Edmunds.com | Inside Line | Auto Observer Your Account | Help | Directory
You are here:
![[F]](http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com/media/townhall/webxicons/site.gif){kind=small}
Forums
Sedans Nissan Altima Nissan Altima Starting Issues
13 messages, Last post on Apr 30, 2009 at 12:28 PM
You are in the Nissan Altima Forum. Your Hosts are pat & karens
|
This may be a one in a million occurance but I would not like to see anyone else go through it. My wife and I went to see some friend at a campground and drove about 1 1/2 hours to arrive there. The car (2008 Altima 2.5 SL) operated very well and fuel economy was about 34.3 MPG. After we arrived, we unloaded the car and being a rather warm day, I used the key fob to lower the two front windows about half way from inside their fifth wheel. When we decided to go for a boat ride I set all windows at about 1 1/2 " open to dissipate and reduce some of the heat buildup. We were gone about three hours, came back to the fifth wheel, ate a great steak and by that time we were ready to turn in. Elapsed time was about five hours. I went to the car to close the windows and no chimes, no lights, no nothing. Start button blinked on and off about every thirty seconds and yes, this was indeed the start button. Brake pedal was hard and all lights were out. Door locks would not work nor would the auto opener on the trunk. This thing was dead. A small bit of panic set in and after being consoled by a cold one, I was convinced to wait until morning. Morning came and a call was made to 1-800 NISSAN-1and I must say, everything went well from then on. Arrangements were made for a tow and the car went to the nearest Nissan dealer who kept the car for about four hours. I was lucky he did the preliminary work as he was up to his eyeballs in other cars. We went out to eat, came back and was told the battery was dead and was presently being charged. Somehow, in some way the start button had been pushed and without a foot on the brake the car would not start. Nobody noticed this at the time as there is no audible or visual warning that something bad had occured. I was lucky in that I lost only a minimal of information. Even my garage door openers worked. It could have been worse. The entire "fix" operation lasted a short time and I was happy with the outcome and happy with Nissan's procedures. I intend to be a lot more careful, if it was indeed me that perpetrated the deed, around that little button as it can cause one to head for the refreshments if things go south. This is just an FYI and I hope it may help others.
|
|
| This is good information. I actually look at the smart key as the one more thing that can break and it appears to be the case. | |
|
Replying to: ken75 (Jul 15, 2008 4:05 pm) At first I thought your battery died just from rolling the windows down with the key fob. At least Nissan was cool about it. How much did it cost you if anything?
|
|
|
Replying to: karpediem (Jul 15, 2008 7:15 pm) There was no audio or visual signal to alert me to an ignition "on" situation so I may have to go back to the dealer to determine if a problem exists. This is something I will always be cognizant of in the future as I do not want to waste more time with a problem of my own (?) making. There was a time when head lights could be left on for a full day and you would still be able to start your vehicle. Are batteries that poor or is the electrical load on the newer cars that much higher. I had a tough time believing that with only the ignition on, a battery could be sucked down in about 5 hours. Live and learn. |
|
|
Replying to: ken75 (Jul 16, 2008 6:02 am) Sorry, but I have never seen any car able to start after the lights have been on for a full day. I would say that would definitely be an exception...
|
|
|
Replying to: busiris (Jul 16, 2008 2:06 pm)
|
|
|
Replying to: ken75 (Jul 16, 2008 6:32 pm) In regard to batteries, remember that all a car needs to sell is a functioning battery. It isn't unusual for a battery to expire around the time the warranty ends...Obviously aftermarket batteries would be more durable, as they live and die on their lifetime reputation... |
|
|
No Bose stereo in this car and no big amp. Stock radio that Nissan puts in it's Altimas and I use it very little. The car is a 2008 Altima 2.5 SL purchased in November of 2007 so unless the battery may have a shorted cell (questionable) I must assume it is functioning as it should. None the less, I think a trip to the dealer to check the ignition system may be in order just to satisfy my curiosity. Thanks for the input and if I should learn something useful, I will pass it on.
|
|
|
Replying to: ken75 (Jul 17, 2008 3:51 pm) Thanks for the input and if I should learn something useful, I will pass it on. I agree..weird. Even a decent battery, even discharged at the rate you would expect with the ignition "on", should regenerate enough power to start the car after the ignition was turned "off" for a while.... |
|
|
Replying to: ken75 (Jul 16, 2008 6:02 am) There was no audio or visual signal to alert me to an ignition "on" situation so I may have to go back to the dealer to determine if a problem exists. This is something I will always be cognizant of in the future as I do not want to waste more time with a problem of my own (?) making. if the ignition were on, it should have said so. around the outside of the button it should say.........Lock.........AC.........ON. whichever of those positions it was in should have been illuminated. My guess would be just a bad battery. As someone else said, they only need the car to start for you to drive it off the lot. on top of that, there's no telling how long the battery sat before it was put in your car. And I'd be willing to bet that batteries are something a car manufacture would gtry to save money on to keep costs down.
|
|
You are here:
Forums
Sedans Nissan Altima Nissan Altima Starting Issues
New? Join Now!
Forum Tools
Search Forums
Browse by Vehicle
2010 Nissan Altima
Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
Today's Chats
