Cranks but will not start intermittently

Tiny
ELKGROVE65
  • MEMBER
  • 2005 NISSAN FRONTIER
  • V6
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 140,000 MILES
It started few months ago with my vehicle listed above (Nismo model). Sometimes when I go to start the truck it will crank but will not start. If I wait around fifteen minutes and then it will start. It happened again this morning, the car started up no problem the first thing in the morning and I drove it for about ten miles then turn off the engine. Five minute later I tried to start the truck, it cranked but would not start. I tried a couple times to no avail then I decided to let it sit for few minutes and tried again and this time it just fired up like nothing happened. The battery is good and I replaced the fuel pump, both camshaft position sensors and crankshaft position sensor last year. One thing for sure that it always starts the first thing in the morning.
Thursday, December 7th, 2017 AT 8:08 AM

24 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,176 POSTS
When it refuses to start, see if using starting fluid works. If it starts for a couple seconds and shuts off, chances are it is fuel related. If that is the case, check fuel pump pressure under the no start condition.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-fuel-system-pressure-and-regulator

If it does not start with starting fluid, chances are you lost spark. Check for that under the no start condition.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-test-an-ignition-system

Let me know what you find.
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Thursday, December 7th, 2017 AT 6:35 PM
Tiny
ELKGROVE65
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
It happened again this morning and when it refused to start, I checked and there was no spark. I let it sit for ten minutes and it started like nothing happened. So what do you think what is the cause of my hard to start intermittently problem?
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Saturday, December 9th, 2017 AT 2:17 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 54,217 POSTS
This sounds like a classic crankshaft angle sensor failure problem. Here is a guide that will give you an idea of what you are in for when doing the job.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/crankshaft-angle-sensor-replacement

Here is what it will be like for your car

Check out the diagrams (Below)

Please let us know what you find. We are interested to see what it is.

Cheers, Ken
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Saturday, December 16th, 2017 AT 12:57 PM
Tiny
ELKGROVE65
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
I replaced the crankshaft sensor last week with the OEM part from the dealer and the problem still persists. Maybe the ECM is dying?
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Sunday, December 17th, 2017 AT 8:19 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 54,217 POSTS
It could be have you run the coders to see what comes up? Here is a guide to help us find out.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/checking-a-service-engine-soon-or-check-engine-light-on-or-flashing

Please let us know what you find.

Cheers, Ken
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Sunday, December 17th, 2017 AT 1:19 PM
Tiny
ELKGROVE65
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
No check engine/no code at all.
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Monday, December 18th, 2017 AT 7:11 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 54,217 POSTS
Yep it sounds like the ECM is going bad here is its location. But before we do that there is one other thing I would like to try which is the ECM relay. If the relay checks out then the ecm will need to be programmed by a repair shop.

Here is a guide to help confirm the failure.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-an-electrical-relay-and-wiring-control-circuit

Lets also do a pin to pin check on the wiring to make sure the connections are all good.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-wiring

Here is the location (below)

Check out the diagrams (Below)

Let us know what happens and please upload pictures or videos of the problem.

Cheers, Ken
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Monday, December 18th, 2017 AT 11:56 AM
Tiny
ELKGROVE65
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
I tested the old IPDM with new relay and also a new IPDM to no avail. The fuses are good too.
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Monday, December 18th, 2017 AT 12:37 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 54,217 POSTS
Not too much left except the ECU did you do a pin to pin check, resistance and resistance to ground?
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Tuesday, December 19th, 2017 AT 12:53 PM
Tiny
LDOUBLEU
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
I know this issue is probably resolved by now. But could it have been that there was too much oil added to the engine?
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Monday, November 18th, 2019 AT 11:19 AM
Tiny
KASEKENNY
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,907 POSTS
Thanks for the addition. You are probably correct that this is resolved one way or the other but that info may help others that are viewing this post. Thanks again.
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Monday, November 18th, 2019 AT 4:00 PM
Tiny
BUBBALEW72
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
  • 2005 NISSAN FRONTIER
  • 28,000 MILES
I have a 2005 nissan frontier. After heavy rain, the truck will not run. It spits and sputters and even stalls. I have had it to a mechanic once and to the dealer twice. I live in Florida and TS Issac just hit us and I have the same problem again. I have had a coil, a relay and a catalytic converter changed and still have the same problem. I keep insisting that the rain has something to do with it, but no one buys it. Please help.
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Tuesday, November 19th, 2019 AT 9:58 AM (Merged)
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
Water is getting to some electrical components causing te problem.

When problem occured, did the Malfunction Indicator Light showed?

Was there any trouble codes?

The crank sensor is at the bottom of engine and water can get to it easily. I would suggest checking the connector for contaminations or poor contact
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Tuesday, November 19th, 2019 AT 9:58 AM (Merged)
Tiny
BUBBALEW72
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Yes the engine light was flashing.
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Tuesday, November 19th, 2019 AT 9:58 AM (Merged)
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
What was the trouble codes retrieved?
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Tuesday, November 19th, 2019 AT 9:58 AM (Merged)
Tiny
BUBBALEW72
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Have not had a computer on it yet.
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Tuesday, November 19th, 2019 AT 9:58 AM (Merged)
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
Get it and let me know what it is.
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Tuesday, November 19th, 2019 AT 9:58 AM (Merged)
Tiny
RUDYG33
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2005 NISSAN FRONTIER
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 105,000 MILES
Hi,

my 2005 frontier began to sputter, rough idle, for awhile then after a few minutes was fine till it happened again two days later and now wont start. While sputtering I could hold down the gas pedal and this would make it worst like it wanted to die out. Ive tried using starter fluid but didnt work. What can this b?
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Tuesday, November 19th, 2019 AT 9:58 AM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Sounds like ignition system problem-Do below

No snapping blue spark continue to troubleshoot the ignition system-power input to the coil/coil packs, coil's resistances, distributor pick-up coil, ignition control module, cam and crank sensors and computer Note: If it doesn't apply disregard it
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Tuesday, November 19th, 2019 AT 9:58 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MADELINE SYLVIA
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2005 NISSAN FRONTIER
  • 6 CYL
  • 4WD
  • MANUAL
  • 47,000 MILES
I drive a 2005 Nissan Frontier Crew Cab Truck.

When I first attempt to start the engine, it starts for a second but then dies, then when I try to start again it is like it is half on half off, it shakes and it clearly is on idle but like at the point of dying out, I tried to press the gas pedal but it did nothing, it was still shaky, then it dies out after a few seconds. Then when I attempt to start it, it won't start at all. After I wait several hours, it does it again. I even tried it a day after and the same thing. The truck can't start now.

I noticed when I had someone try to start the truck, that there was light smoking out of the muffler, a strong smell of gas with a hint of what smelled like electrical or souding of metal/wire.

Prior to this final issue, the thing is that when I did get it started and it was or trying to gain normal idle, when I got on the road and drove, it seems okay-like it was running fine, even when I stop at a red light, it seems fine. No shaky engine while on idle.

The problems seems to occur upon start of the ignition.

I am the kind of person who waits till quarter tank before re-fueling, I hardly fill the tank to the top, and my service record is not immaculate. I also live on a pacific island where the weather never gets colder than 70 degrees. In these 5 years my truck has been faithful and quite reliable. No other problems except some faulty clutch assembly that needed to be replaced. I am not a car buff however I take to heart any advise that make darn sense.

With the information provided, could you possibly help diagnose or figure my problem(s)?
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Tuesday, November 19th, 2019 AT 9:58 AM (Merged)

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