2004 Sentra not cranking.

[DizzyKitty]

Hello and thank you for taking the time to read this post. My aunt has a 2004 nissan sentra that is currently stuck at a Goodwill Parking lot. When you go to start the car, the accessories turn on, but the car will not crank when you turn the key. Instead, there is clicking coming from the relay box (black one, left side second one down. Think it is the ignition relay?) also, after you turn the key to start the car, all of the accessories turn off and wont come back on until you fiddle with the key a bit.

From what i understand, before i got around to looking at the car, she had her car jumped successfully up till she put the car into reverse to drive away. This happened a few times until it stopped responding to jumps entirely. The strange thing is, as it stands now, the battery is fine (seems fine as it powers all of the accessories, also i took it to autozone to test).

so, any opinions as to what it could be? Any advice as to how to get the car started so we can move it out the parking lot? Tomorrow morning i'm going to buy another relay, but i'm not entirely convinced that is the problem. I also suspected the neutral safety switch, but would that cause all of the symptoms that the car is having now? The last thing I suspect, is that there is a broken wire somewhere, but i am hoping that isn't the case.

Again, thanks for your opinion on the matter.

[Noxy]

Huh. So the car was starting after a jump, but would die when put in reverse? Is the car a 5-speed or an automatic? Which engine (QG or QR) or what model (1.8S or SE-R)?

It sounds like the relay is fine if it is clicking as you try and start. Generally, when you put the key to the 'start' position it doesn't let power to the accessories until it falls back to the 'on' position.

Both the starter being out and the neutral safety switch cause those symptoms. In a manual, when you don't depress the clutch pedal and engage the NSS (neutral safety switch), it won't try and crank the engine and all you'll hear is that relay click. If it's an auto, the NSS will be engaged with the car in park or neutral and allow you to start the car, but if those circuits are faulty then the ecu won't be grounded and it won't let the car start. Try starting the car in Neutral if you haven't tried that, and possibly have the starter tested.

As for the moving... If it's a manual try the old push start method or jumping the starter. Try testing the NSS with a multimeter if possible to see if it's working when depressed.

[DizzyKitty]

Thanks for the input. The car is a 1.8 i think. (not sure if they had a 1.6 that year or what) It is also an automatic. I will try to put it in neutral to see if it will start there, but i don't think it will.
Also, every so often the transmission will get locked into park and you have to stick something into the key hole on the trans to unlock it.(the hole next to the shifter). Would this be another indicator that it is the neutral safety switch?

[DizzyKitty]

Ok, so i fiddled with the car again before heading to work today. In neutral the car acts the exact same way. It did start though (in park) randomly, but again the engine shut off as soon as i put it in reverse. I have yet to get it to turn over again.

I do not own a multimeter, nor do i really know how to use one. Tomorrow i plan on moving it one way or another.

Just to recap, you think it could be either the starter or the NSS. Is there any way you think i could narrow it down further before i start replacing parts?

[Noxy]

Sorry,I was on the road all day yesterday. I'm thinking NSS more so than the starter, since it is able to start and run. Honestly, I'm drawing a blank on what could cause the kill on reverse. I guess I should have asked, but how is the AT fluid level? Here is the automatic transmission service manual:

http://www.nicoclub.com/FSM/Sentra/2004_Sentra/at.pdf

Theres a syptom matrix chart on page 84 which has possible causes for no start in Park or Neutral. On page 92 it troubleshoots the engine braking when put in R, or D.

I'll look though the FSM a bit more and see if anything else stands out.