Xterra won't start

Asked by Deezy64 Jul 07, 2018 at 02:48 PM about the 2003 Nissan Xterra SE 4WD

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

So, I got stuck last night for 3 hours because
my Xterra wouldn't start. It did it a week ago
and a mechanic told us to go out and unlock
the trunk then lock unlock the driver side
then lock the driver side then unlock the
driver side and it turned over I turned on well
this time it didn't work we got it towed all the
way home an hour away and it started this
morning. Now I'm at the store and it's not
starting again anybody know what to do
about the alarm system that's what I think it
is?

22 Answers

320

Everr figure it out... Im currently waiting for a tow because it won't start.. New battery starter alternator and motor smh

32 people found this helpful.
620

Everything was Kool yesterday. Got up to go to work and bam. Engine won't even turn over or make a sound as if it is even trying to.

62 people found this helpful.
400

Having the exact same problem right now, anyone try the micro switch in the gear shifter?

40 people found this helpful.
420

Check your 10A fuses.. I was having exact same problem and realized 2 of the 10A fuses were blown just to the left of the steering wheel. I swapped them out and it starts perfectly again

42 people found this helpful.
240

My husband sold his 2007 Xterra. When the man came to pick it up it wouldn't start. My husband forgot that one of the keys was bad. When I got home I used my car scanner on the Xterra and got the code P1615 This code is usually triggered when a not registered or damaged key is used to start the engine. When the starting operation is carried out five or more times consecutively with the same unregistered key, the system will lock. If the problem occurs try disconnecting the car battery for about 30 minutes and then try starting the engine with a known registered key. If the problem persists you have to have the dealer erase the code and reprogram the keys again. Hopefully the guy will come back for the car.

24 people found this helpful.
150

Hey, I have had a similar problem with my 2001 xterra. I work on a boat so am gone for 28 days at a time. Last time home my battery was dead so I bought a new one and I didnt start it right away. I locked it, went inside to cool off then came out unlocked it and it started fine. Well I came home this time an .y brand new battery was dead. On that note, i found that my negative cable was not screwed into the metal where there is a hole to be grounded so I think that MAY have been causing it to somehow drain the bat. So after I charged it, I hooked it back up and ha a power to everything but it would not even try to turn over. I searched for why this was and the 1st site it lead to was this one. In this thread there is a person who's mechanic told him to lock and unlock doors. That's what I did and it worked perfectly. With the battery dead I had to unlock it manually with the key and when I did that I think it disengaged the starter until the lock/unlock button was engaged again. Hope this helps.

15 people found this helpful.
170

Mines has a clicking sound when you turn it over, just put new starter on 4 weeks ago. Some one told my to check the connector on the battery post

17 people found this helpful.
300

I have had the same problem with my 2005 x I recently had a new shifter put in. After hours of it not cranking. I just wiggled the gear shifter out of frustration and it cranked right up. What's the reason behind this? It works every time

30 people found this helpful.
190

I am having troubles with my 2004 Xterra. Was not turning over and tried for 15 minutes. I resorted to Google for answers and came upon your response. IT WORKED! I don't know how or why but it did.

19 people found this helpful.
60

My 2010 Xterra is in the shop fro the 3rd time and they cant find the problem, If I go a day without driving it, it is completely dead and wont start. They put several new batteries in, cant find any issues with the fuses, alternator is ok. Help! I am copying and pasting all your responses here- my mechanic says his is the best in the state and they resolve internmittent draw issues all the time, but not mine so far, Have had this problem for 2 yrs!

6 people found this helpful.
240

Thank you! Just used this on a 2006 xterra. He'd left his lights on, we charged ther battery but it wouldn't crank. Kids hey only worked for unlocking not locking and not at all on back door so i had owner get in and lock doors, then i unlocked driver door with key. We repeated 5 times. Cranked right up!

17 people found this helpful.
240

Wow. Spell check... his keys only worked for unlocking driver door.

7 people found this helpful.
30

My so drives a 2007 Xterra. We had intermittent starting problems with it. An independent shop couldn't figure out why. The dealership didn't have any luck with it either. The truck would start to go to school. Then wouldn't start to go home. It was very unpredictable. Sometimes he would wiggle the positive cable and get it to start. I thought I'd look at it myself. I cleaned up the end of the cables going to the positive terminal, and replaced the flimsy brass clamp with a marine battery clamp from Autozone. We haven't had a starting problem with it since then. https://www.autozone.com/batteries-starting-and-charging/battery- terminal/duralast-marine-battery-terminals-2-pack/95967_0_0? spps.s=139&cmpid=LIA:US:EN:AD:NL:1000000:BAC:71700000060662128&gclid =EAIaIQobChMI1f2UkOrv6QIVSgiICR07GgOxEAQYASABEgLnCfD_BwE&gclsrc=a w.ds

3 people found this helpful.
160

I was going to work and my Xterra 2002start to run ruff then it started acting like it's running out of gas then died.i already had a quarter tank.so I put 2more gallon in it.but wouldn't start.the distributor was loose I didn't tighten it up replace the starter I still won't start tried to put it back in time I know love what should I do

16 people found this helpful.
40

GuruZR5CF Any luck with yours? I am having the exact same issue now with my 2010. Thanks!

4 people found this helpful.
60

How often do transponder keys end up needing to be replaced or reprogrammed? I’ve had starting issues lately on my 2012. Usually I just completely take key out of ignition, reinsert, and try to start agin. After 1 or 2 tries, it works. Don’t want to go to dealership because I know it’s going to cost some stupid amount to get new keys.

6 people found this helpful.
70

It's a relay in the IPDM board that when the temp gets cold I'd say in the 40s xterra will not start ...you can take the IPDM board out and place it near a heater or hair dryer..or can run ext chord to truck and use heat gun or hair dryer and warm it up and it will start....

7 people found this helpful.
70

I'm having this same issue. I've tried all these things here and nothing is working. It's like the battery is dead but it's not (as that is what I thought it was so I replaced the battery). Gonna have to have my 2003 xterra towed in.

7 people found this helpful.
50

If you have a manual transmission and everything behaves like you aren't pushing in the clutch, it may be the clutch interlock switch. If you're lucky enough to have an Xterra with a clutch interlock *cancel* button, you should be able to activate it and start your car. If you don't have a cancel button, you *should* (I haven't personally tried it) test this by unplugging the clutch interlock switch connector and short the harness connector with a paper clip or something. If your car starts, you've got your culprit. By behaving like you're not pushing in the clutch, I mean with the key in accessory position everything comes on as you'd expect (gauges, lights, radio, fan, etc). When you turn the key to start some accessories will go out (fan, 4WD LCD indicator, etc) as usual, but you won't hear any attempt to start. No power draw (dimming of lights) or even clicking.

5 people found this helpful.
90

I've had this same issue for over a year and found a workaround. I thought it was on here, but I'm not seeing it. Basically they said the id on the key is getting wiped. The solution has been very simple. Turn the key to ACC position, leave it for 30 seconds. Turn the key back to off and wait 10-15 seconds. After that, it should start right up. I have the problem about once a month and this works every time.

9 people found this helpful.
90

I have a 2003 Nissan Xterra the battery is full charge lights work and everything but when I try to turn the key my car won't start what do I do to fix it

9 people found this helpful.

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