Road to recovery. 09 Altima

[warriorpluto]

Haven't been on this site for a while since I sold my 240sx back in 2009. I bought a water damaged Altima. It already had a salvage title from a wreck and as it was waiting to get fixed we had a flood down here last year around may. So I bought it from my friend. I put the battery on jump to try to unlock the steering wheel for a tow but couldn't get it unlocked. Remote still controls the car but I had the key fob icon with the arrow on the dash. Push button start says lock and no response from the button. I'm now thinking I'm in over my head with this. If everything works out I'll be keeping the car. How do I upload pictures? I don't see a button. Only from Facebook and YouTube.

[frapjap]

Howdy and welcome back!
Good luck with the flood car, hope it works out for you. Can you put the key into the ignition and turn it while your turn the steering wheel?
To post pics, use the tags with your photo location in the middle.

[warriorpluto]

Can you screenshot which button to press? I'm trying to get the car to turn over so I can flush the cylinders with the spark plugs out. This is a push start ignition. When I press the start button it only clicks under the dash. Do you think car has lost programming?

[warriorpluto]

Programming still works on the key. It still tries to unlock and lock the door and the panic button works. I just can't get the push button to show anything other than locked. When I put the key in the slot under the dash it shows yellow key with arrow on the dash

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Here's how you post pictures:
how-to-post-pictures-using-photobucket-t521110.html

It almost sounds like you might not be getting enough voltage or cranking amps to try to start the car. Tough to say with water damage man. It could be a thousand different things.

[Ilya]

This is crazy...but put the key on the button as you start it. Or basically, start it with the fob (not your finger). My M's fobs all failed and that was the only way I could get the car started before the dealer replaced the fobs. I even tried new batteries.

Might not help you, but it might offer a different response/symptom.

[Q451990]

I'm assuming you have the brake pedal pushed down while you try to start it? Make sure that circuit is working (the brake lights are on) because as far as I know all of the push button start Nissan products have to have the pedal depressed before starting...

[RED_DET]

Sounds like a security issue which is controlled by the BCM(Body Control Module) which is probably fried.

[Ilya]

Sounds like a security issue which is controlled by the BCM(Body Control Module) which is probably fried.

This is actually a good hunch.

[RED_DET]

BCM controls the IMU(Immobilizer Unit). If it were just the IMU, the car would still turn over, just not start. Since he gets zero ignition I would definitely say the BCM was damaged during the flood. ECM could be shot as well, who knows. This can easily turn into a huge money pit.

[AZhitman]

^ THIS.

A flood damaged car is totalled for one reason: It's f***ed. Wiring harness needs to be replaced 100% or you'll be chasing issues forever. Remember, water travels down wiring (inside the wires) almost as fast as electricity. Every circuit board, connector, and wire is compromised. Even if it starts, something else will act up - maybe not today, but it will. Corrosion doesn't stop. Ever.

Your "friend" needs to be smacked for even thinking he could sell you a flood-damaged car.

[float_6969]

AZHitman is right. I would take this thing to the scrapyard immediately. Flood cars are nothing to mess with. You can NEVER make them right. There's a reason insurance companies always total them. You can't actually fix the wiring unless you replace EVERYTHING electrical. If you don't, it's just going to break down constantly all the time.