Introduction
As a licensed auto mechanic with over twenty years of experience, I’ve seen my fair share of Nissan Platinas that refuse to start. And I can assure 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 friend, you’ve come to the right place. My name’s Robby and in this article, I’m going to explain the most frequent explanations why your Nissan Platina won’t start. I’ll discuss all the most common causes and you’ll understand how to identify each potential cause, as well as what to do in each case. I’ll offer practical troubleshooting pointers and repair solutions based on my 20 years’ of practical experience, so you can get your Nissan Platina starting and driving again as quickly as possible.
Understanding Why a Nissan Won’t Start
When you hop into your vehicle and realize “My Nissan Platina won’t start”, this could be because of an array of issues being wrong with your Car. Maybe the engine is not cranking at all, potentially it is cranking partially however then not starting, or perhaps it’s making a clicking noise when you attempt to start the engine, but ultimately absolutely nothing happens. Each of these scenarios can indicate different problems with your car.
Common Reasons Why Your Nissan Platina Won’t Start
There are various reasons that a Platina refuses to start. These issues usually include a weak or dead vehicle battery, a faulty alternator, starter motor failures, fuel system problems, in addition to electrical or circuitry issues. Every one of these issues can manifest as different symptoms and require separate solutions to detect and fix, so we can get your car back on the road as soon as possible.
Symptoms of Nissan Platina That Won’t Start
Having the ability to identify and diagnose these signs, will help you in finding the underlying cause of the problem. For instance, when you turn the key in the ignition, and you hear a clicking noise but your Nissan still refuses to start, it is often an indication that there is a problem with the fuel or ignition system.
Analysis of The Reasons Why Your Nissan Platina Won’t Start
The first step to figuring out a solution to the problem is getting to grips with the root cause of that problem, so let’s dig into the most common causes as to why your Platina won’t start.
Nissan Platina Battery Issues
In most instances, the most common reason why your Nissan Platina will not start is, in many cases because of your car battery, it’s either dead or weak, and you need to either charge the battery or change it. The Car’s battery provides the electricity that’s needed to start the engine, and power all the electrical components in your Nissan Platina. Signs of a weak or dead battery problem in a Platina, are things like the Car being sluggish to crank the engine, weak or dim headlights, or a lit-up battery alert light on the dashboard. 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 Platina Alternator Problems
The alternator is for charging the battery from the engine while the car is running. A defective alternator can certainly prevent your Nissan Platina from starting as it will not be able to charge the battery, from the engine, so it will drain all the way down until it’s totally dead and you only realize it when you get into your beloved Platina and it refuses to start. Signs that your Platinas alternator is faulty include a lit-up battery or alternator warning light on the dash, weak or dim headlights when the engine is idling, and also a whining or grinding sound from the engine while it’s running.
Nissan Platina Starter Motor Failures
When you start your Nissan Platina, the starter motor is responsible for turning the engine over (cranking it). If the starter motor is failing in some way then the engine won’t crank, and your Platina can’t start. You can find out if your starter motor has a problem or not typically by listening, if you hear a clicking noise when you turn the key or a grinding noise during the start-up, or your vehicle only starts intermittently then the starter motor may very well be the problem.
Nissan Platina Fuel System Complications
We’re not talking about when you merely run out of gas here, but your Car’s fuel system itself having issues. Your Nissan Platina uses a combustion engine, and because of this to start and run, it requires a combination of both fuel and air. If your Platina issues are because of a faulty fuel system, this can be a clogged fuel filter or a broken fuel pump relay, which could suggest the engine may not be getting the fuel it requires to get the Car 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 Platina Electrical System or Wiring Problems
Today’s modern Nissan Platinas rely heavily on electronics, which can mean there are lots of things that can potentially fail. Even in an older Nissan Platina, you can still have typical problems such as blown fuses, spark plug problems, a faulty ignition switch, or a faulty sensor, and more. These can be some of the various electrical reasons that your vehicle won’t get started. Signs of a wiring or electrical problem can vary greatly however can typically include the engine not cranking, or your Platina can start however just intermittently or numerous warning lights show on the dash. To appropriately identify and repair these kinds of issues, you will require the abilities of a skilled Nissan mechanic in your area or online.
Solutions & Repair Tips
As soon as you have figured out what the cause of your Car failing to start is. The next step is naturally to try and repair it. Here are some tips for the typical issues we’ve covered up until this point.
How to Troubleshoot and Fix Battery Issues in a Nissan Platina
If it’s a battery issue you suspect is the cause of your troubles, 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 securely connected. If you discover 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 Platina’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, you will need to replace the battery if it’s old or weak. Otherwise, even if you charge it up enough to start the vehicle, it will likely run out of life again in the near future. You can use a multimeter or OB2 scanner as a way to test the life of the battery to find out 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 Platina, and choose a suitable one, from a seller with great reviews.
If charging your Platina’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 car repair.
How to Diagnose Alternator Problems in a Nissan Platina
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 cause, you can test it to see for yourself. If you can get the vehicle started 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 your Car’s battery. It’s most likely the result of a problem with the alternator if you discover your Nissan Platina dies right away when you disconnect the positive terminal. You should be aware however that this method can be risky and dangerous, and might harm the delicate electronic parts in your Nissan Platina, 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 Platina
It’s likely an issue with your starter motor if you can hear the clicking sound, however the engine doesn’t crank. In this case, the solution is to have the starter motor changed for a new one by a professional mechanic.
