Help!!! 1997 Pathy Only starts after sitting few hours

[nero8762]

I've searched the web, and thank goodness I found this site. I been searching it to no avail so far.
My specs:
1997 Pathfinder LE, 364,900 miles, V6, Automatic, 4x4, factory alram, daily driver (only vehicle)
My background:
I bout the trk from my uncle March 2012, with 303,542 mi., needed new alternator, new battery. He had problems with the alarm system before he burnt up the alt. No alarm key fobs, he lost em, when alarm engaged, can only disarm from pass. side door or rear hatch, trying front drvr door sets off alarm.
My problem:
Thursday night after driving all day, it wouldn't start after a quick dinner stop, jiggled battery cables, checked fuses, jiggled relays, truck started after 15 minutes. On Friday, 06/07/13, started trk for 1st time that day, fired right up, went into town, parked, shopped for 20 minutes, came out, trk wont start (crank/turn over), everything lights up, radio works, windows up n down, but no turn over. I notice a steady blinking from the security light on LH side below the steering wheel. I arm the security system and notice that the light blinks every 3 seconds, letting me know it's armed, but when I disarm it, from the back or pass. side door, light goes off, as soon as I open any door, hatch, or back window, light starts with a constant blinking. Walk to library to figure out how to reset/unhook security system (no luck with a clear answer), get back to trk after being stuck for 4 hours now, starts right up. Go grocery shopping, come out 1 hr. later, trk wont start, wait 2 1/2 hours fiddling with things (unhooking battery for 1/2 hr., changing battery connectors, tightening everything), trk finally starts, we go home. Saturday morning trk starts fine, drive for an hour or 2, trk won't restart. Stuck for another 4 hours in town.
Please help, where do I start? I can work on her myself, but when it comes to the electrical system, I'm at a loss. I do have a volt meter, and have good charge on my battery, alt. reads fine too, I have d/l the FSM after finding it here today... Can someone please point me in the right direction

Thanks,
Nero

[Towncivilian]

Welcome to NICO!

Try the preliminary diagnosis of the theft warning system described on page EL-226 of the factory service manual. Also check all of the door switches for damage; these are the small black switches visible in the door jambs of each door, and there is also one under the hood as well on the driver's side front area.

[Slumpert]

If the alarm is not actually going off while your trying o start it, maybe it is simply a bad starter or possibly the starter cut relay has gone bad. The relay is noted on page EL-224 on the above link.

[skiski329]

I had a simular problem a while back. after working on the car it just wouldn't start. then it magically started. then no start. there is a video in the thread maybe check to see if you have the same symptoms.
plz-help-pathy-won-t-start-after-o2sens ... 74372.html
ultimately, I think i had a connection issue with the battery and the cables. I put a new battery protectant on the terminals and battery to close the gap and gett a better connection. not 100% sure that was the problem, but since then i haven't had an issue.

[nero8762]

Well the alarm seems to ok, I did the trouble shooting guide, no problems there. I swapped around relays, still no go. I did find it strange that if I jiggled the shifter it would start a few times, not all, and I know there is a sensor there telling the system it's in park, i just have to find it.
So I resorted to old faithful, bang on the starter, fired right up. Now I gotta go out and try it again to see if that does work. If so, guess its time a new/used starter, them puppies are expensive... I will keep you posted.

[ianh]

If a bang on the starter make it fire right up you probably have worn brushes. If you can buy them, its a medium difficultly to replace them. I have done it on some of my older cars in years gone by.

If the starter is not your problem don't forget the key switch assembly. This is a known trouble spot on the B13 and B14 Sentra / 200SX's