S14 Stock Cranks Over But No Start - NO Power to Dash Icons

[dailun]

So this problem started when I driving one day and felt like someone just pulled the key out of the ignition, ie., the car did not hesitate or acted like it was out of fuel - just simply someone just pulled key out.



Car cranks over STRONG, but does not start
When the key is in "ON" mode - Warning lights on the dash like brake, oil engine light and etc are not present, as if there is no key in the ignition. but the interior lighting of the speedo and tach works (the glow) if I turn on the headlights.
When I'm lucky with the dash's icon lights up, I can start the car, but only able to drive the car for a mile before the car cuts out like someone pulled the key out.
All accessories that requires a KEY in the "ON" position works like Radio, Heater fan, Power antenna, individual R and L Blinkers, and etc, except for the power windows,, sunroof, and rear defroster. But the windows have been wired to my alarm for automatic roll up.
I do notice no relays kick in when I have no dash icon lights, so I know things like the fuel pump isn't on or anything.
I also noticed that my speedometer was not working a week prior to the problem.
One of the things that I did change was a new non oem distributor about 3k miles ago. Just wanted to throw that out there in case a bad distributor can cause this electrical prob.
ALSO, the door chime goes off when my door is open when the ignition is in "ON" position.

The car is a 1996 240sx SE 5spd, with stock engine, 120k. I've put over 40k on this and never had a problem like this before. I've checked all the fuses on the driver kick panel, but I'll triple check it if you think it's a specific one.

I have street cleaning on Monday and need to move my car tomorrow. My luck ran out on getting the Dash to come on to start my car.

:bowdown:PLEASE ADVISE!

I would try anything at this point. Thanks in advance for any help. FYI, battery is good and excellent - and new.

[idlafie]

Dailun,

Can you put your Engine Control Unit, (ECU) into Diagnostic Mode?? Are you kicking any Diagnostic Trouble Codes, (DTC's)??.

If you are kicking diagnostic codes, (usually more than one - Distributor, Fuel Injectors, Crank Angle Sensors, etc), then chances are you have a bad ground connection. Check your engine wiring harness connections on the left hand driver side of the engine towards the firewall. You should see 5 or 6 wires grounded to your motor directly above and slightly to the left where your oxygen sensor is on the exhaust. If the ground goes bad there, then your car won't start.

Your OTHER option is to check your Ignition Switch. Your Ignition Switch has several positions on it, (Off, ACC, ON, START), that all work INDEPENDENTLY of each other. Each switch position could work fine, (like the ACC and ON position), EXCEPT FOR ONE...and that's USUALLY the START position one!!...Don't ask me how I know this!!!

Anyhow, if the START position of your Ignition Switch goes bad, then all the Idiot lights on your dash board will go out when starting your car. You don't have to replace the entire ignition switch. All you have to do is replace the MODULE portion which is opposite of where you insert the key. See attached link for a picture of what the module looks like.

http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/details/QQNissanQQ240SXQQOES_GenuineQQIgnition_SwitchQQ199 51998QQW0133-1623916.html

If either of these tips don't solve your problem, then you have a wiring / ground issue somewhere else in your car. That is the only reason I can think why your car is acting the way it is. And as much as I hate to say it, Wiring Issues are a BITCH to figure out!!

Good luck!!! Hope you are able to get your car running again soon!!

ID

PS:
Just out of curiosity, is your car dropped or lowered?? If it is, then check the plastic cover above the front driver wheel. A lowered 240sx can cause the wheel to rub up against the plastic fender liner & eat thru it, exposing the wiring harness above it. If the wheel rubs up against the wiring harness, then you will short out all the wires in the harness. Hope this helps...

[dailun]

Thanks ID

The ground is excellent throughout the car. But I will triple check that when I get a chance. I went ahead ordered a new ignition switch because it's cheap but doubt it would get here by Thurs. I've tried 6 local stores with no luck.

Yes, my car is slightly lowered with Eibach springs, but not slammed. Which side should I check, driver or passenger? I do remember the liner has some rub marks, but nothing that went through tho.

But does anyone have the wiring diagram for the switch and what they do and know which one I need to bypass or jump for this problem? I have to move my car for street cleaning on Thursday now (street cleaning is a $65 ticket).

W/R
Blue
B/Y
B/W
B/G
Red

[mando240]

I have a friend thats having the same issue with his 96 s14. When the lights on his dash go out nothing works not even the starter , fuel pump primes and we jump the actual starter relay and get the car on but no windwos no sunroof no tail lights nothing works.

I told him he has 3 options...
1. Change the ignition in the car
2. Remove the pos alarm he has
3. There is something grounding out..


On my s14 i had the same issue where my brake lights & dash lights didnt work. I noticed one of my fuse had blown out and the moment i replaced it it just blew out again. I started looking at everysingle lightbulb in my car and realized that one of my tail light bulbs had a little corrosion on it, when i replaced it i didnt have that problem anymore.

[dailun]

I looked into the ground that ID mentioned. Mine is wired differently. I don't have 5 wires. I have at the most 3 wires and one of them just goes to a rail of some sort. The pics from below were taken from my 96 FSM manual. Strange that they are different. Mine looks like the first one.

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w83/dailun/Engineground.jpg

One more thing, the idiot lights came on briefly this morning, but not long enough for me to start the car.

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w83/dailun/Engineground.jpg