Engine cranks but won't start - another of those!
 

Greetings from UK where I own one of the handful of 4th Gen A32s (known as 'QX' here) left on the road. Only a few hundred were ever sold in the UK and I owned 3 of them in the last 25 years.

I acquired the current 1999 VQ30DE for a few hundred pounds earlier in the year and drove it the 600 miles back from Scotland without too much drama, developing a slight misfire upon arriving home. Problem traced to faulty coil pack on cylinder #1. Replaced all 6 coils for good measure (non-genuine parts since you can't buy genuine Nissan spares for these over here). All well until yesterday.

Car started easily 1st thing and I just moved it out of the garage for later. When I went to drive it, it would crank but not start and this continued for several batteries worth of charge.

I've had a look at several similar threads on the forum. Given the battery is showing 13.2V (ignition off), I'm assuming that is OK. I'm thinking it might be the starter since over the last couple of weeks, it developed a very short high-pitched squeal immediately the engine started.Now, apart from not-starting, the cranking seems laboured and the battery runs down after 5/6 short bursts. Last week I purchased a recon unit to keep in the boot (trunk) just in case. Looks pretty straight forward to fit from the Youtube vids. One question not covered in the vids - SHOULD YOU APPLY ANY FORM OF LUBRICATION (E.G. GRAPHITE GREASE) TO THE OTHERWISE DRY SPLINES VISIBLE IN THE CUTAWAY PART OF THE STARTER?)

BTW - my previous 2 A32s developed the difficult (but not impossible) to start issues which I never got to the bottom of before the cars were scrapped for other reasons. I suspect the problems were more akin to failed sensors or open circuit on a sensor - as others have described, though on this one, I might check the key programming & security lock mode issue, that others have mentioned on threads before changing the starter.

Currently, I don't have access to codes. I have purchased a Nissan-style 14 pin adapter which came with some sort of Conzult clone s/w which crashes every time I select anything from the menu. There is very little knowledge in the UK about these vehicles (about the only country where they didn't sell well). Any recommendations on reasonably priced diagnostic tools welcome.

Thanks.

Update - may change battery first!
 

Although Volts look good with ignition off, I strongly suspect that battery is not behaving under load so will deal with that first.

Took battery to local autocentre and confirmed as good. Changed the starter as I already had the recon one. Starts beautifully now. Took the trouble to clean the throttle body wShilst I had all that crap off the engine. What a difference in responsiveness. Well worth doing.

Strange intermittent ticking noise (quieter than hazard flashers) coming from inside the car around the stereo. Comes and goes, more off than on. Probably some sort of security thing - will look that up separately.

Pleased to be back on the road.