Starter relay ground

Hey! If your 2002 Nissan Xterra attempted to start without the keys in the ignition after replacing the starter, there may be an issue with the electrical system or the starter installation. Here are a few things you can check:

1. Wiring connections: Double-check the wiring connections on the starter. Ensure that the positive and negative cables are securely attached to the appropriate terminals on the starter. Make sure there are no loose or exposed wires.
2. Starter solenoid: The starter solenoid is responsible for engaging the starter motor when the ignition key is turned. It's possible that the solenoid is malfunctioning or wired incorrectly. Check the solenoid connections and wiring to ensure they are properly connected and in the correct configuration.
3. Ignition switch: It's unusual for a vehicle to attempt to start without the keys in the ignition. There could be an issue with the ignition switch or the wiring related to the ignition system. Inspect the ignition switch and its wiring for any signs of damage or loose connections.
4. Security system: Some vehicles have a security system that can prevent unauthorized starting. If your Xterra is equipped with a security system, ensure that it is not causing the issue. Refer to the vehicle's manual or contact a Nissan dealership for instructions on troubleshooting the security system.
5. Starter replacement: If all the wiring connections and components appear to be in order, it's possible that the replacement starter is faulty or incompatible with your vehicle. Consider double-checking the specifications of the new starter to ensure it is the correct model for your Xterra.

If you are unsure or uncomfortable with performing these checks yourself, it is recommended to consult a professional mechanic or contact a Nissan dealership for assistance. They will have the expertise and tools necessary to diagnose and resolve the issue with your Xterra's starting system.

Pull out the relay. If it quits cranking, then check the ground wire to the relay. It may be shorting and grounding the relay.

Does it have a vehicle theft deterrent system ? Try putting the gear selector into neutral to see if it will start then , if it does the park neutral safety switch could be the problem . Looking at a wiring diagram an testing the starter electrical circuits with a DVOM - digital volt ohmmeter would be the proper way to diagnose , not guessing an just replacing parts .

Starting System The starting system consists of the following:

• battery
• ignition switch
• transmission range (TR) sensor
• inhibit relay
• anti-theft relay (if equipped)
• starter motor

Starter Motor
The starter motor:

• is a permanent-magnet, gear reduction, 12V DC motor.
• has an integral starter solenoid.

Inhibit Relay
The inhibit relay:

• is a mini ISO relay.
• switches power to the starter solenoid to engage the starter motor when it receives a START signal from the ignition switch (11572).

Transmission Range (TR) Sensor
The TR sensor enables the circuit to the inhibit relay in the PARK or NEUTRAL position only.
Anti-Theft Relay (If Equipped)
The anti-theft relay:

• is a normally closed relay.
• is grounded by the anti-theft system, which opens the relay contacts and disables the starting circuit.
• PINPOINT TEST A: THE ENGINE DOES NOT CRANK CONDITIONS DETAILS/RESULTS/ACTIONS A1 CHECK ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM OPERATION NOTE: The four different anti-theft indicator operating states are OFF, ON, flashing once per second and flashing once per three seconds. Before continuing, make sure the anti-theft indicator is in the OFF state.
  
  Observe the anti-theft indicator.
  
  
  • Is the anti-theft indicator ON or flashing?
  Yes REFER to Section 419-01 .
  
  No GO to A2 . A2 CHECK THE BATTERY Check the battery condition and charge; refer to Section 414-00 .
  
  • Is the battery OK?
  Yes GO to A3 .
  
  No CHARGE or INSTALL a new battery as required. TEST the system for normal operation. A3 CHECK THE BATTERY GROUND CABLE Measure the voltage between the positive battery post and the battery ground cable connection at the cylinder block.
  
  • Is the voltage reading greater than 10 volts?
  Yes GO to A4 .
  
  No INSTALL a new battery ground cable. TEST the system for normal operation. A4 CHECK THE STARTER MOTOR GROUND Measure the voltage between the battery positive post and the starter motor case.
  
  • Is the voltage greater than 10 volts?
  Yes GO to A5 .
  
  No CLEAN the starter motor mounting flange and make sure the starter motor is properly mounted. TEST the system for normal operation. A5 CHECK THE POWER SUPPLY TO THE STARTER MOTOR Measure the voltage at the starter motor B terminal.
  
