My friend asked me to pickup his 2K SE manual at the airport and left me the second set of keys. When I tried to start it up - I got the ignition, and the starter sound but engine didn't start. It's like there are no connection between starter and the engine.
What's wrong with it?
Did he gave me a bad key ( not activated or something )

thanks.

 

dead battery? did you have lights working?

 

ok if your lights are working.. it could be the wrong chipped key?

 

ok if the key is the right one.. and the lights are working.. it might be a dead starter.. how many miles on this baby? i havn't heard of early starter failure with 5th Gen's.. and if you don't hear the starter.. then its not a fuel delivery problem.. because you are not even getting to that step..

i am leaning towards key .. since you did mention key..

 

Ok - he left the car there about six hours before I tried to pick it up. So I don't think that there is a bad batery or starter. It has around 20k on it.
Ligts and music are up when I turn the ignition. And I do hear the starter - but engine just does not starts.
So I sassume there is something wrong with the key ;(

 

well if it turns.. thats weird.. because if its the wrong key it isn't suppose to turn to ACC .. is it the one with a chip? are you sure its not a valet key?

 

It's not a valet key. I'm sure. But that should not make any difference. I own 2K SE auto and just an hour ago decided to test all the keys that I have ( Original obviously works, spare set and the valet key ). All of the work fine.

My friend gave me his spare set ( with the chip ofcourse ). But I don't think he ever tested it before.

Could it be because it might have wrong code in the chip that it does not start the car? But why then I have lights and everything on including working starter?

 

Well even if you have the valet key it should still start... I know that if I'm in my car and If I didn't disable the alarm I get ignition but the car won't start..

 

wait .. you said you hear starter sound?

thats a totally diffrent animal..

is his fuel pump working?

turn the radio off.. all electrical components off.. turn the key a couple times and listen over by the back seat to see if you hear the pump ...

also check the fuel pump fuse.. don't see why it would blow.. but hey never know.. he has little amount of miles so i doubt its a fuel filter clogged issue..

dumb question but.. its a 5spd.. you did push the clutch down before starting it right? i know its a dumb question but i just had to ask..

 

Sounds like a fuel delivery problem if you hear the engine trying to start. It could also be a blocked exhaust. Maybe some Vandals put some bannanas in the muffler like in Beverly Hills Cop. You also need air intake, is there something blocking that. You basically need: spark, fuel, air intake and exahust to run an engine. It has to be one of those. Have fun figuring it out.

 

is the steering wheel locked? try moving the steering wheel back and forth to unlock it while the key is in the ignition...that's my best guess since the lock thing seems to happen a lot with maximas...

 

how can you get into your car without disabling the alarm? Or do you have some other alarm system then the stock one?

 

That's the problem - I DON'T hear the engine trying to start. I hear the starter working - but not the engine trying to start. Seems like the engine is not aware of whatever starter is doing.

And yes - the clutch was all the way down

 

Nissan Vehicle Immobilizer System that is. The chip in the key is not working.

If the ignition key is in the "ON" position and the security intdicator LED(on the clock) is ON(doesn't blink), the NVIS is triggered by one of numerous possiblities but it's probably the chip in the key.

There is TWO possible solutions:
1)Try to escape from LOCK MODE(Happens if you try to start the car a few times without the chip talking to the ECU).
a.Turn ignition switch to "OFF".
b.Turn ignition switch to "ON" with WORKING key.(Do NOT start engine.) Wait 5 seconds.
c.Return key to "OFF".
d.Repeat steps b and c TWICE(total of three cycles).
e.Start the engine.

2)If 1) didn't work it MUST be towed into Nissan to have ALL the keys wiped and reprogrammed with the ECU.

 

Thanks for the advice. I will try that. Seems to me that my buddy won't be happy.

 

the keys may have been differently programmed...my delaer forgot to give the 2nd set of keys, so I had to go back and have him cut a key..and reprogram all three sets at once.

 

Thanks! It worked!
But...
After I took the car from parking lot and drove it home, at home I've tried to use bad key again ( bad idea ;( and now I can't start it with the good key either - even after steps that you suggested to take (which worked the first time) so I guess my only chance is dealership?

 

It's ok now. It works.
Thanks again for the advice.

 

Cool. Glad I could help.

 

How'd you get to bes so smarts?

 

I was born with it.

Oh wait that's SMART ***!