2001 nissan Sentra 1.8 lt starting problem. A details of the problem.?
(2010-05-29 10:01:33) 1. Says: Hi there,here is the long story.
1. approximately 6weeks back, my car wasn't starting. I didn't hear any noticeable sound at all. after I turned the key for 10-15 times it got started. Had no problem for another 2 weeks.
2. On a Saterday after that 2 weeks, I drove around 30 KMs then parked the car. After an hour when I tried to start the car, nothing happened, no sound, at least I couldn't hear anything. (I was reading another post at http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090706074838AAwNpyW and I think I might had heard something spinning, but not 100% sure, I can't quite recall hearing anything). I turned the key for at least 30 times........nothing. Then again after 3 hours I tried for another 30 times, nothing. On the next day, in the morning I tried for another 30-35 times...nothing. Again at around 2:30 pm I started trying, and after few trials, it finally got started. I took the car to Active Green & Ross right away. They tested it on Monday (They call the test as AVR test. They gave me this reading:
BATTERY TEST
------------------------
good battery
Volts: 12.82 V
Measured 673CCA
Rating 660CCA
STARTER TEST
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Normal (the voltage reading has got erased, I guess this reading was 14.33, the typing is not so clear)
CHARGING TEST
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OK
Volts 14.56V)
This test was done on 5th April2010.
I also took the car to another local mechanic's shop. He also said, the battery, alternator and the starter are OK.
3. On 28th April, I drove around 120 KMs on highway in the morning, Parked the car outside at 9:30 AM. Started the car again at 4:30PM, drove 60 KMs on highway, then suddenly I had do a hard brake on the highway, lucky that there was no car behind. I smelled something burning for a while, thought it could be the brake shoe or tire, drove another 15 KMs on highway, no problem. When entered the city, speed ahd to go down and then noticed some thing funny, my air-bag light came on and started blinking. I had to stop at a red light, and after it got to green, felt that I had to push the gas paddle really hard to accelerate. After few more minutes the car started shaking. I stopped the car at a safe place. Left it for a while, tried to start it again, nothing. Opened the hood, asked my buddy to turn the ignition key, while I was looking at the engine, found a belt is trying to rotate (not quite sure what belt is that, but assume it is connected to alternator or alternator) but the engine did not get started. At that time, the airbag light was blinking, battery light and engine oil light was on. Called CAA for a boosting. The guy suspected the alternator was almost dead, he said at the end of its life one could smell something burning in the alternator, and when I went close to the alternator, I could smell a burn, not that strong though. The car got started right away with being boosted, the guy kept the boosting cable for aroung 15-20 minutes, so that I get enough charge, he asked me not to turn the accessories on.
On my way back home (around 70 KMs from that place), I noticed, If I was running at 120 KM/Hr there were no lights coming, but whenever I was driving at 100 or lower the air bag light started blinking. It was getting dark and I turned the headlight on, right then the car had a sudden shake and the airbag light began blinking. I turned the headlight off. When I entered the city (lower speed than highway), the airbag light started blinking again, and I felt again that, I had to push the gas pad really hard. When I entered my garage, my automatic window glass at my side was not going up. I could just park the car. It was shaking.
On 30th, I called the CAA again in the morning, the guy boosted the car. I asked him if this was an alternator issue? while boosting the car got started at the very first time. Then the guy disconnected one junction from my battery and told me that, it's probably the battery, not alternator. He said, if it was the alternator, the car would stop right when he disconnected that port from my battery.
I drove the car to the same local mechanic's shop. He tested everything and changed the battery. I got the car back from him on Saterday morning at 9, parked the car outside and then at around 3:30 pm tried to start the car again. It did not start. A guy right beside me had boosting cable and wanted to help. After the boosting cables had been connected, I tried again and nothing happened. Then that guy wanted to try once again, nothing. Then he released my hand brake, the car moved a little as the parking place was a little downhill, he turned the key and it got started. I took the car back to that local shop, the guy kept the car for over a day, tested and found nothing. He said, I must have left any light on, but I am pretty sure I did not leave any light on.
So that's the story. I know apparently nothing about car. I want this to 2. Says: Check your coolant level ? low coolant possible head gasket issue. Usually with hard start from head gasket you will have hard start then has rough run for a little bit. You may have an intermittent open in starter typically you will hear an audible click from in engine compartment or no noise at all.
Nissan sentras also have a fuel pump issue where you have to crank several times. Typically starts on 2nd or third try.
Cranking is when engine spins but won't fire up.
If nothing happens when you turn key then is is not cranking ?
Leave the car with mechanic for him to duplicate your concern, if you just let a mechanic start replacing compo nets with out a good diagnosis you will spends to much money.Let the mechanic drive your car on overnite raod test. He will get to root of issue quicker.
air bag lite you may have tweeked a seat belt pre tensioner when you stopped hard a Nissan dealer could read fault code is system.
and very rarely ignition switchs go out it is the switch that is turned when you turn key (its behind key)3. Says: There are specific items that are required replacement items when a deployment occurs or when an airbag light comes on...and there are some items that are "check only". Check out the websites below for the EXACT answers to your questions including fault code charts and reset information. This site tells you exactly what needs to be replaced and how to access them (seat belts & all) on over 3500 cars. It's a pay site ($14.95 / day), but it's little money well spent to get the correct answers and to see exactly what you're after...it uses pictures, not text, so you can see what you’re looking for.
This is the same website insurance companies and body shops use to determine what needs to be replaced.
Good Luck...it's not too bad of a job & if your state allows it, used parts or parts from ebay should be ok
Also, there's a page in this site that tells you which cars need a scan tool to reset the system and which ones can be done without it. Tag: 2001 nissan Sentra 1.8 lt starting problem. A details of the problem.?