My Daughter purchased her 2000 V6 Xterra last spring after an internet search for a yellow one.
In September, the automatic transmission went out at 130,000 miles.
I had a reputable local import mechanic find a used one, added some upgraded parts to fix the internal lubrication problems and installed the modified used transmission.
It started giving her other problems a few weeks ago - the first noticed symptoms were the dash lights going out and coming back on.
A few days later, it would not crank, but the lights and radio etc worked.
She waited a few moments and tried to start it, eventually the starter came to life and it started right up.
This happened more than once - no way to predict it...
Last week, she left it for a few hours and it would not start.
I climbed under it, had her hold the key in start position and gave the starter a few "taps" with a hammer - it started right up.
We went directly to the parts store(s) and ordered a reman starter which I installed the following day.
Four days later, it is unresponsive when trying to start it.
I was on a trip, so my nephews tried to jump start it and finally trailered it home.
It is now unresponsive to anything - no electricity at all - no headlights, no interior lights, no door chime.
I hooked my jumper cables up, left another vehicle idling beside it for 30-45 minutes. No start - then with a few wiggles and moving of the jumper cables, I finally got it to start.
I pulled it in to the garage and shut it off - tried to restart it - not enough to crank it, but the headlights worked and accessories worked
OK...I think it must be the battery - so I get a new battery, install it and once again - nothing - no power - no headlights, no accessories.
I start looking at the fusible links - one by one removing them and checking for corrosion - all seems OK, until I get to the 100A battery link - it won't come out (aha..must be corroded, causing my problem) so I end up destroying it - then realize it is held in by screws (duh).
I get another 100A link, spend a few hours removing the P/S reservoir and taking the fusible link box apart to get to the screws - finally get the new link installed, put it back together.
In the process of removing the P/S reservoir bracket, I removed the ground wire from the inner wheel house (broke the bolt off - drilled, tapped and replaced the ground bolt, cleaning the terminal and the wheel house surface down to bare metal - Ohmmeter says it is a good connection).
I reassembled the fusible link box, put the P/S bracket and reservoir back, re-install the new battery and.... no change - not even a squeak out of my door chime or a glow from any lamp.
So... starter is replaced, we have a new battery...but no power going even to the headlights (eliminating the ignition switch?)
I have read where the alternator may be damaged by improper jumping - this should not affect the headlight circuit, should it? (eliminating the alternator as a problem)
I have printed off about 8 pages of the service manual (I found 2001 on line, but not 2000) electrical diagram and will soon start to try to trace the path to find where I could have an open circuit...
At this point, I need some direction - does anyone have any ideas?
In September, the automatic transmission went out at 130,000 miles.
I had a reputable local import mechanic find a used one, added some upgraded parts to fix the internal lubrication problems and installed the modified used transmission.
It started giving her other problems a few weeks ago - the first noticed symptoms were the dash lights going out and coming back on.
A few days later, it would not crank, but the lights and radio etc worked.
She waited a few moments and tried to start it, eventually the starter came to life and it started right up.
This happened more than once - no way to predict it...
Last week, she left it for a few hours and it would not start.
I climbed under it, had her hold the key in start position and gave the starter a few "taps" with a hammer - it started right up.
We went directly to the parts store(s) and ordered a reman starter which I installed the following day.
Four days later, it is unresponsive when trying to start it.
I was on a trip, so my nephews tried to jump start it and finally trailered it home.
It is now unresponsive to anything - no electricity at all - no headlights, no interior lights, no door chime.
I hooked my jumper cables up, left another vehicle idling beside it for 30-45 minutes. No start - then with a few wiggles and moving of the jumper cables, I finally got it to start.
I pulled it in to the garage and shut it off - tried to restart it - not enough to crank it, but the headlights worked and accessories worked
OK...I think it must be the battery - so I get a new battery, install it and once again - nothing - no power - no headlights, no accessories.
I start looking at the fusible links - one by one removing them and checking for corrosion - all seems OK, until I get to the 100A battery link - it won't come out (aha..must be corroded, causing my problem) so I end up destroying it - then realize it is held in by screws (duh).
I get another 100A link, spend a few hours removing the P/S reservoir and taking the fusible link box apart to get to the screws - finally get the new link installed, put it back together.
In the process of removing the P/S reservoir bracket, I removed the ground wire from the inner wheel house (broke the bolt off - drilled, tapped and replaced the ground bolt, cleaning the terminal and the wheel house surface down to bare metal - Ohmmeter says it is a good connection).
I reassembled the fusible link box, put the P/S bracket and reservoir back, re-install the new battery and.... no change - not even a squeak out of my door chime or a glow from any lamp.
So... starter is replaced, we have a new battery...but no power going even to the headlights (eliminating the ignition switch?)
I have read where the alternator may be damaged by improper jumping - this should not affect the headlight circuit, should it? (eliminating the alternator as a problem)
I have printed off about 8 pages of the service manual (I found 2001 on line, but not 2000) electrical diagram and will soon start to try to trace the path to find where I could have an open circuit...
At this point, I need some direction - does anyone have any ideas?