Engine not turning over after sitting for a month

[wildabeast]

I recently returned from a month away to find my '02 Pathfinder SE not starting, battery dead as a doornail. CAA guy stopped by and hooked up his portable battery. Lights and accessories now come on when turning the key, but the engine isn't turning over. He seemed to think it was the starter ... but I decided to look into it before handing off to a mechanic. Seems strange that a starter would die just because the battery died. I've seen some suggestions that it may be the starter relay instead... would this make sense in my situation?

(Side question -- where can I get a part number for that relay so I can call the auto parts store before going over?)

Cheers!

[Hawairish]

So it's not cranking at all? Or does it crank and not start?
When attempting to start, do the dash lights dim, flash, and click?
What was the voltage on the portable battery?
Have you tried a traditional jumpstart after letting the battery charge a little?

[Upgrayedd]

Did you replace the battery? I ask because you didn't say you did, only that it wouldn't start with the portable battery. If you did not then install a known good battery and try that first.

Batteries do wear out and can simply go bad, it's possible that yours is DOA.

[wildabeast]

So it's not cranking at all? Or does it crank and not start?
When attempting to start, do the dash lights dim, flash, and click?
What was the voltage on the portable battery?
Have you tried a traditional jumpstart after letting the battery charge a little?

No cranking at all.
Yes dash lights dim/flash, and I hear a relay (?) click in the dash.
Not sure what the voltage was on the portable battery.
I actually took the battery in yesterday and they charged it up for me. I put it back in, and it behaves just as it did with the portable battery (turning the key turns on the dash lights, they dim, flash, and click when turning all the way, but no turn over).

Did you replace the battery?

Nope -- but (correct me if I'm wrong) if it was the battery, then it should've started up just fine with the portable battery right?

As mentioned above I took it in to my shop and had them charge it -- and it still doesn't turn over. It does appear to be holding a charge though...

Thanks all

[Upgrayedd]

In my experience it's usually the simple things that break before the more complicated things. If I were in your situation I would suspect and bet money that the battery went bad over something like the starter or a relay. The first thing I would do is install a new or known good battery to eliminate the battery as the culprit becaue what you described sounds like classic battery going dead symptoms. If it ends up not being the battery then please post up what it is as I would be interested to know.

In my experience I have seen batteries do funny things when they are bad. I dealt with a similar scenario to yours in my wife's old RX300 that had a 1-year old battery in it. Went out to start it one morning and it acted as if it were dead (lights on and would dim but starter would not crank over). This was her daily driver and had been driven the day before. Anyway, I took the battery to the parts store for warranty coverage but it tested good so they charged it for me (it was holding a charge too). Put it back in the vehicle but nope, still acting dead. I took it back to the parts store and was prepared to just buy another battery but they tested it again and that time it did test bad (had a definite internal short).

[Hawairish]

I'd still try for a traditional jumpstart, to be honest. Not saying portable batteries don't work, but a running vehicle tends to be a sure bet as long as the non-starting car's battery isn't completely toast.

What's the voltage of the charged battery now, and how long did they charge it for? Fully discharged batteries tend to require slow low-amp charge.

How are the terminals? They should be cleaned of any corrosion, grease, and properly tightened. A loose or poor connection can cause the same symptoms as a discharged battery.

You may also want to check for voltages at the starter. The FSM has the proper diagnostic steps.

[wildabeast]

After charging yesterday, the battery is at 12.36 volts (they did do a slow trickle charge through the day). Is that a guarantee it's good or could it still be toast?

Gonna try a jumpstart from a friends truck this eve.

[ArmedAviator]

That voltage is correct for a charged battery. It may still have a fault preventing the full cranking amperage from being delivered. I hope the jumpstart works. If it doesn't, get dirty and apply positive power directly to the starter just for a moment. If it engages and turns over the engine than it may be the starter solenoid.

My money is still on the battery.

[04pathse]

It does sound to me like your battery doesn't have enough amperage, it is possible for voltage to be fine but amperage is just as important as voltage.

One thing you can try is place your multimeter probes to the battery and turn the ignition key, if you see voltage drop below around 10 or more volts when cranking your battery is shot.

There are a few youtube videos you can check out if you want. Here is one such video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yg4nnsVjMUU

You may have mentioned it but, how old is the battery? or do you have no idea how old the battery is?

[wildabeast]

The stamp reads 3A2ICSVJ (AC-Delco) which I think means its a little over 3 years old (?).

[wildabeast]

One thing you can try is place your multimeter probes to the battery and turn the ignition key, if you see voltage drop below around 10 or more volts when cranking your battery is shot.

Thanks -- tried this and the voltage only drops a tenth of a volt or so while turning the ignition key -- but note that as mentioned above the engine isn't actually cranking at all...