2001 Pathfinder LE

tptmk · Post by **tptmk** » Mon Mar 17, 2014 11:20 am

18 months ago we had an issue with my Pathfinder starting. We put the key in, turned it to auxiliary then turned key to crank....nothing. No clicking like the starter was going bad, no dimming of the lights. The radio, air conditioner EVERYTHING running as directed just as if we were still in auxiliary. After a few tries or some time it cranked up with no problems. MONTHS have gone by with it never doing it again. Last month it started again. This time more frequent. You could count on it starting EVENTUALLY. While driving it this weekend, after it had cranked and been running off and on for more than two hours it just died. No spit, no sputter, lights fine, radio on, air conditioner running. Lights on dash came on and steering went out....DEAD. Pulling over, tried cranking it...it started momentarily until put in drive and driven approximately 10 feet then DEAD. We left her sitting for about 1 1/2 hours, went back and she cranked right up. I moved her to a more secure location about 2 miles away with no problem. We left her there for approximately 24 hours and wanted to get her home. She cranked right up and made the 15 mile trek home without incident. Any ideas on this? There is 3/4 tank of gas in it now. No rhyme nor reason as to why it will or won't crank but now am worried about being stranded. Someone suggested fuel pump but if that were the case when turning it from auxiliary to the cranking position cause the starter to click? It is dead silent. No difference between turning the key from Aux to crank. Any suggestion is appreciated!

Post by **yngw13** » Mon Mar 17, 2014 11:45 am

just asking a question here...not guessing as to cause

when was the last time the distributor / rotor was changed?

fleurys · Post by **fleurys** » Mon Mar 17, 2014 12:13 pm

I would think it has something to do with your ignition key switch.... It would kind of make sense according to how you described... or even you key transmitter... If you have another key, try a few month with the second one and see if it comes back...

S.

tptmk · Post by **tptmk** » Mon Mar 17, 2014 2:03 pm

As far as the distributor goes I have no idea. I have a mechanic friend that takes care of all that and I just take it to him when it is something I can't do....which is a lot. I just wanted to hear some ideas. I only have one key and would have thought (and did) it was the key but why would it happen while driving?

Post by **atraudes** » Mon Mar 17, 2014 4:03 pm

This definitely sounds like an electrical problem, or some coincidental combination of other issues. If it were the any one component like the ignition system, starter, fuel pump, etc, I would expect it to crank but not start, keep running and not die...

I think fleurvs is on the right track. I could see a loose wire on On and/or Start to give you problems like this. It's possible that while you were driving the On wire disconnected just long enough to kill the engine. Is it possible someone tried to hotwire it and goofed it up? Maybe pull off the cover and see if someone was monkeying with it some night that you left the doors accidentally unlocked. ;-)

My second guess is an EMP. Just saying.

Post by **Buzzman** » Mon Mar 17, 2014 5:55 pm

yngw13 wrote:just asking a question here...not guessing as to cause

when was the last time the distributor / rotor was changed?

FYI, if it's a 2001 with the 3.5 engine, then it doesn't have a distributor or rotor or points or plug wires.

tptmk · Post by **tptmk** » Mon Mar 17, 2014 6:28 pm

Thanks! I will look into it....it isn't the 3.5 have had plugs and wires replaced recently

Post by **Towncivilian** » Tue Mar 18, 2014 6:30 am

tptmk wrote:Thanks! I will look into it....it isn't the 3.5 have had plugs and wires replaced recently

Where do you live? In most places a 2001 has the 3.5L engine.

Post by **Buzzman** » Tue Mar 18, 2014 4:29 pm

tptmk wrote:Thanks! I will look into it....it isn't the 3.5 have had plugs and wires replaced recently

Can't be a 2001 then.
What is the build date on the door jam?

tptmk · Post by **tptmk** » Wed Mar 19, 2014 3:38 pm

it's the switch....thanks for all the input!

Post by **Buzzman** » Wed Mar 19, 2014 3:59 pm

tptmk wrote:it's the switch....thanks for all the input!

More details. We're all curious.
Also, any clarification on the build date?
Thanks.

Post by **artemny** » Fri Mar 21, 2014 8:30 am

tptmk wrote:18 months ago we had an issue with my Pathfinder starting. We put the key in, turned it to auxiliary then turned key to crank....nothing. No clicking like the starter was going bad, no dimming of the lights. The radio, air conditioner EVERYTHING running as directed just as if we were still in auxiliary. After a few tries or some time it cranked up with no problems. MONTHS have gone by with it never doing it again. Last month it started again. This time more frequent. You could count on it starting EVENTUALLY. While driving it this weekend, after it had cranked and been running off and on for more than two hours it just died. No spit, no sputter, lights fine, radio on, air conditioner running. Lights on dash came on and steering went out....DEAD. Pulling over, tried cranking it...it started momentarily until put in drive and driven approximately 10 feet then DEAD. We left her sitting for about 1 1/2 hours, went back and she cranked right up. I moved her to a more secure location about 2 miles away with no problem. We left her there for approximately 24 hours and wanted to get her home. She cranked right up and made the 15 mile trek home without incident. Any ideas on this? There is 3/4 tank of gas in it now. No rhyme nor reason as to why it will or won't crank but now am worried about being stranded. Someone suggested fuel pump but if that were the case when turning it from auxiliary to the cranking position cause the starter to click? It is dead silent. No difference between turning the key from Aux to crank. Any suggestion is appreciated!

fleurys is right. It's a key switch.
I had the very same problem, but not as bad.
Got to my shop my mechanic got it really fast without even looking at the car, just from my words.
Easy to fix. But it doesn't bother me yet.

Post by **pyrophilus** » Sat Mar 22, 2014 6:33 am

I remember when I had my 2001 le, two 2001 le owners approached me reg same prob. One had no crank, and one didnt have anything, not even aux.

Both had crapload of keys attached to the car key. My service advisor Ray told me that he had seen a couple, and they ALL had heavy objects on their keys.

My 2001 was fine, but my 2005 had a no start problem. It turned out to be a relay jn the IPDM. I switched around relays to get it to start, but noticed few were bad, so I replaced the entire IPDM by myself. Car ran fne without problems frlm 27k to 116kuntil transmission decided not to go into reverse few months back.

2001 Pathfinder LE

2001 Pathfinder LE

Re: 2001 Pathfinder LE

Re: 2001 Pathfinder LE

Re: 2001 Pathfinder LE

Re: 2001 Pathfinder LE

Re: 2001 Pathfinder LE

Re: 2001 Pathfinder LE

Re: 2001 Pathfinder LE

Re: 2001 Pathfinder LE

Re: 2001 Pathfinder LE

Re: 2001 Pathfinder LE

Re: 2001 Pathfinder LE

Re: 2001 Pathfinder LE

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