QX wouldn't start!

[black2blackQX4s]

To my lovely surprise this morning, I get in for the friday morning commute; qx4 will not successfully turn over. At first I was thinking my battery was dead. But the interior lights were bright and at the first ignition spot, the dash lights were also bright. But the starter just makes the rapid clicking noise.

So of you who have had this happen before, do you think its the battery or the starter? I have always had a fickle start. I believe it is due to the fuel pump. I have to let the ignition sit in the on position to prime the pump or it will NOT start. Just something I am use to, but I am sure is a sign of more problems to fix if it isn't the source of my faulty start right now.

When I get home from work this afternoon I am gonna pull the battery and have it tested first.

Thanks for your advice in advance.

[bmlawless]

My negative battery terminal was fatigued and I would have the same issue that you describe. I bought a new one for a few bucks and put it on without a problem.

In other words, start with the battery and/or connection.

[hospitalbuilder]

I think you are heading down the right path, check the battery first. It takes much more power to turn the engine than light the interior lights, so no real surprise that the lights work, but there is not enough juice to start the engine. What do you know about the battery? How old is it? Has it been run down to dead before? Also take a look at the connectors and make sure they are clean.

My Q had a problem starting recently and I thought it was the fuel pump and had a shop take a look at it. The solution was to replace the ECM relay and clean the connectors. I went ahead and let the shop do that work, since it took them nearly a day to find the problem and they do not charge for their diagnostic work (damn my moral conscious). I suspect it would have been fairly easy and cheap for me to DIY. I did however pass on their offer to replace spark plugs, wires, rotor and cap for $560, and did that myself in about an hour and a half for $120.

Good luck, hopefully it's the battery which is easily fixed.

[nnorton44]

Bad battery usually makes a "click" noise multiple times when you crank it.