The title of the thread explains only a part of the problem...

I'll explain everything as detailed as I can:

Friday:
- at startup the engine started making this annoying "whirring" noise which I thought may have been the belt... maybe it is, I don't know.

Saturday:
- rainy weather, foggy, very moist air
- I was driving @ about 50 mph when my ABS light comes on
- couple of seconds later AIRBAG light comes on and blinks about 3 times then goes away - ABS light is still on and continues to stay on
- I had my headlights and audio on. This cackling noise starts up(sounded like static from bad radio reception but I was listening to a CD). When I turned off the audio the sound goes away and then starts up again when I turn it on.
- I head back to my parking lot, turn the car off. I wait about 20 seconds and then try to start up the engine again but it does not start. I hear the fuel pumping but the engine does not crank. One hour later I start the car and it starts. I wait 20 seconds again or so and then try to start it but again I hear the fuel pump but no crank.

Sunday:
- TOday was pretty sunny, no rain...
- First start of the day, car starts. Turn it off but then it does not start after waiting about 20 or 30 seconds.
- After doing some homework and about 2 hours later I try to start it again but it does not start. The battery seemed to have died from trying to start it multiple times. I jump start my car with the aid of my friend and his Forester. I started to drive around the parking lot to try and charge my battery but after about 2 min's the car dies. No sputter or sign of struggle... just dies.

So what is my problem?? I ran an ECU check even though my ENGINE light never came on and got 0304 which is the knock sensor. I don't know if the KS is the problem. Could it be the starter, solenoid, fuel pump, injector?

Sorry if this was too lengthy but just wanted to give you guys the details. Any help is much appreciated. Thanks.

 

My best guess is alternator....battery holds no charge, whirring noise, no engine codes...I'd check that first.

 

yea your ks does not have anything to do with that but you will want to change it once you have this problem diagnosed and solved cuz it is robbing horsepower and gas milage

i would go with the alternator too

 

+1. This is exactly your problem. Go have your battery checked first and check how much of a charge you getting out of the alternator.

 

He's not getting any charge out of the alternator, thats why the car dies right after it's jumped.

 

The car isn't dying right after though.... I usually can drive for about 5 min's... I think it's more prone to dying when I go from D to R (auto tranny) or R to D... I think on the intial jump, I was able to drive for about 10 min's... and when I was braking it died when I slowed down to like 10 mph.

Think it could be anything else?

 

It definetely sound like the alternator. If your lights were coming on during the rain that is showing that the alternator is trying to work but can't keep up. Use a volt meter to check if the alternator is recharging the battery. If its charging I would look into doing a fuel pressure test to see of a possible fuel pump failure.

 

yeah, it's most likely the alternator......i had the same problem....

 

it is 100% the alternator. if the altenator was good you would be able to disconnect yoru battery totally and the car would remain running. the reason your car dies a few min after your jump, is because when you hook the cables up, the other battery is charging your battery. when you take the cables off, the car is only running off the remaining juice stored in your battery from the jump, and not the altenator. it drains fast, since it isnt being recharged, until it dies, and your car stalls..

 

k... thanx for your help... I'll keep you guys posted after I've tried replacing it

 

so i got my car back from the dealer today... and it was my alternator which they changed for free since it's under warranty due to the recall that nissan has. I was stupid to wait 'til now to get the alternator fixed but I suggest if anyone hasn't had their alternator fixed, do so as soon as possible... it's free at the dealership.

Thanks again for your help guys.

 

Yeah, alternator problems run in my family, oddly enough. Napa has a good lifetime warranty on parts.

 

dang alternators, such a problem!

 

if the car doesnt start after a charge it should be the alt.

 

everybody's already said it..but alternator... car dies after startup, no codes, no power...makes sense. could be battery too or wiring but i would start small and move up. I had the same problem, and it was the alternator...goodluck

 

I had same problem, but both my battery and alt were bad. Battery was fully dead and alternator was on the way out.