  • Is the voltage reading greater than 10 volts?
  Yes GO to A6 .
  
  No REPLACE the positive battery cable. TEST the system for normal operation. A6 CHECK THE STARTER MOTOR B TERMINAL
  Starter S Connector
  Connect a fused (30A) jumper wire to the B terminal of the starter motor and momentarily connect the other end to the starter solenoid S connector (harness side).
  
  • Does the starter motor engage and the engine crank?
  Yes GO to A7 .
  
  No INSTALL a new starter motor. TEST the system for normal operation. A7 CHECK START INPUT TO THE STARTER MOTOR Measure the voltage at the starter motor solenoid S connector terminal (harness side).
  
  • Is the voltage reading greater than 10 volts?
  Yes CLEAN the starter solenoid S terminal and connector. CHECK the wiring and the starter motor for a loose or intermittent connection. TEST the system for normal operation.
  
  No GO to A8 . A8 CHECK THE START INPUT TO THE INHIBIT RELAY
  Start Inhibit Relay C178
  
  Measure the voltage between the start inhibit relay C178 Pin 7, Circuit ST01 (RD) harness side and ground.
  
  • Is the voltage greater than 10 volts?
  Yes GO to A9 .
  
  No REFER to Section 211-05 . A9 CHECK CIRCUIT ST02 3 (R/W) Connect a jumper wire between start inhibit relay C178 Pin 7, Circuit ST01 (RD), harness side and C178 Pin 6, Circuit ST02 (RD/WH), harness side.
  
  • Does the starter motor engage and the engine crank?
  Yes REMOVE the jumper wire. GO to A10 .
  
  No REPAIR Circuit ST02 3 (RD/WH). TEST the system for normal operation. A10 CHECK THE INHIBIT RELAY GROUND Measure the resistance between the start inhibit relay C178 Pin 2, Circuit STE1 (BU), harness side and ground.
  
  • Is the resistance reading 5 ohms or less?
  Yes GO to A11 .
  
  No REPAIR Circuit STE 1 (BU). TEST the system for normal operation. A11 CHECK POWER TO THE INHIBIT RELAY Measure the voltage between start inhibit relay C178 Pin 1, Circuit ST98 (BU/WH) (Circuit ST03 [LG/BK] without anti-theft), harness side and ground.
  
  • Is the voltage greater than 10 volts?
  Yes Install a new inhibit relay. TEST the system for normal operation.
  
  No If equipped with anti-theft, GO to A12 . Otherwise, GO to A14 . A12 CHECK CIRCUIT ST95 (G/R)
  Anti-theft relay
  Measure the voltage between anti-theft relay C193 Pin 2, Circuit ST95 (GN/RD), harness side and ground.
  
  • Is the voltage greater than 10 volts?
  Yes GO to A13 .
  
  No REPAIR Circuit ST95 (GN/RD). TEST the system for normal operation. A13 CHECK CIRCUIT ST97 (LG/B) Measure the voltage between anti-theft relay C193 Pin 4, Circuit ST97 (LG/BU), harness side and ground.
  
  • Is the voltage greater than 10 volts?
  Yes GO to A16 .
  
  No GO to A14 . A14 CHECK POWER TO THE TR SENSOR
  TR Sensor
  Measure the voltage between TR sensor C161 Pin 3, Circuit ST04 (LG), harness side and ground.
  
  • Is the voltage greater than 10 volts?
  Yes GO to A15 .
  
  No REPAIR Circuit ST04 (LG). TEST the system for normal operation. A15 CHECK CIRCUIT ST03 (LG/B) Measure the resistance between TR sensor C161 Pin 2, Circuit ST03 (LG/BK), harness side and anti-theft relay C193 Pin 4, Circuit ST97 (LG/BK), harness side. Measure the resistance between TR sensor C161 Pin 2, Circuit ST03 (LG/BK), harness side and ground.
  
  • Is the resistance less than 5 ohms between the TR sensor and the anti-theft relay and greater than 10,000 ohms between the TR sensor and ground?
  Yes INSTALL a new TR sensor. TEST the system for normal operation.
  
