Introduction
As a licensed auto mechanic with over twenty years of experience, I’ve seen my good share of Nissan Navaras that refuse to start. And I can assure you, I understand how frustrating 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 friend, you’ve come to the right place. My name’s Robby and in this article, I’m going to guide you through the most usual reasons why your Nissan Navara won’t start. I’ll cover all the most common causes and you’ll find out how to diagnose each potential cause, as well as what to do in each case. I’ll offer useful troubleshooting pointers and repair solutions based on my 20 years’ of hands-on experience, so you can get your Nissan Navara starting and driving again as rapidly as possible.
Understanding Why a Nissan Won’t Start
When you realize to yourself “My Nissan Navara won’t start”, this could be due to a multitude of things being wrong with your vehicle. Perhaps the engine is not turning over at all, possibly it is cranking partially but then not starting, or perhaps it’s making a clicking sound when you attempt to start the engine, however ultimately absolutely nothing happens. Each of these annoying situations can indicate various issues with your car.
Common Reasons Why Your Nissan Navara Won’t Start
There are numerous reasons that a Navara will not start. These issues usually include a weak or dead vehicle battery, a broken alternator, starter motor issues, fuel system complications, along with electrical or circuitry problems. Each one of these problems can manifest as an array of symptoms and require separate solutions to detect and resolve, so we can get your car back on the road as soon as possible.
Symptoms of Nissan Navara That Won’t Start
Having the ability to identify and diagnose these symptoms, will assist you in finding the underlying cause of the issue. For instance, when you turn the key in the ignition, and you hear a clicking sound but your Nissan still fails to start, it is often a sign that there is an issue with the fuel or ignition system of your vehicle.
Analysis of The Reasons Why Your Nissan Navara Won’t Start
The very first step to finding a solution to the issue is getting to grips with the root cause of that problem, so let’s look into the most common causes as to why your Navara fails to start.
Nissan Navara Battery Issues
In most cases, the most common reason why your Nissan Navara can’t start is, in many cases because of your car battery, it’s either weak or dead, and you have to charge up your car’s battery or replace it. The vehicle’s battery supplies the electric that’s needed to start the engine, and power all the electrical components in your Nissan Navara. Symptoms of a weak or dead battery issue in a Navara, can be things like the vehicle being slow to crank the engine, weak or dim headlights, or a lit-up battery warning light on the dash. A portable jump starter allows you to jump start your Jeep’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 Navara Alternator Problems
The alternator is tasked with charging the battery from the engine while the car is running. A broken alternator can certainly prevent your Nissan Navara from starting as it won’t have the ability to charge up the battery, from the engine, so it will drain fairly quickly till it’s dead and you don’t realize it until you can’t get your Nissan to start. Symptoms that the alternator may be faulty can be a lit-up battery or alternator caution light on the dash, poorly lit headlights when the engine is idling, and also a whining or grinding noise from the engine while it’s running.
Nissan Navara Starter Motor Failures
When you start your Nissan Navara, the starter motor handles turning the engine over (cranking it). If the starter motor is damaged in some way then the engine is not going to crank, and your Navara won’t start. You can tell if your starter motor has a problem or not typically by listening for a clicking noise when you turn the key in the ignition or a grinding noise throughout the start-up, or your vehicle starts up but only intermittently, then the starter motor may very well be the problem.
Nissan Navara Fuel System Complications
Now we’re not talking about when you simply run out of gas here, but your Jeep’s fuel system itself having complications. Your Nissan Navara uses a combustion engine, and because of this to start and run, it requires a combination of both fuel and air. If your Navara problems are the result of a faulty fuel system, this might be a clogged fuel filter or a damaged fuel pump relay, which could mean the engine may not be getting the fuel it requires to get the vehicle up and running. 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 Navara Electrical System or Wiring Problems
Today’s modern Nissan Navaras rely greatly on electronic components, which can mean there are lots of things that can potentially go wrong. Even in an older model, you can still have regular issues such as blown fuses, spark plug problems, a broken ignition switch, or a damaged sensor, and more. These can be some of the various electrical reasons your Nissan Navara will not get started. Signs of a wiring or electrical problem can differ widely however can often include the engine not cranking, or your Navara can start but only intermittently or numerous warning lights show on the dash. To properly identify and repair these kinds of issues, you will require the skills of a skilled Nissan mechanic in your area or online.
Solutions & Repair Tips
Once you have figured out what the reason for your Jeep failing to start is. The next step is of course to try and fix it. Here are some suggestions for the typical issues we’ve covered up until this point.
How to Troubleshoot and Fix Battery Issues in a Nissan Navara
If you suspect it’s possibl a battery issue is the culprit as to why your Navara has trouble starting, then the first thing you need to do is inspect 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 corroded you can try to clean them up 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 Navara’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 Nissan Navara, it will probably deplete quickly again in the near future. You can use 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 replacing. 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 Navara, and choose a suitable one, from a seller with great reviews.
If charging your Navara’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 Mobile service technician.
How to Diagnose Alternator Problems in a Nissan Navara
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 you’re thinking that the alternator is the cause of your vehicle starting problems, you can test it to see for yourself. If you can get the Jeep started temporarily (you may need to jump-start the vehicle for that), but once it’s going, let the Jeep run, and while the engine is running, disconnect the positive terminal of your vehicle’s battery. If you find your Nissan Navara dies pretty quickly, then it’s most likely because of a problem with the alternator. You should be aware however that this method can be risky, and may damage the sensitive electronic components in your Nissan Navara, so it’s always best to seek advice from an expert auto mechanic locally or online, before 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 Navara
It’s likely an issue with your starter motor if you hear the clicking sound, however the engine doesn’t crank. In this case, the solution is to have the starter motor replaced by a professional mechanic.
