This morning I went to start my car and there was a vibration noise when turned out to be the shock sensor from my aftermarket alarm that Circuit City said they had turned off a while ago. I then unplugged the harness and the car would not start. So I plugged the harness back up and the car still would not start. I then went thru and removed the entir security system, and still the car will not start. The factory alarm should still be set-up as I did not do anything with it, but I even tried the NATS lock-out procedure and the car still will not start. I can put the key in and get all of the lights on, the windows and doors work, but when I turn the key to start the car nothing but the click from the key turning..

I am stranded right now. Anybody who can help I would appreciate it..

 

Is your battery dead? Also check your IGN fuse under your hood. You may have shorted something out which caused the fuse to blow.

 

I have checked all of the fuses by the driver door seat. The battery is fine. Again all lights come up, radio plays, windows and doors work fine, but the car wont even click to turn over. I checked it again to see if it did in fact "click" but it did not, it was only everything turning on that made the click noise.

So again I turn the key and nothing except the lights on the dash and everything else but the darn car trying to start. I have tried this numerous times now...anybody else with a suggestion...

Is there something with the starter wires coming from the wiring harness that could be bad? I cut away the DEI wire that was soldered in, and reattached the factory wire to itself. I got a good connection and then connected it to the wiring harness coming from the steering wheel.

 

is it a manual? then you can try to push start it

 

You say you get a click, is this from a relay in the cabin, from the starter solenoid, what?

Are you sure you have removed every component of the old alarm system, and hooked everything up correctly?

So you checked all fuses, or just the ones in the interior and ignored the ones under the hood?

Auto? Manual? Year? You've neglected to mention any specifics of your car.

 

The car is a 1996 Automatic Maxima GXE.

I have checked all of the fuses in the interior. Not sure how to check the ones under the hood.

I took the starter out and had someone give me a ride to AutoZone and tested it twice and came back as no issues.

I have removed everything that I am able to see related to the old alarm system. If there is something that I am missing than it is hiding very good. I took every connection going into the brain of the DEI module and every component going into the valet part of the DEI module and was able to track each piece back and I cut the wires at the joints. I did not undo the soder as the original was still good (the wires were just spliced in) with the exception of the starter wire coming from underneath the steering (not the ignition switch but the piece that connects to it).

I tried to jump it and it wouldn't start (just validating the battery, but I didnt that was the problem anyway..just wanted to eliminate it).

When I had someone else turn the key, I listened in the engine and the starter never turned over, but I heard a low grinding noise *maybe* a click.

I have also turned the key many times in the car, and also in the door which is supposed to reset the factory alarm.

I have looked over the FSM and not sure what else to do. I dont want to tow it to Nissan if I can help it, because I am sure they will "find" other stuff. Is there any way to research the "starter interrupt" or to make sure that something else isnt triggering a "shut down" of some sort?

 

Have you tried to start in every shift lever position? Bypassed both the anti theft and inhibit relays?

 

I have tried the various shift positions.

I am not sure of how to bypass the anti-theft and inhibit relays? any help on that would be great/

 

That's your next method of troubleshooting, then.

For the antitheft relay, connect pins 3 and 4, then connect pins 6 and 7 on the inhibit relay. This rules out the alarm and inhibitor circuits.

Failing that, really the only other thing it could be (assuming proper voltage at the ignition switch and relays) is an open lead between the ignition switch and the inhibit relay, or the inhibit relay and the starter.

 

Mechanical issues I normally dont have any problems with it, when it comes to electrical I am a little less inclined. Can you elaborate on the process of the relays? When you are indicated connect pins 3 and 4 are you talking about with a voltmeter or otherwise?

I did check voltage on the starter black/wire on the second part of the attachment (ignition switch to harness under the dash (this was where the black wire was)). The voltage came up as 11 or 12 I think when I turned the key. I just remember seeing a voltage when I turned the key and nothing when nothing was turned.

Again many thanks.

 

No, with a piece of wire, a jumper harness, whatever. You're just doing the same thing the relay does, crudely. A piece of wire will suffice for the purposes of the test.

 

and where are the relays?

 

One in each relay box.

 

and those are under the hood?

 

Indeed.

 

pmohr, thanks for all of the help. I was able to get the car started by creating a connection in the anti-theft starter relay from 3 to 4. I then thru additional analysis that the problem was that when I unlock the driver side door that it was not turning off the alarm (the horn was removed so the audible noise was not present).

 

I think this may be the reason that my car is not starting too. My security light is blinking and all the lights in the car start blinking rapidly when I turn the key past the accessory position.
Can anyone post a picture of this relay or does anyone have an idea what would cause all my interior lights to blink like a freak'n strobe light?

 

Sounds more like a dead battery or a serious electrical problem, not an alarm issue.

 

Ya umm I just figured it out
The battery wasn't dead because I had it on a trickle charger to keep it alive. I checked the terminals and thought they looked good because I didn't see any corrosion but after I took one of the terminals off I noticed all this red gunk caked onto them. I brushed off the gunk and shazaam! All is well again....I feel like such a doooosh!