Why won't my car start - suggestions/ideas? (sorta long)
 

Hey all,
I got out of work today, all ready to drive home, when I get to the parking lot and the guy there says "I couldn't start your car today".
I'm like, no worries, it's the starter, it does that sometimes (the old starter needs regreasing issue).
So I get in the car, ready to fire it up, and nothing. Not even a twitch from the electrical system. So I'm like okay, pull your van over here to the guy. We try jumping it, nothing. Just plain dead.

I am like, WTF? So I scramble, calling CAA, trying to arrange a ride, as I live an hour and a half away, and I'm flying out to the East Coast in the morning (yeah, great timing).

I come back to my car to try things again, and I notice a clicking noise from my front right dash. I pop the hood, and the noise is actually that little black box right behind the washer fluid nozzle where the electronics for the airbag/security system/windows/lights, etc are. It ticked non-stop for the 2 HOURS I waited for the CAA guy (fortunately he was nice so I couldn't be mad at him).

I have a strange suspicion that somehow that is pooched, and it was causing my security system to override my starter and kill my engine. Kinda like theft proofing it, but what the hell do I know. Either way, my car required a tow and is now with the dealer.

The crib notes: What do you think is the problem, and how much do you think it's going to cost me to fix it.

Thanks, and apologies for the long read.

Mike

someone posted something about a weird factory alarm problem recently, but it's early Friday morning, and I'm senile. THe ticking "thing" reminds me of that thread.

It might be a relay. I am thinking that the "black box" is a relay box. Hopefully its just a relay problem.

Well,
Nissan called me back (Friday) and said that the battery is just plain shot first of all (yay, Optima Yellow Top), and given that I was/am out of town, I had my Mom (thanks Mom!) pick me up an Optima Yellow Top (yay again) battery. I'll bring that by the dealership on Monday and they can continue their "investigation".

Either way, pain in the ***.

On a good note, bought a house today :) :) :)

Mike

dude...you shoulda picked up the optima...and had your mom take care of the house!

Hahah... yeah, but the house was in the city I was in, the battery where she was... so I was S.O.L. ;)