that when I turn the car to the ON position, even before trying to turn the car over, there is a buzzing noise - imagine one of those electrically locked apartment buzzer doors. The buzzing is coming from the driver side of the engine bay, near the firewall. I don't know what it means any help would be appreciated.

[AZhitman]

Hmmm.

Almost sounds like a bad starter solenoid, but I'll let those with more experience chime in.

[elwesso]

i would suspect a starter relay before a solenoid especially if you hear a buzzing like that.... maybe?

[ikhaffaji]

I have a 1997 Nissan Pathfinder and just today it started to act up. Here's the situation.

My Dad went to the bank in the truck, did his bank stuff, came back out car wouldn't start. I drive out to pick him up - and by that time, the truck had for some reason decided to start running again and he drove it home.

Finally got it home, turned it off, tried to start it again. And nothing. Hooked it up to the battery charger, and nothing. It doesn't turn, or make any noise to suggest its trying to crank, it doesn't make any clicking noises either..Also the lights, radio, interior lamps, gauge lights, still work.

The weirdest part, is that when I turn the car to the ON position, even before trying to turn the car over, there is a buzzing noise - imagine one of those electrically locked apartment buzzer doors. The buzzing is coming from the driver side of the engine bay, near the firewall. I don't know what it means any help would be appreciated.

hey! funny thing, i had the same exact problem with my '96 nissan pathy, xe just the other day. after 2 hours of inspections to the car hoping that it wasn't the starter or anything too complex, i thought about the fuses. so check the fuses to the left of the steering wheel, and change the burnt ones, and while doing this clean the connector area of the fuse for debris. do the same to the fuse box in the engine bay as well. this should work, i started my pathy within one try after doing this. hasn't acted up since. hope to have helped ya!

[ArcherV20]

I'll check for any blown fuses. Thanks, my dad is sending the car to the shop tomorrow to replace the entire starter - is this a bad idea? It's costing him about $480CDN to replace the starter. Or is this just a part of the starter that needs to replaced? Sorry I don't know too much about ignition systems.

[AZhitman]

Although that sounds like a lot of money, it's about right for a replacement starter.

If it was something he (or you) didn't mind tackling at home, it'd save some $$$, but I bet a replacement starter would still be around $300.

[ArcherV20]

Thanks for the speedy response AZHitman.