Intro
As a certified auto mechanic with over 20 years of experience, I’ve seen my good share of Nissan Gazelles that won’t to start. And let me tell you, I understand how annoying it can be when you’ve got places to go, you hop in, turn the key, and … drum roll please … absolutely nothing!
But no need to worry dear reader, you’ve come to the right place. My name’s Robby and in this article, I’m going to explain the most usual reasons why your Nissan Gazelle won’t start. I’ll cover all the most common causes and you’ll understand how to diagnose each potential cause, as well as what to do in each case. I’ll provide useful troubleshooting tips and repair solutions based on my two decades of practical experience, so you can get your Nissan Gazelle starting and moving as rapidly as possible.
Understanding Why a Nissan Won’t Start
When you hop into your vehicle and realize “My Nissan Gazelle won’t start”, this could be due to various things being wrong with your vehicle. Possibly the engine is not firing up at all, potentially it is cranking partially but then not starting, or possibly it’s making a clicking noise when you attempt to start the engine, however ultimately absolutely nothing happens. Each of these situations can point to various issues with your car.
Common Reasons Why Your Nissan Gazelle Won’t Start
There are various reasons why a Gazelle refuses to start up. These problems usually consist of a dead or weak Car battery, a bad alternator, starter motor issues, fuel system problems, along with electrical or circuitry issues. Every one of these issues can manifest as a multitude of symptoms and require different solutions to detect and resolve, so we can get your car back on the road as soon as possible.
Symptoms of Nissan Gazelle That Won’t Start
Being able to identify and diagnose these signs, will assist you in discovering the root cause of the problem. For example, when you turn the key in the ignition, and you hear a clicking noise but your vehicle still won’t start, it can mean that there is an issue with the fuel or ignition system.
Analysis of The Reasons Why Your Nissan Gazelle Won’t Start
The initial step to figuring out a practical solution to the issue is knowing the underlying cause of that issue, so let’s look into the most common causes as to why your Gazelle fails to start.
Nissan Gazelle Battery Issues
In most instances, the most common reason why your Nissan Gazelle can’t start is, in many cases due to a bad battery, it’s either weak or dead, and you need to recharge the battery or change it. The Car’s battery supplies the power required to start the engine, and power all the electrical parts in your Nissan Gazelle. Symptoms of a weak or dead battery issue in a Gazelle, are things like the Car being slow to crank the engine, poorly lit headlights, or a lit-up battery warning light on the dash. A portable jump starter allows you to jump start your vehicle’s if the battery is dead without needing another vehicle. And a battery charger can help recharge a dead battery and diagnose battery issues.
Nissan Gazelle Alternator Problems
The alternator is for charging the battery from the engine while the car is running. A defective alternator can easily prevent your Nissan Gazelle from starting as it will not have the ability to charge the battery, from the engine, so it will deplete fairly quickly till it’s totally dead and you only realize it when you get in your Gazelle and it won’t start. Signs that the alternator is faulty can be a lit-up battery or alternator caution light on the dashboard, poorly lit headlights when the engine is idling, and also a whining or grinding sound from the engine while it’s running.
Nissan Gazelle Starter Motor Failures
When you start your Nissan Gazelle, the starter motor deals with turning the engine over (cranking it). If the starter motor is broken in some way then the engine is not going to crank, and your Gazelle will not start. You can tell if your starter motor has an issue or not usually by listening, if you hear a clicking noise when you turn the key or a grinding noise throughout the startup, or your vehicle only starts intermittently then the starter motor may very well be the problem.
Nissan Gazelle Fuel System Complications
We’re not talking about when you simply run out of gas here, but your Car’s fuel system itself having problems. Your Nissan Gazelle uses a combustion engine, and because of this to start and run, it needs a mix of enough fuel and air. If your Gazelle issues are the result of a faulty fuel system, this could be a clogged fuel filter or a faulty fuel pump relay, which could indicate the engine might not be receiving the fuel it requires to get the vehicle going. Over time fuel injectors can also get clogged, so using a fuel injector cleaner like Red Line can help clean them and improve starting.
Nissan Gazelle Electrical System or Wiring Problems
Today’s modern Nissan Gazelles rely heavily on electronics, which can mean there are lots of things that can potentially have an issue. Even in an older model, you can still have fairly normal issues such as blown fuses, spark plug problems, a broken ignition switch, or a faulty sensor, and more. These can be some of the numerous electrical reasons that your vehicle won’t start up. Signs of a circuitry or electrical problem can vary vastly however can typically include the engine not cranking, or your Gazelle can start but only intermittently or some warning lights are lit up on the dash. To appropriately identify and repair these kinds of issues, you will need the skills of an experienced Nissan mechanic in your area or online.
