rto107
02-06-2010, 04:45 PM
This is strange and just began happening in my 02 Xterra (86k mi). When I slide the key into the ignition and turn it to the first phase, power comes on as usual. Then I turn to the second stage of the ignition and the status lights on the dashboard all come up and I can hear a pump or something begin to power up which is normal for me and has always done that. Now comes the crazy part ... SOMETIMES at this stage BEFORE I turn the key the last bit to actually start the engine, I completely lose power. The gauges and lights begin to activate and then just as they get to their "ready" status poof - the I lose all power. No lights, no radio, no cabin lights - nothing. Now sometimes it is fine at this stage. I can wait 60 or more seconds and the dashboard gauges and lights are all lit and ready, but then as soon as begin to turn the key to begin starting the engine, I then lose all power just the same as before. I don't hear any clicking or anything like that and I have a new battery (maybe 2k mi on it).
This has happened to me when my Xterra is in the garage when I go to leave for work in the morning as well as when I'm at the office trying to go home. I've "fixed" it thus far by opening my door and closing it ... sometimes that "reboots" the car and power comes back on as I can hear the CD changer going (key is now out of the ignition when the door opens and closes). I don't think it's a complete loss of power though because the time on the car stereo is not reset. It's almost like the car's computer is rebooting or something ... if there is such a thing as a car reboot. Sometimes when I open and close the door, I can then start the engine. Sometimes I need to pull out and then plug in the ignition fuse from under the hood to get the power to come back on. And sometimes it just comes back on by itself ... Like I'll hop out of the car leaving the door open and then all of a sudden the power comes back on again. I really don't trust the car right now, and I'm not sure where to begin troubleshooting this. I would think ignition switch is the first place to start. Any other thoughts? I'm thinking it is not the starter motor because sometimes I don't even turn the key to engage the starter.
One last thing - the Xterra will start SOMETIMES ... usually after I go through a few power failures. I can't give a "always works" set of steps to get the car started, but suffice to say these issues are intermittent and if I keep at it and keep trying different things the engine will start.
This has happened to me when my Xterra is in the garage when I go to leave for work in the morning as well as when I'm at the office trying to go home. I've "fixed" it thus far by opening my door and closing it ... sometimes that "reboots" the car and power comes back on as I can hear the CD changer going (key is now out of the ignition when the door opens and closes). I don't think it's a complete loss of power though because the time on the car stereo is not reset. It's almost like the car's computer is rebooting or something ... if there is such a thing as a car reboot. Sometimes when I open and close the door, I can then start the engine. Sometimes I need to pull out and then plug in the ignition fuse from under the hood to get the power to come back on. And sometimes it just comes back on by itself ... Like I'll hop out of the car leaving the door open and then all of a sudden the power comes back on again. I really don't trust the car right now, and I'm not sure where to begin troubleshooting this. I would think ignition switch is the first place to start. Any other thoughts? I'm thinking it is not the starter motor because sometimes I don't even turn the key to engage the starter.
One last thing - the Xterra will start SOMETIMES ... usually after I go through a few power failures. I can't give a "always works" set of steps to get the car started, but suffice to say these issues are intermittent and if I keep at it and keep trying different things the engine will start.