Pathy wont start

[Nissanclay]

This Pathfinder is going to kill me!

Its been doing this weird thing where is takes a second or two to start. I thought whatever it is what it is. Could hear the relay click then hold it for 3 sec and starts.

We yesterday Jordan calls me and says it wont start. Took her about 5 min of trying and it finally fired up. She was working the late shift so I went a traded vehicles with her and it took a couple of tries to get it to start but it finally did.

Well I thought hmm, maybe its all the oil coating the starter. Got a can of electrical parts cleaner and blasted the hell out of it this morning and it fired up with the usual 3 sec delay. Then a few hours later, Jordan could not get it to start. I got home and tried again and noting. Cleaned it some more, tried jumping it, and nothing. The started doesn't even spin. All I can hear is the relay clicking.

So I said fuck it and went a bought a new starter. Installed it and put the new Red top I got in at the same time. Still nothing, starter doesn't spin, just hear the relay click. Tried jumping it again just to make sure but nope!

So WTF! Anyone have any ideas? I gave up for the night and went to the bar.

I'll crawl under the dash in the morning and take a look at fuses and what not.

[Nissanclay]

Just talked to my dad and he's thinking battery cable. I have a bunch of 2ga laying around so I'll give that a try in the morning. Its clean at the battery buy after 23 years could be corroded somwhere. When I get back home I'll try the jiggling the wire and see what happens.

[Bill Potter]

Is it a 5 speed or auto?

If its the 5 speed it's most likely the clutch interlock relay.

[Allen Cox]

Yep, what Bill said.

Look next to the battery, on the inner fender support, and locate a big blue relay. It will have 2 rather large wires coming out of it (both black, one with a yellow stripe [probably look white] and one with a pink stripe [maybe was red once, I've never seen it red though]). There will be two other, smaller wires in it as well, but don't worry about them.

With a thick jumper wire, go directly from the battery to either of the larger wires in the connector for that relay. If it doesn't do anything, then jump to the other one. Oh yeah, make sure it's out of gear! If the starter kicks over, bad relay (extremely common).

Now, if it's an auto, then hold the key in the start position and wiggle the shifter back and forth, maybe even try Neutral, to see if the starter kicks in.

Worse case scenario, if neither of those things work, it's probably the ignition switch. Good news is that you can get just the electrical portion of that bad boy so you don't have to change out the lock cylinder. ;)

Starter issues are easy peasy. If you don't figure it out by Tuesday, let me know and I'll stop and take a gander at it.

[Sully4x4]

Just talked to my dad and he's thinking battery cable. I have a bunch of 2ga laying around so I'll give that a try in the morning. Its clean at the battery buy after 23 years could be corroded somwhere. When I get back home I'll try the jiggling the wire and see what happens.

I just did this same project on my pathy a week ago. My wire was perfectly fine with no corrosion. I am starting to think my issue has to do with my timing and my distributor degree. Maybe give that a try?

[Nissanclay]

Is it a 5 speed or auto?

If its the 5 speed it's most likely the clutch interlock relay.

5 speed

Yep, what Bill said.

Look next to the battery, on the inner fender support, and locate a big blue relay. It will have 2 rather large wires coming out of it (both black, one with a yellow stripe [probably look white] and one with a pink stripe [maybe was red once, I've never seen it red though]). There will be two other, smaller wires in it as well, but don't worry about them.

With a thick jumper wire, go directly from the battery to either of the larger wires in the connector for that relay. If it doesn't do anything, then jump to the other one. Oh yeah, make sure it's out of gear! If the starter kicks over, bad relay (extremely common).

Now, if it's an auto, then hold the key in the start position and wiggle the shifter back and forth, maybe even try Neutral, to see if the starter kicks in.

Worse case scenario, if neither of those things work, it's probably the ignition switch. Good news is that you can get just the electrical portion of that bad boy so you don't have to change out the lock cylinder. ;)

Starter issues are easy peasy. If you don't figure it out by Tuesday, let me know and I'll stop and take a gander at it.

Gonna play with the in the AM. I know exactly what one you're talking about. Might make a run to the JY in the morning and pull one if it ends up being the relay. Found a really nice 95 down there the other day complete minus the door panels (can't find them anywhere) and some pieces I took. :)

[Allen Cox]

The problem with getting a JY relay is that the problem is so prevalent that a used relay will end up failing too.

If it is the relay, see if you can wire up a heavy duty relay from Radio Shack or something that can handle the 30 or so amps. Then you can get a replacement anywhere in the future.

[Nissanclay]

Well, I said F it and just ran out rid to try it. Its the relay. After trying the other wire, the started kick on and actually scared me a little bit.

Gonna go get me a relay tomorrow and put the old starter back in. That's $100 bucks I can put toward something better then replacing something that isn't broken.

Thanks guys! Very simple fix other then the time spent replacing a started twice.

[Nissanclay]

All fixed. Replaced the relay and put the old starter back in. Its once again purring like a kitten with Leukemia.

[Nissanclay]

$17 at autozone

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/parts/Duralast-Relay-Starter/_/N-ihulqZ9cj8k?itemIdentifier=134692_27070_0_