Who is a pro on the 350Z key electronics? I'm new to the 350Z so I'm guessing, but, the car would not start today in a parking lot. Turned over fine and fast everything worked, just would not start. On my explorer if you try to start it with a good key and the wrong electronics in the key, the fuel pump is turned off and the truck turns over fine but has no gas and will not start. That is exactly what this felt like.

At first I had stutter started it like turn the key on and off then on and I thought maybe it had flooded with two shots from the injectors. In the manual it says to hold it to the floor then try without the gas. It also talks about the "Presence" of an interfering transmitter.

Then suddenly after 20 minutes it did start, started right up after I put the shifter in neutral and returned the passenger to the fully upright position. I've always parked manual cars in first gear, it's a habit. This is a 2005 roadster, I've had it about a month. It has never failed to start. She has 78,000 miles and runs fantastic. I'm pretty sure there would be an interlock if the top was in operation...maybe but the car is running and your foot is on the break when the top is in operation. I have a Celica and it requires a foot on the break to start and operate the top, but it is an automatic. The Z only requires the clutch pedal to the floor as far as I know.

In the 20 minutes I wasn't keeping track of the cars coming and leaving in the parking lot but I suppose there could have been a competing Nissan security transmitter in another car close by. Any ideas?

 

Engine grounding sounds like a good idea. Anyone with experience? I'll at least put on some new terminals tomorrow. Lucky it's Sunday.

 

Are you throwing a code? Check engine light on? Dont think it would turn over if it was your keys... was the security light flashing or something like that making you think its key related? Could be lot's of thing's.

 

I used to think that about the Ford PATS system too. In the PATS, the fuel pump is turned off so the vehicle will still turn over but not start. I saw no codes at the time. If the computer threw a code I think it would still be displayed. I'm going to secure the electrics today but it's hard for me to figure a car that turns over with fuel and the computer will not allow the spark. That doesn't sound right but, I don't know the Nissan Security system. A car that starts every time in a hundred then fails for a certain time period, starts and doesn't fail for 20 times has to be something other that simply mechanical, or other symptoms would display. Seems to me.

 

Not sure an answer here but I can confirm that when my key was going bad, the car did turn over. It turns over but just wouldn't start. When plugged into a scanner, it would bring up a code for NATS

 

If the car does this again I'll check for that code. I do have another key. Maybe I'll switch.

 

Car resets automatically in 5 to 15 minutes, per a locksmith.


Interesting. I'm still not sure if that is what exactly was happening. Just speculation.

 

It's short and sweet and with a British accent.