2010 M35x w/ 71k - Car intermittently won’t start, doesn’t go past accessory mode

[bgreen]

My girl called me a couple hours ago saying the vehicle wouldn't start. It would cycle through OFF/ACC/ON but would never turn over. No clicks no anything. I thought maybe the key was just too far from the ignition to pick up so I instructed her to insert the FOB into the base and try again. It worked. She drove the car home no issues no warning lights.

I get home, I go to start the car...nothing. Same deal, OFF/ACC/ON. I try the FOB trick earlier and still no avail. I keep seeing the "Depress Brake Pedal" instructions on the dash so I immediately start thinking the brake stop lamp switch.

I disconnect the plug. Plug it back in. Nothing. I disconnect the plug and actually remember the sensor this time. Making sure it wasn't dirty or what not. Reinsert it, plug it back up. Nothing.

Now a quick research trip showed me that Nissan push to starts around this time were very finicky. Those situations also told me that an easy way to make sure its the switch is to check the brake lights. A faulty switch would render the brake lights faulty as well. I stepped on the brakes with everything as is. The misses said they were working.
I disconnected the pigtail and stepped on the brakes and she said they were working. Finally, I took out the sensor and stepped on the brakes and she said they were working. Now either Nissan has some safe guard in place for the brake lights to still work...or my girl is completely crazy and needs her eyes checked.

Any other tips on diagnosing this issue?

In regards to recent work done on the vehicle, I replaced my front drive shaft Thursday night. Don't get the cross over but anythings possible. Thank you.

[bgreen]

UPDATE
to clear my girl's name. I went out there and recorded me stepping on the brakes and they indeed were lighting up. I don't know if this validates the bad switch theory or not.

[EdBwoy]

Lol, are you disconnecting the correct sensor? There are 2 down there.

[EdBwoy]

I came across a previous thread of yours here. Mind telling us what came of that situation?
2010-m35x-brake-issue-t615231.html

[bgreen]

UPDATE
swapped battery in FOB with a new one. Nothing
swapped stop lamp sensor. Nothing

[bgreen]

I came across a previous thread of yours here. Mind telling us what came of that situation?
2010-m35x-brake-issue-t615231.html

master cylinder.

[bgreen]

Lol, are you disconnecting the correct sensor? There are 2 down there.

Yea..i'm stupid. Went down there when I got the new sensor. Realized I was disconnecting the wrong one the whole time. After the swap nothing changed. Still won't start.

[EdBwoy]

I think I saw a couple of threads where the guys had security module issues that needed replaced. Gonna look later

EDIT: post6735348.html?hilit=ikey#p6735348

Do you have any lights on in your instrument cluster?

[bgreen]

I think I saw a couple of threads where the guys had security module issues that needed replaced. Gonna look later

EDIT: post6735348.html?hilit=ikey#p6735348

Do you have any lights on in your instrument cluster?

im getting all the normal lights..nothing is appearing out of the norm. which is whats weird to me. Tomorrow I'm going to start with the battery and go from there.

[bgreen]

also i'm hearing no starter clicks or any associated noise.

[bgreen]

UPDATE
Went out this morning. treated it like a regular startup. no fob in base or anything and it started asap with no issue. Let it run for a little to see if any lights would pop up on the cluster...and nothing. Shut off and tried it again and guess what? It started no problem once again. Took the battery out, brought it to advanced to test it. It tested good. I noticed there was some corrosion so I cleaned it up put some dielectric grease on the terminals. It started right back up multiple times. I'm lost and don't want to get stranded in the upcoming future

[bgreen]

Update.
After a full two days of starting and running with no issues. I went out to the car today and you guessed it. Same problem. This is a video of what I’m experiencing.
https://streamable.com/qjy6f

[bgreen]

[Topic Merged by Moderator]

https://streamable.com/qjy6f

Update from the previous thread.
SUNDAY 10/22
-Car wouldn’t start-would only go into accessory mode.
-After about an hour of failed attempts put the fob in the base and it started. Drove it home and it sat there.
-replaced stop lamp switch, came to the conclusion that it wasn’t responsible. (Brake lights functioned the whole time)
-replaced battery in FOB
MONDAY 10/23
-day after all the troubleshooting, car started fine. Multiple times no issue.
-removed the battery to get it bench tested.
-battery tested good
-cleaned up corroded terminals on battery and connectors on harness
-car started up multiple times no problem after reinstalling battery.
TUESDAY 10/24
-car started fine drove to and from Work all’s good
WEDNESDAY 10/25
-went to start the car this morning. Would not start. Symptoms are identical to what I was experiencing Sunday.

No previous or recent work was done on the vehicle as of lately other than a front driveshaft replacement.

[Ilya]

Hmm, my guess definitely have been the battery but you said it tested fine. How old is it though? If it's 4-5 years old, I'd still replace it for insurance.

Also, I merged your threads...no need to have the same issue in two threads.

[bgreen]

Hmm, my guess definitely have been the battery but you said it tested fine. How old is it though? If it's 4-5 years old, I'd still replace it for insurance.