How to Deal With Fuel System Complications in a Nissan Platina
If you think 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 the Car. You should be able to hear a humming noise for a few 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 bad acceleration, it could possibly be due to a clogged fuel filter. Both of these will likely need a professional auto mechanic in order to effectively 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 Platina
If you think it’s a wiring or electrical system issue, initially examine the fuses related to the ignition system, and change any that have blown. If your Platina starts after this, then it was a successful, cheap and simple fix! If the vehicle doesn’t start, even intermittently, it might be indicative of with the ignition switch itself. If various warning lights are visible on your dashboard, it might be a damaged sensor. These problems can be very complicated and a professional Nissan mechanic is likely needed to identify and have it properly repaired.
Preventive Steps
As my father always stated “Prevention is better than cure”, so here are some preventative measures to ensure you can avoid any Nissan Platina starting problems again!
Regular Upkeep of Your Nissan Platina:
Routine maintenance of your Nissan Platina is essential to avoiding future difficulties. This includes things like regular oil changes, checking your vehicle’s battery, cleaning up the terminals, changing the fuel filter as recommended/required, and having your vehicle checked by a professional auto mechanic routinely. If you are not sure about regular maintenance tasks required for your particular vehicle, you can seek advice from a mechanic in your area or online.
Drive Your Nissan Platina Regularly:
If you happen to leave your Nissan Platina in your garage for extended periods of time without driving it, the battery will drain as it’s not getting any charge from the engine being in use. Try your best to drive your vehicle regularly to keep the battery full of juice. Take it for a fast spin to make sure there is still charge in the battery if you remember you haven’t driven your Nissan for a while. Worth noting: letting the battery completely drain, is also damaging to the long-term life of the battery, try not to do this.
Pay Attention to Warning Signs:
If you observe anything strange like uncommon noises, changes in driving and performance, or alert lights are now visible on your Nissan Platinas dashboard, don’t just ignore them. These are usually early warning signs of an issue and are best being dealt with ASAP so that they don’t become bigger issues later. Speak with a mechanic locally or online about these problems and find out if they need to be addressed.
When to Ask a Nissan Mechanic Online
If you’re either limited on time, want a specialist Nissan mechanic on hand to guide and to advise you, or you have tried to resolve it for yourself, but despite your best efforts your Car can’t start, then talking with a Nissan mechanic online can be an excellent option. It certainly beats googling things like “why wont my Nissan start” all day and still getting nowhere.
Advantages of an Online Nissan Mechanic
Online mechanic services offers a number of benefits. You can get expert Nissan mechanic advice 24×7 and without leaving your house, which is especially beneficial 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 less expensive than a physical visit to a local mechanic near you. Plus, you can get the answer quickly, which is great if you’re in a hurry, need a 2nd opinion, or you simply like having a specialist Nissan mechanic on hand.
How Services Like MechanicAnswer.com Can Help You
Our call a Nissan mechanic for free advice service connects you with certified specialist mechanics who can provide immediate help, guidance and recommendations with all issues and all Nissan models. It doesn’t matter if your Platina is having trouble or your Nissan Pixo 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 describe the issues you are having with your vehicle, ask Nissan mechanics limitless questions, and even submit pictures and videos so you are able to show the mechanic what you mean. You can speak with them via online chat or by phone call, whichever you choose. The Nissan mechanic online will help you diagnose the issue, guide you on the best course of action for your specific situation and even guide you through basic maintenance and repairs every step of the way.
Conclusion
To wrap up, when your Nissan Platina can’t start, it will likely be a complete disappointment and a massive inconvenience. However, having an understanding of what may be causing the issues, being able to troubleshoot them, and knowing what steps are needed in each case, when and where to get help if required, will be a huge benefit. Bear in mind that regular upkeep is essential for preventing all kinds of vehicle issues.
I hope this guide helps you get your Nissan started again, and have a great day!
Frequently Asked Questions When a Nissan Platina Won’t Start (FAQs)
What should I do if my Nissan Platina won’t start?
First off, don’t panic. Try to identify any signs that might show a problem, such as unusual sounds, warning lights on the dash, or changes in performance. The cause of the problem is likely one of the most common causes talked about in this guide. If you can’t find the problem yourself, you will need the assistance of a Nissan mechanic in your area or online.
How to tell if my Nissan Platina won’t start because of the battery?
Indications of a battery issue in a Platina 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 firmly connected. It might be best to simply replace it if the battery is weak or old.
How can I prevent my Nissan Platina not starting issues?
In order to make certain this inconvenience never ever takes place again, routine maintenance is essential. This consists of things like oil changes, examining the battery and cleaning its terminals, changing the fuel filter as recommended/needed, and having your Nissan Platina inspected by a mechanic frequently. It’s also a great idea to drive the vehicle frequently so the battery remains charged.
Can I ask a mechanic online if my Nissan Platina fails to start?
Yes, you can. An online mechanic service like ours can provide instantaneous specialist Nissan mechanic help and recommendations, without you having to leave your home. This is particularly beneficial if your Car can’t start and is stuck in the driveway.
How can services like MechanicAnswer.com help if my Nissan Platina can’t start?
We connect you with accredited expert Nissan mechanics who can provide advice on your specific situation. You can inform them about your vehicle problems, ask unlimited questions, and even upload images and videos so you can appropriately demonstrate the problem and explain it. The mechanic will have the ability to help, troubleshoot, identify the problem, suggest the best course of action and guide you along the way.
