Ok I am stumped, hopefully one of you guys can help me out!

I have a 2000 Nissan Xterra (6 cyl). I was driving it the engine died and the guages flickered (like the alternator was bad). So I took out the alternator and got it tested (tested good). So my next step was the Crankshaft Position Sensor, I tested that and it came back bad so I replaced it. I thought I would be good after that but now when I go to crank the engine the power initially turns on when I put the key in, but as soon as I try to crank it, everything dies...all power. Any ideas? (please don't say flywheel or tranny cuz that will suck!)

battery? short? bad ground?

Would a blown fuse cause that? It tried to turn over a couple of time but it just clicked a bunch...then completely died, the bigger question I guess is, whats my next step to get this engine started after I replace the short or blown fuse?

Possibly the starter solenoid?

Whatever it is, I don't believe is going to be a severe/expensive fix. Definitely not the flywheel, tranny or the like. I'm thinking either a bad battery cable/connection or solenoid.

if iehte of those are the prob it should fix itself after you replace/repair

the reason i say short or bad ground is bc you say it just clicks and dies, which tells me in its current state your system cannot provide the amount of electricity required to turn the starter, the clicking is just the starter gear popping out and not spinning

why would the engine not turn over though? It sounds like it is trying (belts spin from starter but the engine won't turn over) then it starts to click...would it do that if the tranny froze?

Sounds like a short to me.

Ok so general consensus is that my first problem is a short somewhere, how would I go about fixing that? Would it just be a fuse or would something else have shorted?

Most likely something in your starting...so check your electrical lines to your battery. Lines to your starting solenoid. Check everything. See if it all looks good. See if any of the lines are worn down etc...

I would have my battery checked. Try jumping it.

Had a 2000 X with similar problems, checked all of the above, turned out to be a wire that got pinched, over a year later, shorted, melting 2 other wires with it. Had signals crossing themselves out.

ok i just want to throw this out there just so it dosent come up again the tranny has nothing to do with the motor starting... get your battery checked and let us know the outcome of the test..

Checked the battery, it was dead, replaced it. Same outcome. Belts move but the engine won't turn over then the clicking from the starter sound. I also tried to jump it for good measure.

ok i just want to throw this out there just so it dosent come up again the tranny has nothing to do with the motor starting... get your battery checked and let us know the outcome of the test..


Could an electrical wiring problem, starter, etc...cause the tranny to freeze up while driving?

Checked the battery, it was dead, replaced it. Same outcome. Belts move but the engine won't turn over then the clicking from the starter sound.

Yes, you need to check for a short. Sounds like something like suckafish had.

Could an electrical wiring problem, starter, etc...cause the tranny to freeze up while driving?

Nope. The tranny is isolated from anything starter/alternator related. The ONLY thing electrical I'm aware of that MIGHT affect the tranny would be a failure of the ECU and even then it would be something like shift timing. Your tranny should never freeze up unless you're just running it dry.

For what your describing, take the engine completely out of the equation. You only have 5 possible culprits:
Alternator
Battery
Starter
Fuse
Wiring

You've already eliminated a few so just keep working down the line. Electrical issues can be tricky. It's just a matter of a process of elimination.

X2 ON DRAKES POST

but ill add that the tps being out will cause the tranny to do some funny things. but that aint your prob either

Is it a really rapid click? Because if it is, then you need to look at your battery connections, meaning the clamps. Replace with Brass terminals for the best results.

Als, one way to check your ground, is to disconnect the negative cable, and clip a test light to it while it is free from the battery, and if you do not get a light, then it is a bad ground. Another thing I would recommend is to clean the ground cable, and possibly up rade it with a 4 gauge ground cable