Starting Electrical Issue

[Helium2]

2010 SL AWD
39K mi.

Recently I have had the following problem:

Turn the switch to start the car & the engine turns over a couple of times and then nothing.
No sounds...nothing.
Turn the switch off and retry and the car starts normally.

This has happened twice in the past week and one other time about a month ago.
All times the car started normally 15-20 minutes previously and I drove 3-8 miles before stopping.
The car sat for 10-15 minutes in warm-hot weather before the problem showed.
I keep the electrolyte level in the battery at normal levels.

What's going on?

[rdub2k4]

When you say the car does nothing, are you stating that the engine doesn't catch but keeps cranking? Or is it just dead when you turn the key, no starter engaging the engine at all?

[Helium2]

The engine stops cranking; just as if I turned the switch off.

When I turn the switch off and then try to start the engine again, it starts as it should.

[darylzero]

I've had something like that happen to me more than a few times.

Get into car and turn the ignition all the way and everything lights up on the dash, but the car doesn't start. Turn it off and back on immediately and it starts, every time. Probably has happened like 20 times.
Also, I never use the key.

Edit: Just happened to me again today, first thing in the morning. I was wrong, the engine does try and turn over for a second then nothing.

[Helium2]

Sounds similar.
...and no key here, either.

[Helium2]

The problem has vanished, and, although I can't prove it, I think I see what may have been happening.

See my thread dashboard-key-indicator-t577923.html about the Key indicator light on the dashboard.
Since I replaced the batteries in my key fobs both that issue and this one have vanished.

What I surmise may have been happening was that the batteries were getting so weak that the fob was unable to constantly transmit the id code with any strength.
If the transmission was interrupted while trying to start then engine, then the sensor would go into "no key" mode and shut off the starter.
Retrying the start would usually detect the fob while it was in transmit mode and the engine would start.

I was also having occasional trouble with the rear door unlock/lock button failing at times.
Since I have replaced the battery there have been no more problems.

Interesting, huh?

[Rogue One]

The problem has vanished, and, although I can't prove it, I think I see what may have been happening.

See my thread dashboard-key-indicator-t577923.html about the Key indicator light on the dashboard.
Since I replaced the batteries in my key fobs both that issue and this one have vanished.

What I surmise may have been happening was that the batteries were getting so weak that the fob was unable to constantly transmit the id code with any strength.
If the transmission was interrupted while trying to start then engine, then the sensor would go into "no key" mode and shut off the starter.
Retrying the start would usually detect the fob while it was in transmit mode and the engine would start.

I was also having occasional trouble with the rear door unlock/lock button failing at times.
Since I have replaced the battery there have been no more problems.

Interesting, huh?

I bought some batteries, but they weren't included.
Steven Wright

[Helium2]

You probably have to pay extra.

[darylzero]

The problem has vanished, and, although I can't prove it, I think I see what may have been happening.

See my thread dashboard-key-indicator-t577923.html about the Key indicator light on the dashboard.
Since I replaced the batteries in my key fobs both that issue and this one have vanished.

What I surmise may have been happening was that the batteries were getting so weak that the fob was unable to constantly transmit the id code with any strength.
If the transmission was interrupted while trying to start then engine, then the sensor would go into "no key" mode and shut off the starter.
Retrying the start would usually detect the fob while it was in transmit mode and the engine would start.

I was also having occasional trouble with the rear door unlock/lock button failing at times.
Since I have replaced the battery there have been no more problems.

Interesting, huh?

I don't know, maybe. This has been happening to me for over a year. Could be the battery or maybe the fob just happens to be in a bad spot at that moment.

I would give it another month or two before you can say the problem is gone.

[Helium2]

After 2 weeks of all symptoms gone I am optimistic.

It's also possible that there are multiple causes for the starting issue. My 1st thought was a faulty switch or relay.

Over a year? Really?
It would be a drag if you got stranded in the middle of nowhere or on your way to some important function.

Have you had a mechanic check out your particular problem?

[darylzero]

No haven't had it checked. So far the only times it's happened is when I go to start the car first thing in the morning at home. Has never happened away from home.

[Helium2]

One year update:

Over the past year, since replacing the fob battery, I had no problems at all...until...

When I changed my calendar to August I saw I had written "Replace Rogue Key Batt." and I remembered those problems.
Yesterday, when starting the car, I had that same issue of the engine not turning over until I turned the switch off and then back on.
First time since replacing the battery last year.
I replaced the battery this morn.

This pretty much validates the low battery in the fob as being the root of the problem.
There may be something about my Rogue that makes it a bit more sensitive to the low-power signal from the fob, but Nissan does say to replace the battery annually.
I wonder if any Nissan mechanics are aware of this?

Anyway, keep it charged!