How to Solve Fuel System Complications in a Nissan Navara
If you suspect the issue to be due to 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 should be able to hear a humming sound for a couple of seconds. If you are not able to hear this sound, then it may be there is cause for concern with the fuel pump. If you discover your Nissan is difficult to start, it stalls, or it has poor acceleration, it might be a result of a clogged fuel filter. Both of these will likely need a professional auto mechanic in order to correctly 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 Repair Electrical or Wiring Issues in a Nissan Navara
If you suspect it’s a wiring or electrical system problem, first inspect the fuses associated with the ignition system, and change any that have blown. If your Nissan Navara starts after this, then it was an effective, easy and low-cost fix! However, if the vehicle does not start, even intermittently it might be a problem with the ignition switch itself. If different warning lights show up on your dashboard, it could be a damaged sensor. These problems can be really complicated and a professional Nissan mechanic is likely required to diagnose and have it properly repaired.
Preventive Steps
As my dad always stated “Prevention is better than cure”, so here are some preventative measures to ensure you can avoid any Nissan Navara starting problems ever again!
Regular Upkeep of Your Nissan Navara:
Regular maintenance of your Nissan Navara is crucial to avoiding future troubles. This includes things like regular oil changes, inspecting the battery, cleaning the terminals, replacing the fuel filter as recommended/required, and of course having your Jeep inspected by a reliable auto mechanic routinely. You can speak with a mechanic in your area or online if you are uncertain or needing further clarity about the regular upkeep jobs required for your particular vehicle.
Drive Your Nissan Navara Frequently:
If you happen to leave your Nissan Navara off for extended periods of time without driving it, the battery can deplete down as it’s not being charged up by the engine being used. Try your best to drive your Navara frequently to keep the battery from draining. Take it for a quick spin to make sure there is still charge in the battery if you remember you have not driven your Nissan in a while. Worth noting: letting the battery totally drain, is also damaging for the long-term life of the battery, try not to do this.
Take Notice Of Warning Signs:
If you observe anything weird like uncommon noises, a difference in driving and performance, or warning lights lit up on the dash, do not ignore them. These are usually early warning signs of a problem and it’s best to be attended to ASAP so that they don’t end up being bigger issues down the line. Speak with a mechanic locally or online about these warning lights and get advice on if they need to be attended to.
When to Ask a Nissan Mechanic Online
If you want to save time, would like a specialist Nissan mechanic on hand to guide and to advise you, or you’ve actually tried to fix it by yourself, but regardless of your best efforts your vehicle will not start, then talking with a Nissan mechanic online can be a great choice. It certainly beats googling things like “turned Nissan off in drive and now it wont start” all day and still getting nowhere.
Advantages of an Online Nissan Mechanic
Online mechanic services provides a number of benefits. You can get skilled Nissan mechanic recommendations 24×7 and without leaving your house, which is especially useful if your vehicle will not start and is stuck in the driveway. It can also help you save money as online mechanic consultations are much cheaper than a physical visit to a local mechanic near you. Plus, you can get answers rapidly, which is fantastic if you’re in a rush, require a second opinion, or you just like having a specialist Nissan mechanic on hand.
How Solutions Like MechanicAnswer.com Can Help You
Our free online Nissan mechanic chat service connects you with accredited professional mechanics who can provide immediate help, guidance and suggestions with all issues and all Nissan models. It doesn’t matter if your Navara is having trouble or your Nissan Murano 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 Jeep, ask Nissan mechanics unlimited questions, and even submit pictures and videos so you can actually show the mechanic what you mean. You can talk to them through online chat or by call, whichever you choose. The Nissan mechanic will help you identify the problem, guide you on what are the best options for your specific circumstance and even guide you through basic maintenance and repairs step by step.
Conclusion
To sum it all up, when your Nissan Navara won’t start, it will likely be a complete downer and an enormous hassle. However, understanding what might be triggering the problems, being able to troubleshoot them, and knowing what actions are needed in each case, when and where to get help if needed, will be a big benefit. Bear in mind that regular maintenance is essential for avoiding the majority of vehicle problems.
I hope this guide helps you get your Nissan started again, and have a great day!
Frequently Asked Questions When a Nissan Navara Won’t Start (FAQs)
What should I do if my Nissan Navara can’t start?
Firstly, don’t panic. Try to identify any signs that could indicate an issue, such as unusual noises, warning lights on the dash, or changes in performance. The reason for the problem is most likely one of the most common causes discussed in this guide. If you can’t find the issue yourself, you will need the aid of a Nissan mechanic locally or online.
How to tell if my Nissan Navara won’t start because of the battery?
Signs of a battery issue in a Navara 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. If the battery is old or weak, it may be best to simply change it.
How can I prevent my Nissan Navara not starting issues?
In order to make certain this annoyance never occurs once again, regular upkeep is key. This consists of things like oil changes, inspecting the battery and cleaning its terminals, changing the fuel filter as recommended/needed, and getting your Nissan Navara inspected by a mechanic often. It’s also a terrific idea to drive the Jeep regularly so the battery remains charged.
Can I ask a mechanic online if my Nissan Navara can’t start?
Yes, you can. An online mechanic service like ours can offer instant specialist Nissan mechanic help and advice, without you needing to leave your house. This is particularly beneficial if your vehicle is unable to start and is stuck in the driveway.
How can services like MechanicAnswer.com help if my Nissan Navara fails to start?
We link you with certified professional Nissan mechanics who can offer recommendations on your specific circumstance. You can tell them about your Jeep issues, ask unlimited questions, and even upload images and videos so you can properly show the problem and describe it fully. The mechanic will have the ability to help, troubleshoot, diagnose the issue, suggest the best course of action and guide you along the way.
