2009 Nissan Rogue starting trouble (with video)

[maverick_rogue]

My 2009 Nissan Rogue is giving me starting trouble these days. Previously I used to think of them as vapor locks issue (I know they are rare on Fuel Injection but....) but looks like something else is going on here.

Last Monday, when I tried to start it at a mall, It did not make any noise initially (dashboard lights were on) but latter while it did make ignition motor sound but did not start. After a few minutes I tried again and it worked. Here is the video of the first incidence.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20RCuvIzlRA

I had the dealership take a look at it. Well , they could not find or duplicate the issue.

Again I had trouble this Saturday (again at a mall) . This time it did make some clicking noise but did not start at all. Initially electirc accesories (fan etc ) were working but latter they dimmed and stopped completely.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGuspp9uWI4


I had to call AAA .The tow truck guy gave it a boost and it worked fine afterwards.

I did check battery fluid level and it looks fine. While the vehicle was stopped it wasnt using any power, all instruments were off.

What could be going wrong here? Do I need to make another trip to dealer before it gets worst? Will appreciate your inputs here.

[casperfun]

Early this year I had the same problem only from the 1 minute mark and forward in the first video. I had to crank it a dozen times at the same time as I was giving it gas trying to start the engine. Just happen on one day and I was pretty disgusted that it was doing this at the time.

Eventually it started.

I know I change the oil around that time but I don't believe it's related.

Mine did not sound silent like the beginning of your video but I did hear the starter each time I turned the key.

Seems yours is more serious and happens more frequently. The video helps us understand too.

I don't know why mine didn't work at the time.

[TaiLuu]

Spark or fuel.
Hear if Fuel pump primes when you turn the car to ON.
And disconnect Fuel Injectors and get a working spark plug
put the working spark plug in coil and crank your car to see if it sparks.

[kerrton]

Tailuu speaks the truth, good advice for your service tech's who don't seem familiar with some of these basics principles! But, to give them the benefit of the doubt, perhaps they checked these things and the intermittent problem didn't present itself to them.

How often is your car doing this? If it occurs regularly I'd take it back to the dealer and tell them to keep it until they can diagnose the problem.

[maverick_rogue]

Thanks for your responses. The dealer called Nissan Techline...It appears to be a NATS communication issue.They found the battery was dead and have also replaced the battery in goodwill..

[kerrton]

Glad to hear you've got your problem solved! I'm not exactly sure what a "NATS communication issue" is, any idea specifically? Thanks.

[maverick_rogue]

Hi Kerrton, What they told me is , Nissan Anti Theft System (NATS in short) validates a key before allowing it to start the car, and in my case that might have been the issue. Per Nissan, my duplicate key (the second key that I received when I bought the car) isnt communicating well. Though they could not duplicate the issue and this diagnosis is just a theory as of now. Also they found that somehow my battery wasnt original Nissan (I have no idea who swapped it) and they thought it might be possibility # 2 so they have replaced it as well just in case.