hoping you guys might have some suggestions for me. I have a 2002 Xterra SE SC edition. 118000 miles on it. For the last 2 years it's basically sat in my driveway, (prob put about 2-3k last 2 years..i live up in MA and basically just drive it in the snow now) So i'm looking to sell it now, and the other day went to go start it up, and nothing, wouldn't turn over, doesn't click, nothing. Radio and lights all turn on, no problem. The battery was covered with corrossion, so i ended up cleaning up the connectors and just getting a new battery. Same thing. Tried jumping it, same thing. Never even attemps to start. Checked the fuses under the hood as well as in the car. Not sure what to look for next, and would love to hear any suggestions. (i tried searching, but either the site is messed up, or i was wording it wrong, cuz everytime i got "sorry no matches" so i appologize in advance if this was already discussed somewhere..)

Thanks in advance..

rob

i'm thinking Starter problems

Thanks, that's what i was starting to lean towards..just curious if there were anythings to really test or check to try to nail it down before i get it towed somewhere to get it taken care of..

does it click at all when you try to turn it over or does it do nothing? If your headlights are on do they dim when you try to turn it over?

does not click at all when i try to turn it over. does nothing. radio and all interior lights work fine, headlights work, not sure if they dim or not as i was trying it during the day and it was just me so didn't have someone standing out to look, so not sure on that one.

There is a fuse in the fusebox on the driver side below the steering wheel labeled "METER". Check that fuse.
My 2001 had the same problem where the lights work but not even a click happened when I turned the key.
That one single fuse popped leaving the truck dead.

It could be an easy fix.

If that isn't it, then try smacking the starter with a hammer (passenger side underneath the truck).
If the truck cranks and starts then you know the starter is shot.

Obviously change out the battery or charge the battery before going through all of that.

Post up if it worked.

I'm thinking clean the cable connections to the starter. You might also try giving the starter and solenoid a tap with a suitable tool.

just checked the "METER" fuse, and that looks ok...brand new battery in there..lights do not dim at all when i turn the key, just as fyi, that was asked earlier..

smack the starter and try it again.
It has to be something electrical since it's not cranking at all.
Also check the wire behind the alternator to make sure it didn't loosen up or anything.

may seem a little stupid but, is it a 5 speed? depressing the clutch all the way?

may seem rediculous, but i've heard of things like floor mats getting wedged behind the clutch pedal and not allowing the clutch switch to engage , thus keeping the truck from starting....

just throwing that out there....pretty sure '02 was the only year you could get a SC'd 5spd

Yea thats a good thought. So many times i have to push the clutch farther down to start the truck.

i have to pretty much floor my clutch pedal in order to start it, maybe 1/2" or less from all the way depressed

thinking starter

Could be like brain said. My X is the same way. You should see my husky liner from where my clutch rubs when I push it in to start it.

i was about to say just use a volt meter to see if the battery good, and check for a fuse. last time i had a civic i had the same problem, i replaced starter and still no luck. found out i had to replace a main fuse and it started right up with the new starter :D

So did you smack your starter with a rubber mallet yet? That was not a joke, During cold weather, a frozen starter is a common problem. Take a voltmeter and see if you have 12 V there.

If you have 12V @ the starter, smack it with the mallet. If it still does not work, I am thinking solenoid.

If you do not have 12V there, then you have different problems.

Either way, loosen, then re-tighten your grounds.

Did you ever figure out what the problem was, geeeerad? I went out this morning to 19 degree temperatures and tried to start my X. Everything you mentioned happened to me. It wouldn't turn over but all the lights and the radio came on and worked just fine. Hoping that it's something simple and not a starter.

Update: I checked, my headlights dim when I try to start.

I seem to have the same problem!!!! When I turn the key nothing happens, all I get is the binging sound to remind me to take my key out, since I have the door open. I can use the door locks, windows and lights, but I get nothing on the dash and no start I also don't get the radio like the others. Thought maybe it was the alarm system so I pulled that and jumped the wires with no change. Battery tests good with voltmeter and jumping with jumpstarter or another car does nothing. I pulled the battery and alternator connections, cleaned them and then tightened them back down too. THANKS, BTW I have a 2000 XE, only had for 1 week !

may seem a little stupid but, is it a 5 speed? depressing the clutch all the way?

may seem rediculous, but i've heard of things like floor mats getting wedged behind the clutch pedal and not allowing the clutch switch to engage , thus keeping the truck from starting....

just throwing that out there....pretty sure '02 was the only year you could get a SC'd 5spd

wholly crap!!!! i was having this problem and it was the damn floormat. i got new think rubber ones, i just had to adjust it to get full depression on the clutch.
i feel a bit stupid.
but i did need a new battery........
That was the best bit of advice on here. saved me a lot of money!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
thanks.:i-love-you-big:

I seem to have the same problem!!!! When I turn the key nothing happens, all I get is the binging sound to remind me to take my key out, since I have the door open. I can use the door locks, windows and lights, but I get nothing on the dash and no start I also don't get the radio like the others. Thought maybe it was the alarm system so I pulled that and jumped the wires with no change. Battery tests good with voltmeter and jumping with jumpstarter or another car does nothing. I pulled the battery and alternator connections, cleaned them and then tightened them back down too. THANKS, BTW I have a 2000 XE, only had for 1 week !

Testing your battery with a voltmeter will not tell you if it is good.

Try starting it in neutral?

Did you ever figure out what the problem was, geeeerad? I went out this morning to 19 degree temperatures and tried to start my X. Everything you mentioned happened to me. It wouldn't turn over but all the lights and the radio came on and worked just fine. Hoping that it's something simple and not a starter.

Update: I checked, my headlights dim when I try to start.

I'm having the exact same problem in negative degrees here in IL.

Its been starting rough the past couple of days, so im assuming the starter is shot.

I'm having the exact same problem in negative degrees here in IL.

Its been starting rough the past couple of days, so im assuming the starter is shot.


If it's just started to give you trouble with the onset of cold weather, I would suspect a weak battery. Cold weather will sap the juice out of a battery very quickly and if it's an older battery with a weak charge, it won't last a night in very cold conditions. When we hit a week here with low teen temps, my X was having trouble starting and the colder it got the harder it was to start. Put in a new battery and it hasn't missed a lick yet.

If it's just started to give you trouble with the onset of cold weather, I would suspect a weak battery. Cold weather will sap the juice out of a battery very quickly and if it's an older battery with a weak charge, it won't last a night in very cold conditions. When we hit a week here with low teen temps, my X was having trouble starting and the colder it got the harder it was to start. Put in a new battery and it hasn't missed a lick yet.

went and checked out the battery before i even read this, had a bulge in it and an entire cell was frozen.

cruddy dealership swapped out the good battery and put in an old walmart everlast haha.

runs fine with the new battery.