Xterra was running perfectly, parked it overnight, tried to start it in the morning, got a couple little kicks then nothing. Cranks fine, fuel pump is working, there are no codes listed.
In the past six months, I have replaced the distributor, wires, plugs, anti knock, timing belt, fuel filter, the truck is well maintained.
I live on St John in the USVI and the nearest dealer is a boat ride away.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.

You need to get the codes scanned, before anyone is really going to tell you anything useful, unless you want to guess along.
If there is nowhere to get the codes read, you might buy one online. (OBD II scanner)

Some things to check would be the plugs to the distributor, since you said it had been replaced. Then check to see if you have spark (most likely not), if it does, you should suspect the injectors are not getting a signal.
There can just be so many things, that are keeping it from firing (including a bad ground to the engine).
I hope you can get it running quickly.

ps. Don't rule out a bad distributor, even though you already replaced it once.

Did hook up an OBD scanner and picked up no codes.
There is spark.
tks

If you have compression, fuel and spark, it should run, so if you are sure it is getting fuel to the injectors, it should run, unless the timing belt shed some teeth.
If you pull a plug after trying to start it and you can smell strong gas, suspect the time has jumped. If it does not smell and the plug is dry, it is possible the fuel regulator is shot. (have you removed a fuel line to see if the pump is flowing fuel, when you turn on the key?)
(usually when the didtributor is shot, it gives a multiple misfire code)
Have you cleaned the maf with maf cleaner?
Without codes, you will have to start eliminating possible causes.

I think he mentioned no codes a few times, and I assume that he knows that he can have codes even w/o a dash light being on, etc...so, lets move to the basic diagnostic steps.

:D

1) Check the battery for power/and/or get a jump start...to make SURE that its getting enough juice to kick the system on (Strong enough to crank can be too weak to start sometimes) - Make sure the ground/cables are not corroded...check continuity, etc.

2) Pull a plug, and make sure you get a spark when you try to start it.

3) Pull a fuel line off the rail, and see if gas squirts when you try to start

4) Look at the air box, and see if the filter is clogged/mice made a nest in there, etc.

5) Look at your exhaust, and see if there's a potato in your tail pipe, or, other signs of rust collapse, etc.

6) Look under the hood/rig for signs of critters that may have eaten something important...squirrels for example sabotaged my rig (little grey terrorists...).


Do all that, and in the course of it all, you may discover one to BE the problem, or to LEAD YOU TO the problem.

Rotor turns, fuel pressure is there, car is very well maintained, turns over quickly, no weird noises.
Read somewhere that the alarm can shut down the engine. My fob does not work and I could have messed up the alarm on locking unlocking etc.
What is the process when you don't have a fob to disarm the alarm? I read another message that said if you don't have a door chime your alarm is on.

Would that explain why I am not getting any OBD scans?

If its not the alarm could it be a faulty ecu. The car ran perfectly, before this not starting problem.

Key in the Drivers side lock should disarm the alarm.

Good point!
Fuses and relays can do weird things!
The alarm relay is under the hood on passenger side.

Rotor turns, fuel pressure is there, car is very well maintained, turns over quickly, no weird noises.
Read somewhere that the alarm can shut down the engine. My fob does not work and I could have messed up the alarm on locking unlocking etc.
What is the process when you don't have a fob to disarm the alarm? I read another message that said if you don't have a door chime your alarm is on.

Would that explain why I am not getting any OBD scans?

If its not the alarm could it be a faulty ecu. The car ran perfectly, before this not starting problem.


Do the steps I described, and then we will have something to work with....otherwise, we all just keep guessing reasons an engine won't start....and there are hundreds.

So, report back on the results of DOING the above.

IE: HEARING the fuel pump is not the same as seeing gas spurt.

Keeping it well maintained doesn't guarantee that a battery cable didn't corrode INSIDE the insulation, and so forth.


(If it were the alarm, it would be dead, and not crank...but, you turn over but not CATCH, if I understand you correctly).


So, the starter is spinning the flywheel...so that part's OK.

You are either not getting ENOUGH ooomph to catch, or, are short on fuel, air, or spark.

Going through the initial diagnostics to rule things out helps a lot, as - if you do a good job and confirm the above are all hunky dory...then we say your new distributor went south on you, to next check the fuses and relays, etc.


BTW - did YOU change the plugs/wires, or, did a shop/someone ELSE do it?



:wink-big:

As someone else listed.. if you think the alarm is armed (which should have gone crazy when you opened the door), unlock it with tthe drivers or hatch key cylinder. Both will disarm the alarm, but I don't think the alarm being armed is your issue.



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Check your fuses dudicus :)