Nissan Sentra 1987 B12 Carberated – No Start

[college man]

check all fuses and fusible links.If no dash lights and fuses are
good. the ignition switch is suspect. Try putting the car in neutral
to see if it starts. Automatic or manual?

Topic

[NissanMaxx]

If your cars a manual try to push start it. If it starts then it’s your starter. These cars did not have a starter relay. I agree with college man on the ignition switch being the issue.

[Paul]

I forgot to mention that its a manual tranny, before I do what you guys suggest, I would like to point it out that I have already done the ff:

Crank the engine by shorting the starter – Good
Tested the continuity from Source to Ignition Connection, with the Ignition Switch detached – Good

The CAR won’t run because I believe somewhere its waiting to be switched ON?, I mean I tried to START the Car even without switching it on, and she cranks good, almost wanted to keep the Engine ON but somewhere there is something inhibiting it to TURN ON and keep RUNNING

I forgot to mention that I have also tried to HOTWIRE the connections by disconnecting the wires from the ignition switch, I have cut it off from the switch. It leaves me with three(3) active wires should be four(4) but it works on those 3, but this does not yield any positive result, there is certainly no response from everything.

Previous behavior was when I start to ACC->ON, the Auxiliary Fans should start to operate then its ON->START to Start the Engine.

So that is what I’m expecting, but even with the HOTWIRE method, it didn’t respond quite that well to my expectations, No Dashboard Lights, No Auxiliary Fans, No Engine Start, absolutely nothing.

Maybe I’ll post some pics to have a better look at this problem.

Btw, a possible culprit, does continuity check is enough to check for the FUSE?, also what does collegeman refers to

fusible links

?

Thanks,

[college man]

check to see if you have a clutch interlock switch
at the clutch pedal.See if this diagram helps.My manuals
only go as far as 1993

http://www.nicoclub.com/FSM/Sentra/1993_Sentra/wiring%20diagrams.pdf

[Paul]

Hmm… I don’t have so much understanding about diagrams but sure can read/understand some of the symbols, anyway, I’ll try.

Does this mean, that even HOTWIRING won’t work because of this faulty switch, if any?

Just makes me so sad, makes me wonder how come a 1960 Jaguar XE still have a manual in circulation while a 1987 Nissan Sentra doesn’t have, a manufacturers discretion, culture that time?

Anyway, I’ll post pictures later to expedite my/our investigation, please stay with me, You’ve been of help and I really appreciate that.

Thanks.

[NissanMaxx]

Do you have the 4 – speed manual or the 5 – speed manual transmission? If you have the 4 – speed transmission that diagram won’t help you and plus I’m pretty positive it did not have a clutch interlock switch. Where if you have the 5- speed transmission, that diagram may be handy and your car most likely does have a clutch interlock switch. Most likely is the switch and you probably wouldn’t be able to hot wire your car.

[Paul]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for holding the line, moving forward

@NissanMaxx

Most likely is the switch and you probably wouldn’t be able to hot wire your car

I am starting to think and realize what you were talking about.

I got the 5-speed manual transmission and as I go deeper to diagnosing this problem, I’m starting to learn and realize a lot of things but as they say never assume.

I have manage to create a video to simplify and at least isolate the problem. I hope that it would be of help for all of us here.

Part1
[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGGfWajkuQQ[/video]
Part2
[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVxwacQyurs[/video]

Anyway, I hope we can figure this out.

Thanks,

[Paul]

So I think as it appears this is far more complicated than I thought, Am I correct?

[NissanMaxx]

I’m starting to get confused. What exactly is your issue? Your car won’t start? Do you have any electrical at all? Check ALL your fuses and relays and make sure there good. I honestly have no idea what that sensor was in the first vid but I recommend you go out and buy a manual for your car. One that shows and explains the locations of sensors with there purpose. The clutch interlock switch is located above the clutch pedal. I’m not sure if that was what you had in the second vid, but if it was you are on the right track.

[Paul]

Hi,

Since this is an old car, 1987 to be exact, its hard to find a manual but if theres something that’s lying around I would love to get my hands on it, I understand how hard to troubleshoot without a manual,

Anyway, to clear your confusion, I have a no-start when started on ignition switch, no dash lights, as in there is no response from any point of the switch ACC-ON-START nothing, you feel like there’s no current flowing. In video 2 I showed the connection between the connection going to the Car Battery and the Car Ignition Switch, if I would check for current flowing to the connectors I can get the 12+V readings, what makes me wonder is why even HOTWIRING does not react or TURN on the dash lights nor turn the engine on/start

In Video 1 I showed that my starter is good, my fuel pump is good, as the engine cranks and start if I series the + positive and starter solenoid, the only problem is that the car just keeps on cranking it doesn’t wanna go on and start running idle.

I tested the relays + fuses and they were all good, the only thing that’s left is the suspected Clutch Switch/Ignition Switch Relay if there is any. But I don’t know where to look for it.

There is *something* prohibiting this car to start and stay ON.

[NissanMaxx]

Have you looked above the clutch pedal for the interlock switch? Check if your car has one. This is really starting to become a complicated situation. I work at a Nissan dealership so I’ll try asking some of my coworkers see what they have to say. As for the manual just go on Google and search up 1987 Sentra Repair Manual. I found a bunch of them. I really hope you get this resolved soon.

[Paul]

Hi,

Ok I’ll check the manuals, and see if I can get my hands on one.

I think this model of Nissan Sentra doesn’t have those control switches installed with them, or mine had been bypass long time ago just don’t know if its possible.

Anyway, the Manual should help big. I’ll look around, thanks

[EricTheCarGuy]

This might help with your search for a manual.

Keep us posted.

[Author]

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