Solutions & Repair Tips
When you have determined what the reason for your vehicle troubles are. The next logical step is obviously to try and fix it. Here are some tips for the typical problems we’ve covered up until now.
How to Troubleshoot and Fix Battery Issues in a Nissan Gazelle
If you think it’s possibl a battery issue is the reason why your Gazelle has difficulty starting, then the first thing you should do is examine around the battery and check the battery terminals. You want them to be clean, not corroded, and firmly connected. If you find that the terminals are in fact corroded you can try cleaning them with a mix of baking soda and water.
Once you have checked the battery terminals, you can check to see if the battery is just out of charge, or worse, it’s old and weak, or dead and needs to be replaced. For this, you can charge the battery in a few different ways:
- With the help of another vehicle and jumper cables to jump-start your Gazelle’s battery.
- Use a car battery charger that you can plug into a socket to charge it up.
- Use a portable car battery charger you can take with you on the go, so you are never left stranded when on the move.
If the battery charges up and works fine, great, problem solved! However, if the battery is old or weak, you will have to replace it. Otherwise, even if you charge it up enough to start the vehicle, it will likely run out of life once again in the not so distant future. You can make use of a multimeter or OB2 scanner as a way to test the life of the battery to see if it’s worth saving or if it needs to be changed for a new one. You can get a replacement car battery for your exact Nissan model by visiting Amazon here, and selecting “enter a new vehicle” to filter the results for your Nissan Gazelle, and choose a suitable one, from a seller with great reviews.
If charging your Gazelle’s battery does not resolve your issues, and problems like frequent draining and needing frequent charges persist even after replacing the battery, there is likely a more complex underlying issue causing excessive battery drain. In that case, you will need a professional mechanic to inspect and diagnose the root cause. You can also ask the advice of a mechanic online through us, or get an instant free quote on a Local mobile mechanics.
How to Diagnose Alternator Problems in a Nissan Gazelle
Ok, so the image above I found online and is a joke, DON’T DO THIS. I’ll explain in more detail, but in short, to diagnose and fix alternator problems you will need the help of a qualified and experienced auto mechanic. If the alternator is what you think is the offender, you can test it to see for yourself. If you can get the Car to start up temporarily (you may need to jump-start the vehicle for that), but once it’s going, let the vehicle run, and while the engine is running, disconnect the positive terminal of the battery. If you notice your Nissan Gazelle dies right away, then it’s most likely because of an issue with the alternator. You should be aware however that this method can be risky and dangerous, and might harm the sensitive electronic components in your Nissan Gazelle, so it’s best to consult with an expert auto mechanic in your area or online, prior to ever attempting this. If you think it might be the alternator, it’s best to ask a mechanic online or near you.
How to Identify and Solve Starter Motor Failures in a Nissan Gazelle
Listen for a clicking noise when you turn the ignition key if you suspect the starter motor is the cause of your Nissan Gazelle not starting. In this case, the solution is to have the starter motor replaced by a professional mechanic.
How to Deal With Fuel System Problems in a Nissan Gazelle
If you suspect the issue to be because of a fuel system problem, try and listen for the fuel pump when you turn the key to the “on” position, before starting up the vehicle. You ought to hear a humming sound for a couple of seconds. It may be there is an issue with the fuel pump if you are unable to hear this sound. If you discover your Nissan is difficult to start, it stalls, or it has weak acceleration, it might be down to a clogged fuel filter. Both of these will likely require a professional auto mechanic in order to properly fix. This is because may require a fuel pressure test kit and mechanic’s tool set to fully diagnose and repair fuel system problems.
How to Fix Electrical or Wiring Problems in a Nissan Gazelle
If you think it’s a circuitry or electrical system problem, initially examine the fuses associated with the ignition system, and replace any that have blown. If your Nissan starts after this, then it was an effective, cheap and simple fix! If the vehicle does not start, even intermittently, it might be an issue with the ignition switch itself. If various warning lights show up on your dashboard, it could be because of a damaged sensor. These issues can be extremely intricate and a professional Nissan mechanic is likely required to diagnose and fix it.
Preventive Steps
As my dad always stated “Prevention is better than cure”, so here are the best ways to ensure you can avoid any Nissan Gazelle starting pains again!
Routine Upkeep of Your Nissan Gazelle:
Regular maintenance of your Nissan Gazelle is key to avoiding future troubles. This consists of things like routine oil changes, checking your Car’s battery, cleaning the terminals, replacing the fuel filter as recommended/required, and having your vehicle inspected by a reliable auto mechanic regularly. If you are unsure about routine upkeep tasks needed for your specific vehicle, you can consult a mechanic in your area or online.
