2009 Rogue Randomly Won't Start

[EricBss7]

So I'll start this from the beginning just so nothing is left out. My wife has a 2009 Rogue with 30k miles. A few months ago the car randomly wouldn't start from time to time. No crank or anything. Had the battery tested at Advance Auto Parts (original Nissan battery) and it was declared bad. Replaced it (with one from AAP). Few months go by and it's fine. Then about a week ago the Service Engine Soon light comes on. I read the code with my tool and it's an Evap leak. I had this problem with my own Rogue a couple years ago, and pinpointed the problem to the commonly failing vent control valve. Bought one, replaced it, cleared the code, and all is well.

Then a few days ago she goes to start the car and nothing. No crank on the first try (lights but nothing else). Tries starting again, and it's cranking (very low RPM, basically stuttering trying to start), but can't get going. Tries another 4-5 times nothing. Then finally it starts up. No SES light or anything. Then for the next few times driving it starts up fine on the first try. Then randomly the same thing happens again where it's dead on the first try, then takes about 5-10 tries to get it going. I read that the car can sometimes have a tough time picking up on the chip in the key, which could cause starting problems, so I swapped it out with the spare but the problem still occurs.

It seems like it's getting enough juice from the battery, but maybe it's not getting enough fuel. I know there's ways to check, but I'm not really up to speed on how. Has anyone had a problem like this? Thanks.

[Yev]

Hi, EricBss7. Have you checked your battery terminals for corrosion? Also, try running your wife's Rogue solely on the alternator. If the alternator is good, your car will run without a problem. If it's seen better days, your car won't be able to power all the accessories and your engine will shut off. Also, check your intelligent key fuse. Although highly unlikely, the fuse may somehow be causing electric shortages. I should add that it would be helpful if you disclosed information regarding the weather and altitude in your area. If it's really cold or the air is thin due to high altitude, I wouldn't be completely surprised. However, if the weather and altitude are average, that's something else. Last, but not least, have a mechanic check your starter. If all fails, consult a Nissan mechanic for further assistance...

[EricBss7]

Hi, EricBss7. Have you checked your battery terminals for corrosion? Also, try running your wife's Rogue solely on the alternator. If the alternator is good, your car will run without a problem. If it's seen better days, your car won't be able to power all the accessories and your engine will shut off. Also, check your intelligent key fuse. Although highly unlikely, the fuse may somehow be causing electric shortages. I should add that it would be helpful if you disclosed information regarding the weather and altitude in your area. If it's really cold or the air is thin due to high altitude, I wouldn't be completely surprised. However, if the weather and altitude are average, that's something else. Last, but not least, have a mechanic check your starter. If all fails, consult a Nissan mechanic for further assistance...

Checked the battery terminals, no corrosion and they are on tight. Have not tried running it on the alternator yet, but with only 30k miles on the car, I find it hard to believe thats the problem. Also, I don't have an Intellikey, just a normal one with the alarm buttons on the key. I live in Connecticut, weather's been 50-70 lately. Here's a video of me trying to start the car (you probably need to turn up the volume), you can see at first I get nothing but lights. Then I get the car cranking to a low RPM (400-500). Finally for some reason I decided to open the door, and tried again and the car started up. I don't think it's related but still weird.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWRe57TS ... e=youtu.be

[ImStricken06]

take your shifter, go from P, to N, and then back to P - and it should start

[EricBss7]

take your shifter, go from P, to N, and then back to P - and it should start

Thanks for the advice. It always starts eventually, but this is a recurring problem that is really frustrating. Just trying to get to the bottom of the real cause.

[ImStricken06]

take your shifter, go from P, to N, and then back to P - and it should start

Thanks for the advice. It always starts eventually, but this is a recurring problem that is really frustrating. Just trying to get to the bottom of the real cause.

i know. but i too faced this issue just this weekend. i moved the shifter and it helped. this is a good test to see if this is where the problem is coming from.

its not your battery, as all your lights come on.

[EricBss7]

I remember I had seen a post in another forum (I forget where) about someone who was having problems with a kind of radio tag on their key chain interfering with the chip in their Nissan key. I have a tag like this on my key chain and am wondering if this is the problem. My question is whether or not the normal Nissan keys (not the Intellikeys) have a chip of some kind in them or something that could be interfered with? My key has buttons for unlocking/locking the doors and the alarm. Either way, I'll take the tag off my key chain and see how it goes for a few days.

[ImStricken06]

almost every key is chipped now a days. (buttons or not)

[Yev]

Hi, EricBss7. I watched your YouTube video and a few things came to mind:
- your fuel pump may be deteriorating
- you may need a new fuel filter
- consider checking spark plugs (although, I doubt that is the problem)
- your Rogue's ECU should be looked at

With regards to the fuel pump, I noticed in your video that your fuel gauge was showing the tank was 1/4 full. Try to avoid running low on gas, especially below the 1/4 line during the winter, as this may eventually burn-out the fuel pump. One other question, has your wife or yourself changed fuel stations? Sometimes, low grade gasoline can create starting issues....

[EricBss7]

Well it's been five days since I took the little radio keytag off my keychain. The car has started up every single time since then with no problem. It looks like the radio waves were somehow scrambling the transmission between my car key and the car, which made the car think that it was the wrong key, and thus wouldn't let the car start. So I feel comfortable now in saying that was the problem. How bizarre. I hope that anyone else this happens to figures out what the problem is before they take the car to a mechanic and pay to have parts replaced that don't need to be. What would make this problem hard to diagnose is the fact that when you go to a mechanic, you take your key off your keychain to give to them, so of course the car will start up fine for them. Hopefully they find this post or another one like it and save the trouble.

[rdub2k4]

That's good to hear man. You don't have to answer this next question, but what type of keytag did you have on your chain? Was it for work, or like one of the gas speed passes?

[EricBss7]

That's good to hear man. You don't have to answer this next question, but what type of keytag did you have on your chain? Was it for work, or like one of the gas speed passes?

It's for work. Basically just hold it over a little rectangle box and it unlocks the door. I'm sure a bunch of places use them. Here's a link to what it looks like.

http://smile.webshots.com/smiles/7b2f98 ... 50ed746e55