Posted: Sep 07 2011 at 7:46pm | IP Logged

Bought a 2007 Nissan Frontier SE Crew Cab with 63K miles last December.  The truck was delivered with only one non-Nissan brand key so I purchased another non-Nissan brand key as a spare.  After about 3 months of trouble-free driving the truck wouldn't start when the key was turned on.  After about an hour I used the new non-Nissan key and the truck started.  After another 2 months of trouble-free driving one day both keys wouldn't work for about 2 hours.  The truck eventually started and I went to my local Nissan dealer and had 2 keys made by them.  Occasionally during the summer the truck would not start on the first or second attempt.  Yesterday while on a 14-hour trip I had 3 separate incidents when the truck wouldn't start for a 30-45 seconds period with either key.  There is a click when I try to start the truck but the starter doesn't turn over, then eventually the truck started.

Was I premature thinking the problem was with the keys?  Could my problem be a faulty starter or a ground problem?  I appreciate any insight or help!

Posted: Sep 07 2011 at 10:08pm | IP Logged

..

Welcome to the group!

Please only post one topic per problem... I deleted the other.

I'd start with cleaning and retightening all battery connections and look for several gound wires.

Good luck.. Don S..

Posted: Sep 07 2011 at 11:40pm | IP Logged

Sorry, I realized I posted in the General category and then I thought the technical problems area was more appropriate.

The battery was new and the post connections appeared new or thoroughly cleaned when I purchased the truck.  You say look for several ground wires--do you think that a bad ground wire is a possible cause of the problem?  The insulation on the battery negative cable to the block appears to be melted about 6 inches from the block.  Could that be an indication of a problem?

My diesel mechanic neighbor crawled under the truck to view the starter and saw a cable that is attached to the starter was partially void of insulation.  He said he could see bare twisted copper cable.  Is that normal or a possible problem?

Again, thank you for any advice you may have.