I just got in it to go get an oil change...

Turn key, start car, let go of key, car dies....

Ok, turn key, car turns over but won't start, let go of key, should have silence but I hear a fan, it's my radiator fan and my headlights are on????

The car has been sitting in my garage all day so the coolant temp shouldn't trigger the fan and my headlight switch is "off". (AC is also off,so that shouldn't have triggered the fan)

I tried my other key but have the same problem. I have also tried pulling the neg battery cable for 15 minutes with no success.

I can't think of why the lights would come on and stay on when the key was in the "run" position and the light switch was off, unless the security system has something to do with this. But then I don't understand why the radiator fan comes on with the car at room temp.

My Z has about 45k miles and I bought the car new. It has been rock solid/bulletproof until today. No idea what's happening here.

Any ideas?


*Update edit 08/10/09*
The envelope please!......................


And the winner is........ABS control module, $1600.......

(The loser is my bank account)


I thought they were full of it when they told me the ABS unit was causing my engine not to start, but I talked to the tech and it sounds legit.

All the electronic "brains" are connected together on a bus line of sorts. The ABS module was shorting parts of that bus to ground and screwing up communications between other systems.

The tech disconnected the ABS module and let me start her up.... cranked right up, and purred like a happy kitten.

However, without the ABS module, my dash lights up like a jet fighter's cockpit that has detected incoming missiles.



They should have the part thursday and I will be $1600 lighter shortly thereafter.


Ouch.

 

ok, I'm having some starting issues as well. Don't know about the lights being on when they shouldn't but I've got issues with the crank position sensor. If it is bad it will keep the car from cranking.. will turn over but not crank and not give a SEL. Might wanna check it.... You can read my full thread if you want. It's in the same section.

 

My wife had that on her 04 Z. Turns out it was the key??? I know it sounds crazy. The dealer told us that the keys sometime have issues if you leave them on key chains with other car keys that have the same security chip (or what ever it is) in them??? We both have Z's so it must have screwed something up??

They had to reprogram the system and give us two new keys.

 

Thanks for the replies. We had a bad storm right after I posted and lost internet for a while.

I am leaning toward a key/ security problem since the problem seems to have control of the lights.

It is acting like I always assumed it would for a thief without a "chip" key. It seems I am "locked out" form starting the car.

I will leave the battery disconnected over night and if it doesn't "reset" in the morning, I guess I will have to flatbed it to the dealer on monday.

Such a shame. This car's reliability has always been one of the most endearing parts of ownership for me.

 

Scary...keep us posted on the issue.

 

feul pump

 

i think if it was the security system it wouldnt even turn over.. not 100 percent on that though

 

What about the lights?

 

my money is on the key's not communicating properly with the security system

i once (unintentionally) grabbed an very old set of keys which was no longer in the cars brain and it would turn and turn the motor without firing...

if both sets of keys don't work maybe the sensor in the steering colomn went bad? check loose wires there? check fuses? - i had no light issues though...

G/L!

 

Well, I connected the battery after leaving it disconnected overnight and there is no change.

I guess I will have to get it towed to the dealer on monday.

At least its "broken good". It should be easier for them to isolate and fix the problem.

 

Can't you try to bump start it and drive it, to the dealer?

 

I don't think so. It seems like the car is disabled from running, not just starting.

 

Any updates?

 

Towing it to the dealer today...

 

The envelope please!......................


And the winner is........ABS control module, $1600.......

(The loser is my bank account)


I thought they were full of it when they told me the ABS unit was causing my engine not to start, but I talked to the tech and it sounds legit.

All the electronic "brains" are connected together on a bus line of sorts. The ABS module was shorting parts of that bus to ground and screwing up communications between other systems.

The tech disconnected the ABS module and let me start her up.... cranked right up, and purred like a happy kitten.

However, without the ABS module, my dash lights up like a jet fighter's cockpit that has detected incoming missiles.



They should have the part thursday and I will be $1600 lighter shortly thereafter.


Ouch.

 

man that sucks. But how did it all of a sudden just stop working one day?

Hope you get it fixed in time for next month.

 

That's what happened. An electronic component simply failed, and it had to be one of the most expensive parts on the car.

Next month? They should have the module in by thursday and I need to scuff the new tires in this weekend! (event #7)

 

Without a doubt the car will turn over and not start if it is the key/security.

We had the same problem. I argued with the guy at Nissan saying it had to be the fuel pump. Well I was wrong it was the key programming. LOL

 

"turn over but not crank"? Aren't those one and the same or am I missing some terminology here?

 

*update*

Just picked her up today and she starts and runs great. (even stops too)

I am happy to have her back, but I was happy-er a week ago when she ran great and my bank account was $1900 healthier.

Oh well.

Now I must go spend some Spiegel-time with "my precious".