Drive Your Nissan Gazelle Frequently:
If you happen to leave your Nissan Gazelle stagnant for long periods of time without driving it, the battery may deplete down as it’s not getting any charge from the engine being used. Try to drive your Gazelle frequently to keep the battery charged. If you remember you haven’t driven your Car in a while, take it for a spin to make sure there is still a charge in the battery. Worth noting: letting the battery totally drain, is also damaging to the long-term life of the battery, try not to do this.
Take Notice Of Warning Signs:
If you notice anything odd like unusual sounds, changes in driving and performance, or alert lights lit up on your Nissan Gazelles dashboard, don’t disregard them and get on with your day. These are usually early warning signs of a problem and it’s best to be attended to ASAP before they end up being much bigger problems later. Talk to a mechanic in your area or online about these warning symbols and find out if they need to be addressed.
When to Ask a Nissan Mechanic Online
If you’re either short on time, want a specialist Nissan mechanic on hand to guide and to advise you, or you’ve actually tried to fix it for yourself, but regardless of your best efforts your vehicle will not start, then chatting with a Nissan mechanic online can be an excellent option. It certainly beats googling things like “Nissan wont start not battery” all day and still getting nowhere.
Benefits of an Online Nissan Mechanic
Online mechanic services provides numerous benefits. You can get professional Nissan mechanic recommendations 24×7 and without leaving your home, which is especially helpful if your vehicle will not start and is stuck in the driveway. You can also save money as online mechanic consultations are more affordable than a physical visit to a local mechanic near you. Plus, you can get responses quickly, which is fantastic if you’re in a hurry, need a 2nd opinion, or you simply like having an expert Nissan mechanic on hand.
How Solutions Like MechanicAnswer.com Can Help You
Our ask a Nissan mechanic free service connects you with licensed expert mechanics who can offer instant assistance, guidance and advice with all issues and all Nissan models. It doesn’t matter if your Gazelle is having trouble or your Nissan Fuga won’t start, we’ve got the Nissan mechanics online that with a little bit of information over a chat box, can solve anything for you.
You’re able to explain the issues you are having with your vehicle, ask Nissan mechanics unlimited questions, and even submit pictures and videos so you are able to show the mechanic what you mean. You can talk with them through online chat or by call, whichever you prefer. The Nissan mechanic will help you diagnose the issue, guide you on the best course of action for your individual circumstance and even guide you through simple maintenance and repair work step by step.
Conclusion
To sum it all up, when your Nissan Gazelle fails to start, it can be a total disappointment and a massive inconvenience. However, having an understanding of what might be causing the problems, having the ability to troubleshoot them, and knowing what steps are needed in each case, when and where to get help if needed, will be a big benefit. Keep in mind that regular maintenance is crucial for avoiding all vehicle problems.
I hope this guide helps you get your Nissan started again, and have a great day!
Frequently Asked Questions When a Nissan Gazelle Won’t Start (FAQs)
What should I do if my Nissan Gazelle will not start?
Firstly, do not panic. Try to identify any symptoms that could show an issue, such as unusual noises, warning lights on the dash, or changes in performance. The reason for the issue is most likely one of the most common causes discussed in this guide. You will need the aid of a mechanic in your area or online if you can’t find the cause of the problem yourself.
How to tell if my Nissan Gazelle won’t start because of the battery?
Signs of a battery problem in a Gazelle include the engine being slow to crank, dim headlights, and lit battery warning lights on the dash. You can also check the battery terminals to see if they are clean, not corroded, and tightly connected. It might be best to just replace it if the battery is old or weak.
How can I prevent my Nissan Gazelle not starting issues?
In order to make certain this inconvenience never ever takes place again, routine upkeep is crucial. This includes things like oil changes, examining the battery and cleaning its terminals, changing the fuel filter as recommended/needed, and getting your Nissan Gazelle inspected by a mechanic routinely. It’s also an excellent idea to drive the vehicle regularly so the battery remains charged.
Can I ask a mechanic online if my Nissan Gazelle can’t start?
Yes, you can. An online mechanic service like ours can provide instant specialist Nissan mechanic assistance and advice, without you having to leave your house. This is particularly useful if your Car fails to start and is stuck in the driveway.
How can services like MechanicAnswer.com help if my Nissan Gazelle won’t start?
We link you with licensed expert Nissan mechanics who can supply suggestions on your particular situation. You can inform them about your Car issues, ask unlimited questions, and even submit images and videos so you can correctly explain and show the issue. The mechanic will have the ability to assist, troubleshoot, diagnose the problem, recommend the best course of action and guide you along the way.
