I went to turn my car on this morning only to find it won't turn on!!

All the dash lights come on, windows and locks work, wipers work, all lights works!! But it doesn't even make a sound when I turn the key. This started happening yesterday, after a few tries, i left it for 5 minutes, came back and it turned on normally, I have no idea what is keeping it from turning on, the engine doesn't even try because it makes no sound!!

Someone help me make this thing move before I get it towed outta here tomorrow to the garage to get it looked at :-(

 

its the starter, go get a new one and replace it, you probably got a faulty one from the factory

 

Do you have any after-market alarm systems installed or anything that was wired into the starter-relay circuit? If so, this could be the culprit, i.e., loose connection (this was what happened to me w/ my after-market alarm system).

Otherwise, if you can get it started, take it to the dealer and let them diagnose the problem. As 66impalaSS said it could be the starter or something between the starter and the battery, i.e., the starter is not getting the requisite voltage needed to engage.

Also, try the other 2 keys that you have for the car. Maybe it's a faulty chip in the key itself and it's not communicating properly with the car causing the factory alarm to not allow the car to start.

It sucks when something like this happens, but that's why warranties are offered...cuz manufacturers know that "stuff" happens.

Good luck,

VG

 

it could just be your battery lost alot of juice over night and you need a jump...

its happend to me and some friends before where the battery drained enough to not let the engine roll over.. but turn eerything else on..

 

Do you have an automatic transmission? If so, can you move the selector lever out of "Park?" My AT would occasionally lock up in Park and would not turn over. The cure is to remove the small cap covering the shift lock opening right next to the gearshift lever and stick a key in to unlock the transmission.

 

It might have something to do with the steering wheel lock... maybe.

 

yea, it has to be the steering wheel. turn it all the way left or right, it'll lock in place, then it should start, mine does it all the time, i guess it's the way i leave my wheel when i get out of my car, post if thats it.

 

the key shouldnt even turn if that was the problem... if the key turns all the way to where it should start, then its something else.

 

also a dead battery might let lights work, maybe even windows. but at that point you should at very least hear a click from the engine where it tries to turn over but cant.

tho if its happened repeatedly Id lean towards a mechanical problem like a bad connection of faulty starter vs a dead battery or wheel lock problem.

 

It sounds like a problem I have had once. That is the key isn't sending the signal to the car to allow the engine to start. If you have other things on the key chain that send out signals (like access cards for buildings or gates) take them off. If you have your other Z keys on the same chain, take them off as well.

The last thing I can say is, if it's a manual be sure to depress the clutch all the way. It won't start without it depressed. I have made the mistake of depressing it about 80% and it won't start and I get confused.

I got my keys re-programmed when I had the problem. It hasn't happened since. I don't know why it did it, I keep all the key separate.

If it was a bad battery/starter/mechanical problem then I would think it wouldn't start at all, but since you say it started after you left it for 5 minutes, then I am leaning towards the key signal probem.

 

It is an automatic. No sound is emmitted from anywhere in the car when the key is turned. No aftermarket alarm system. Nothing on the keychain that would send a signal ( except the keyless remote ). Just tried all 3 keys I had for the car.

Had the car for just under 4 weeks. 762 miles on it, got it with 2 miles, 2004 model.

I guess I will have it towed to the dealership tomorrow so their garage can take a look at it.

 

do you have another car you can try jumping it with????

if you turn the key on a semi dead battery you wont hear anything

 

The manual says the Voltage gauge shows battery power when the car is off and alternator power when its on, well it shows a little past the 12V mark when i put the key onto the "acc" option, so the battery seems to have enough power to start the car, which basically leaves the starter as the problem.

 

Take it to the dealer, their the experts

 

UPDATE :

Had it towed in to the dealer ( my expense - would they pay If I asked? ) and called them later that day ( they always fail to call you about an update ) and they said it was the "starter relay" that wouldn't let it turn on. Fair enough, **** happens, no biggie, told me they would get in the part the next day ( tuesday ). I was ok with this, didn't ask for a loaner because I could go without it for a day. Next day ( still no call at 4pm ) I called them and they said the part sent in was for a 2003 model and not 2004, so at this point I wanted to come in and get a loaner which they were ok with. Gave me a peice of **** sentra to drive around ( big downgrade after driving the Z for a month ). I argued a bit about the loaner, wanted a Maxima but they were ******** about it so I just let it go. Wednesday afternoon I call them to find out they can't get the part until Next Wednesday! A whole ****ing week just to get the part. Well at this point it started to really suck, but i dealth with it, what else can I do?

Thursday I get a call saying the part arrived ( gee whiz ) and the car was ready to be picked up. At this point I was pretty happy, didn't have to wait long to get it back. Got it back that night and drove like there was never anything wrong with it.

Today
Worked well throughout the day. Driving home from work I stop at Togo's to get some food, came back to find, THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM, wouldn't turn on, at all. Had to be picked up :-(

I will get it towed in tomorrow ( I will ***** for them to pay the towing fee this time ) and demand them to fix it. This is pissing me off :-(

I wouldn't mind problems where I could still drive the car, but I absolutely hate it when the damn thing is dead.

 

well have it fixed, if it goes bad a third time, contact a lawyer; you have just earned a nice new Z.

 

feel your pain. Request they provide tow to the dealership and request refund for your out of pocket expense on previous toe.

Hint at lemon law and pray dealer puts their best tech on the job to fix you Z.

 

Just called them, they said it's been running fine all day, I had to REMIND him that I drove up to him in the parking lot, turned off my car, and asked him to turn it back on and it wouldn't start. If they can't find anything wrong with it, and then tell me, "yea we drove it around today, worked fine" it is just rediculous.

My first question was " so you didn't fix it"? And they replied " It worked fine today"

I may have to enforce the lemon law, at this point I just want to get it back, have it break down again and try to get rid of it.

 

After 3 trips to the dealer, they decided to replace the transmission? I don't get how this problem has to do with the transmission but oh well. they have had it for 15+ days. I bought the car 5 weeks ago...this isn't right :-(

 

just got a call, telling me 2 weeks until a new tranny...

anyone know the number for NNA ( stands for..? ) or BBB so I can try to have them buy the car back?