Car not starting but cranking

[sgupta]

Hi,

I have a 10-yr old nissan sentra 97 GXE with 111 K miles on it. So, far it has worked great for the past 3 years without any problems, but it just died couple of weeks back with the Check Engine Light on without giving any warnings.

I found the error code for Check engine light and it throws P0400 for EGR sensor malfunction or clogged valve. The CEL was ON for couple of weeks before that but the car didn't gave any problems.

I have tried to jump start the car battery using a friend's car but its still not starting. When I turn on the ignition, I hear a slight whirr sound and as I try to turn on the car, it never starts.

I read on the forum that it might be a cause of bad fuel pump or starter but I'm not sure where to start looking. I have checked the fuse box for fuel pump, starter and it looks fine.

Any help will be great.

thanks.

[RED_DET]

Need to figure out if you are getting any spark or fuel. Engine needs those two ingredients along with air to run.

[sgupta]

Thanks for replying but how do we figure this out ?

[BOLricoNY]

that whirr sound could be that the teeth on the starter gear or the fly wheel are ginded down or missing, where is the sound coming from?

[sgupta]

If I open my driver side door and try to judge the sound, it comes for a around 3-4 second from the base of the car (as if fuel is flowing from the tank to the filter) and then goes away.

[ABNRML4U]

I wish you the best of Luck I wish I had a answer for you. You might want to get a "free estimate" on what it is at a auto shop.

[TomTrout]

SG,

I have a 99 GXE 1.6 engine with 193,000 + miles on it. I got the car with 40,000 in 02. I'll have the same problem. After about 24,000 miles the car will just shut down. Once while going about 80 on the highway. She'll crank but won't start. Changing the distributer cap and rotor and she'll start right back up. I always have a set in the trunk now.

hope this helps Tom