car won't start

[superblackcoupe]

I'm having problems starting my car. If I step on the brake and push the button to start the car, it'll make the cranking noise, sputter, then completely die. No navigation screen, no lights, nothing.

If I repeat this process a few times, it'll eventually start but the car will be really rough - the car will shake like crazy, the gauges (fuel, tachometer, etc.) on the dash will be frozen for a few seconds.

I don't think it's a problem with the battery because everything works in [Acc] mode.

Ideas?

[mcheddadi]

does it go into failsafe mode? if not then could be just the alternator having issues or the starter motor.

maybe faulty battery?

do you get the SES light? or any lights at all on the dash?

[superblackcoupe]

I'm not sure what "fail-safe" mode is.

Like I mentioned in my original post, no lights - car is completely dead when I try to start it. It takes 3-4 tries to get it to start up.

[anthonyle2002]

Ya know what, the same thing happened to me a few months ago. I didn't think it was a dead battery either. I even had a tow truck give me a jump but it didn't help. So I had it towed to the dealer and they said it was a bad battery. Dead battery after 1 year. Riiiiiiight.

So I don't know what was wrong with my car but they fixed it.

[LongBeachCoupe]

When the engine DOES start, does it work properly? RPMS go above 2k?

Stupid questions but... Do you have aftermarket taillights or headlights? Screw with your dash cluster? Is there gas in the car?

[superblackcoupe]

When the engine DOES start, does it work properly? RPMS go above 2k?

Stupid questions but... Do you have aftermarket taillights or headlights? Screw with your dash cluster? Is there gas in the car?

I think it hovers around/under 2k but I'm not exactly sure, I'll have to double check tomorrow morning. I was paying more attention to the gauges on the dash being frozen when the engine decides to start up and the car shaking violently.

Car is completely stock, I just ordered some new wheels and springs the other day and I'm waiting for them to arrive. There's half a tank of gasoline left in the car.

Dead battery after 1 year. Riiiiiiight.

I've had this car since Halloween. That's what, seven months? Given all the problems I've had so far with this piece of crap I'm tempted to just dump it, take out a loan/get into massive debt and get a 370Z or a low-end G37.

So far, the car's always eventually started, so at least I won't have to get it towed all the way out towards Philadelphia.
Modified by superblackcoupe at 1:01 AM 6/1/2009

[Chuck2417]

Did you buy it new from a dealership or used??? I think this is something that your dealer or any Nissan dealer should be looking at. Maybe it's a faulty connection somewhere... I really don't even know where to start because I'm no mechanic. But have you taken it back to the dealership for them to have a look at it?

Ya 7 months is pretty bad for a battery to die, but sometimes you get a poor battery... Had the same problem with my civic (battery died after 1 year). Well if you took it to the dealership or will take it then let me know how it goes.

Goodluck with your car!Side note: I support the G37 or the 370!!!

[superblackcoupe]

Did you buy it new from a dealership or used??? I think this is something that your dealer or any Nissan dealer should be looking at. Maybe it's a faulty connection somewhere... I really don't even know where to start because I'm no mechanic. But have you taken it back to the dealership for them to have a look at it?

"New" - note the quotation marks. it came with 35 miles on it, I don't know if it was abused before I picked it up. My gut says that it probably was.

I was planning on calling in the morning to see if someone would be able to take a look at the car but I wanted to get some opinions from here first.

[DaCoupe]

Sorry to hear about that but I highly doubt you bought a lemon because its a 2009 altima coupe with 35 miles, theres just no way. But did you buy it from a used dealer or from a private seller, hopefully you have all the info and if it is messed theres some law i found out about if with a private seller something goes wrong with the first 7 or maybe 14 days they have to take it back or fix it, i remember cause thats what happened when i bought a used ford and the guy had to fix it but dont know what the laws are like there. goodluck!

[bembol]

I think you can't leave it on ACC or even use the Lights, CD/Radio for a long time.

My Dad has a Battery Booster, it was fine afterwards. There was symbol (fail safe mode?) that appeared but I can't remember, I was freaking out.

[superblackcoupe]

But did you buy it from a used dealer or from a private seller [...]

"New" car dealer.

Unfortunately, lemon law can only be invoked if a single issue can't be resolved after three repair attempts.

I think you can't leave it on ACC or even use the Lights, CD/Radio for a long time.

Memory is a bit fuzzy, but I think I've sat in my car once in the past for half an hour or so while waiting for one of my classes to start with the car in ACC mode (radio on).

Well, whatever. I'm going to call Ardmore Nissan in the morning.

[DaCoupe]

Oh yeah well if its a nissan dealer theyll probably take care of you, as for the acc, you can leave it in acc it only drains the battery until you start it and then the alternator will recharge it, for example when you go to the drive in after one movie (hour and a half +) they tell you to start your car for the 15 or so minutes cause it charges the battery up so you dont kill your battery, but even so im pretty sure youd have to leave it in acc for long enough to completly kill it so much that it wont start. Anyway goodluck with the stealship hope you still got your warranty and let us know what the problems was.

[LongBeachCoupe]

Sometimes the yellow key flashes on the left side of the dashboard when its in failsafe...

Essentially its the ECU cutting fuel from the engine so it cant damage it further. It doesnt mean theres a "big" problem, just one that the car's ECU isnt comfortable driving with...

Stop trying to drive the car, tow it to nissan (it should be free from their roadside assistance i think).

[QR25DE]

Sounds like the battery terminals may be corroded or have a bad connection.

I'd check that first of all. I've had that happen in other cars.

[Curtieson]

Unfortunately, lemon law can only be invoked if a single issue can't be resolved after three repair attempts..

Exactly, and it has to be the same issue.

A guy at work was telling me about the lemon he got maybe 5 years back...to sum up a long story...basically there was a short SOMEWHERE in the car that would drain the battery...he would take it in, new battery...take it in, replace battery and alternator...take it in and they had it for 3 weeks then called it a lemon.

So, I would recommend taking it in ASAP, no reason to sit on it...either they will fix it and there you go...or you are 1 trip closer to the lemon law and you just had a 7 month free rental! (Or maybe lose a bit to depreciation)

[mcheddadi]

Stop trying to drive the car, tow it to nissan (it should be free from their roadside assistance i think).

yep its free for 60K kms or 6 years here. learned about that a little too late last time lol

[superblackcoupe]

Called and made an appointment for tomorrow morning. I'm supposed to drop it off and leave it overnight so they can see what it's like from a cold start.

Made two videos of what I've been describing, sorry about the terrible quality (taken on my BlackBerry Curve 8330, I don't use an iPhone like the cool people):startup failuresputtering, stuck gauges

First video should show the startup problem I'm experiencing while the second shows the "stuck gauges" problem after it sputters and eventually decides to start. Also of interest in the second video is the lack of the "hold down the brake and push the button" indicator on the dash. If you turn up your volume you can probably hear car sputter a bit (usually it's much worse).

Stop trying to drive the car, tow it to nissan (it should be free from their roadside assistance i think).

I'll look into getting it towed via roadside assistance, but I don't think I signed up for it.

Sounds like the battery terminals may be corroded or have a bad connection.

I'll check that later this afternoon, thanks for the suggestion. Not that I know what to look for

or you are 1 trip closer to the lemon law and you just had a 7 month free rental! (Or maybe lose a bit to depreciation)

Unlikely, but I can dream, can't I?
Modified by superblackcoupe at 2:16 PM 6/1/2009