  No REPAIR Circuit ST03 (LG/BK). TEST the system for normal operation. A16 CHECK CIRCUIT ST98 (L/W) Measure the resistance between anti-theft relay C193 Pin 3, Circuit ST98 (BU/WH), harness side and inhibit relay C178 Pin 1, Circuit ST98 (BU/WH), harness side. Measure the resistance between anti-theft relay C193 Pin 3, Circuit ST98 (BU/WH), harness side and ground.
  
  • Is the resistance less than 5 ohms between the anti-theft relay and the inhibit relay and greater than 10,000 ohms between the anti-theft relay and ground?
  Yes REFER to Section 419-01 .
  
  No REPAIR Circuit ST98 (BU/WH). TEST the system for normal operation.

Starter Interrupt Relay C204
Behind RF side of I/P, near air bag diagnostic module

• Engine Does Not Crank

• Low battery.
• Open fuse.
• Open ignition switch.
• Shorts to ground.
• Engine system.
• Inoperative starter motor.
• Starter interrupt relay (if incorporated).
• High resistance in battery feed to starter solenoid B+ or S terminals or ground circuit.

• GO to Pinpoint Test B .

What is year--make--model?
Make sure battery has a full charge and battery connections are all good. If your saying starter motor won't crank, check voltage and ground at the starter motor. Usually two voltage circuits at the starter, one comes from the battery, hot all the time. The other circuit goes hot with key in the crank position and in your case, I suppose wired through the starter relay. The relay has two circuits, the load side and control side of relay. The control side of relay needs voltage and ground to energize the relay. The load side of relay, in a diagram shows a line with arrowhead, when relay is energized, that arrowhead line moves to other terminal and that circuit carries voltage to starter. The voltage for load side of relay is usually hot all the time. I can't rule out neutral or clutch switch. The starter motor usually grounds through the engine block. If all voltage and ground circuit for the starter are good, I'd have to make sure the engine isn't seized.
Any testing at the starter, make sure tranny is in park or neutral and functional parking brake is set.

I think the purple wire (or maybe the yellow) from the neutral safety switch goes to the coil side of the starter relay, turning it on so power is sent from there to the starter solenoid. You could check for this signal to the relay with a test light. The key must be held in start while you probe the other two terminals for the relay. If the signal is there, either a bad relay or the coil side of relay is not grounded properly. It is possible that the coil side ground is the neutral safety switch-grounding the relay's coil side only in park or neutral-in which case the nagging light on shifter (between off and run, it only works?) may be telling you the safety switch is the problem.

You may need to look at a wiring diagram, Greg. But the starter relay is the last component in the start circuit before the starter solenoid. From battery to ignition switch to "crank" fuse to neutral safety switch to starter relay to starter solenoid to starter-and back to battery through ground. That is the start circuit. Just that the wiring tying them all together makes it complicated.

starter relay don't use a ground. Your starter gets its ground from the bellhousing.

If your starter has 2 or more small wires on it you may have switched the terminals. If you have a separate starter relay you can bypass the relay with a jumper cable and send 12 volts to the starters only main cable. It should crank, have it in Park (Auto) or Neutral (stick shift). If the starter does not crank bypassed then the only thing missing is a good ground. Use a pair of jumper cables and try grounding the starter case and connect the cable to a good ground. With the gauges dancing usually a bad ground is the reason, so the jumper cables will help with that problem too, at least for test reasons.

If you had the old starter tested, then you know it was the first problem. But if the old starter was not tested your problem could be a bad starter relay, an ignition switch,or finally a bad ground. Check the grounding of the remote starter relay, check for a plug-in connector off the end of the steering column for corrosion.

Ground a test light to negative ( ground ) then remove relay and check for power, then have some one turn key forward as to start vehicle and check again there should be another hot when key is turned to start let me know if it helps thanks

starter relay is under hood on the drivers side fender area.

1. Disconnect the battery ground cable (14301).

1. Disconnect the starter motor solenoid relay switch wiring.
   1. Remove the protective cover.
   1. Disconnect the push-on electrical connector.
   1. Remove the nuts.
   1. Remove the cable.
   

Remove the starter motor solenoid relay switch (11450).
1. Remove the engine sensor/generator wires.
1. Remove the bolts and ground wire.
1. Remove the starter motor solenoid relay switch