Also, I merged your threads...no need to have the same issue in two threads.

Sorry I wanted to change the topic title..due to it no longer being a stop lamp issue...and I didn’t see an option for it. Thanks.

[EdBwoy]

Understandable.
I didn't see your second thread. What did you have it titled, or rather what do you want this titled to get the correct attention to it?

Car intermittently won't start, doesn't go past accessory mode?

Although at first you said the brakes still come on after pulling the switch? Or did you clarify that they worked as expected when you pulled the other switch?

[bgreen]

Understandable.
I didn't see your second thread. What did you have it titled, or rather what do you want this titled to get the correct attention to it?

Car intermittently won't start, doesn't go past accessory mode?

Although at first you said the brakes still come on after pulling the switch? Or did you clarify that they worked as expected when you pulled the other switch?

Car intermittently won’t start, doesn’t go past accessory mode- works great for a new title.

And yea I was pulling out the wrong switch. After swapping with new switch car still wouldn’t start so I’m eliminating the stop lamp switch.

[Ilya]

Hmm, my guess definitely have been the battery but you said it tested fine. How old is it though? If it's 4-5 years old, I'd still replace it for insurance.

Also, I merged your threads...no need to have the same issue in two threads.

Sorry I wanted to change the topic title..due to it no longer being a stop lamp issue...and I didn’t see an option for it. Thanks.

Understood. We'll take care of the new title now. Sorry bout that and thanks for understanding.

[EdBwoy]

I suppose you don't have any other key fobs to try using?

[bgreen]

I suppose you don't have any other key fobs to try using?

Unfortunately no. Let me ask you this. If I attempt to jump it and it starts fine...does this rule out the starter in theory? And puts the onus on the battery?

[EdBwoy]

Yes, that is what I would be leaning to. Batteries sometimes don't die a nice, clean death. If they start acting goofy and they're around the magical age as Ilya mentioned above, most on the forum recommend you just replace it.

[bgreen]

Yes, that is what I would be leaning to. Batteries sometimes don't die a nice, clean death. If they start acting goofy and they're around the magical age as Ilya mentioned above, most on the forum recommend you just replace it.

Havent done much with the car as of late, weather has sucked. If it clears tomorrow the plan is to jack it up and smack the starter around while attempting to start to further confirm the starter as being the culprit.

I've scoured the net for any tips/howtos/guides on starter removal on awd 06-2010 m's and I found nothing. The fsm points me to removing the steering column nut is this really necessary?

[EdBwoy]

I haven't dealt with the V6 starter, but in my comment I did not mean that the starter is suspect. I meant that I would be looking at getting a new battery.

But let's back up. When you said you jump it and it starts fine, were you referring to the car battery or the starter? If you were referring to jumpstarting the car, then I still think a different battery would be the next step.

[bgreen]

I haven't dealt with the V6 starter, but in my comment I did not mean that the starter is suspect. I meant that I would be looking at getting a new battery.

But let's back up. When you said you jump it and it starts fine, were you referring to the car battery or the starter? If you were referring to jumpstarting the car, then I still think a different battery would be the next step.

UPDATE 11/2

Purchased and installed new battery as of 11/1. Car started fine after install. Let it run for about 10 minutes then shut it off. Later in the day attempted to start again and the car started. Great. Today in the morning I go out to start the car and once again it starts. I get off work around 8:30pm go to start the car. Does not start. I'm extremely confused now. The car didn't start for about 5 days straight until I jumped it and it started immediately. This made me think it was the battery. My worry is even if I do the "tap" test on the starter while attempting to start and I get a response from the starter. What if I swap it and two days later this starts again....all out of ideas

[bgreen]

UPDATE...
Decided to wash my hands with the car and just let the dealer deal with it. I go to jump the car yesterday and nothing...brand new battery and no start. So I couldn’t even bring it to the dealer.

[EdBwoy]

Man, sorry it had to come to this. We do try to do as much as we can with the tools and knowledge at our disposal, but every once in a while we encounter a fence that this horse can't jump.

Thanks and please keep us updated with what the dealer says.

[Chill615]

Did you get any updates from the dealer?. My car has been having the same issues as you.

[Findmorefire]

Check and clean terminals
Check battery voltage
Check battery voltage charge from alternator
whe car is running.

I had a bad oil leak and it saturated alternator to fail killed battery. Battery held a charge and after replacing alternator vehicle stared right up.
Now I got to find oil leak.

[Luckylowkey]

UPDATE...
Decided to wash my hands with the car and just let the dealer deal with it. I go to jump the car yesterday and nothing...brand new battery and no start. So I couldn’t even bring it to the dealer.

So bgreen did you find out what the problem was because I'm having the same issue.

[Chill615]

I was having this problem a few months ago and took mine to the dealer. They came to the conclusion that my intelligent cruise control shorted out on me and I needed a new ECU and have my keys reprogrammed. So 3k later I'm back on the road at least and everything seems fine but I don't have cruise control anymore. That would've been another 3k.