Will not Start

Engine Performance problem
2001 Nissan Xterra 6 cyl Four Wheel Drive Automatic

2001 Nissan Xterra, when I put my key into the ignition and turn it to accessory all the lights come on fine but when I go to start the engine I hear a clicking noise and my car dies. I have replaced the battery and the alternator, can you please tell me what is wrong, I'm thinking that it is the starter but I'm not sure.

I put my key in and the dash lights up then when I turn the key it kills my engine. The Engine won't crank or turn over at all, all I hear is a single click and then my car dies

I bought this SUV from copart.com and was told had Mechanical Problem. So we tried to fix it changed some part like the fuel pump. But it keep rolling but not starting.
Can you help please!

I will give a brief chronology of my problems over the last six weeks and hopefully I can get a recommendation on what to do next.

1. On August first, car will not start in "park", all lights on but no cranking. AAA came checked out battery fine.

2. Later car started on "park" and I dropped up car at PEP BOYS
3. PEP BOYS checked it out and decided I needed a new starter. Starter replaced.
4. Drove car a couple of days and same problems with starting on "park". Towed car to PEP BOYS but problem could not be duplicated.
5. Drove car a couple of days and same problems with starting on "park". Towed car to another repair shop close by but problem could not be duplicated.
6. Kept having the same intermittent start problem as four and five above and car was parked in a parking garage and when tow truck came to tow, height did not allow access. Tow driver went in and moved gear to neutral and it started.
7. Concluded that parking neutral (PN) Switch was the problem. I took car back to PEP BOYS and explained tow truck driver finding and asked them to replace the PN Switch. After re-placement car could not move in gear and they concluded I have a transmission problem. Car towed to Mr. Transmission and they concluded I now have a bad transmission and it has to be rebuilt or replaced. Was the transmission failure while at PEP BOY a coincidence or did they mess up? I am going to small claims court to address that and as a minimum get refund for wrongful replacement of my starter.
8. To cut a long story short, I replaced the transmission with a used one, but I am still having intermittent starting problems in "park" sometimes but it starts on "park" and it always starts on neutral when it does not start on "park". I was just going to ask a mechanic to just replace the PN Switch hoping it will solve the problem. Then I saw this posting in another Nissan forum indicating that this may be another problem causing my starting problem.

[COLOR="Red"] Also, check the cable that runs from your shifter to the ignition itself. Its what will unlock the ignition switch. It also does something which let's the ignition know the vehicle is not in gear which will allow it to start. [COLOR]

So should I replace the PN Switch or this cable referenced above as the first option to solve my intermittent starting problem?

Thanks

Thanks HMAC300.

First I must clarify that PEP BOYS claimed that after they replaced the PN switch and tried to drive the car that is when they figured out that my transmission had failed (coincidence timing?). I towed car to a different mechanic that confirmed I had a failed transmission. So I am suspicious that PEP BOYS may have messed up my transmission trying to replace the PN Switch.

I cannot do the repairs you described above. If the time to adjust the cable is not much different than the time to replace it, should I not just replace it? How much will labor for this replacement cost. What is the exact name of the cable so that I can get a quote?Thanks again

Car will not run! Got good fire, tried quick start while had someone turn engine over car started. I know its fuel problem. Check fuel pump pressure should be 40 psi /got 85psi do I have bad fuel pressure regulator if so where is it located?

HMAC300
Thanks again for your response. Based on your feed back and additional research I did online on other repair forums, the following two parts have been identified as the possible culprits for my starting problem.

1. Shift cable you identified above
2. Park-Neutral-Position (PNP) Switch

For both of the two items above I have heard that they can either be "adjusted" or "replaced". Can you tell which of these will be the most likely to replace as my Truck has 210,000 mile? If I take it to the Dealership can they do a diagnostic to figure which of the above is the problem?

Also I did something today when it did not start on PARK after parking the car at work for 9 hours. Instead of trying to start on NEUTRAL as I normally do, I just move the Shifter from PARK to NEUTRAL and back to PARK. It started then at PARK which tells me something may have a loose connection in the shift cable to transmission or PNP switch to transmission. Either way I will take to the dealer although my normal mechanic can replace either of these for cheaper.

Can you explain why the pressure in the fuel pump is so high? I have by pass the FRP and taken the pressure direct from the pump?
With normal pressure at 34 and this vehicle at 85 there got to be a reason

Thanks; this puts everything in perceptive.

My Nissan Xterra 2000 3.3 v6 won't start. It sounds like it wants to turn but no go. This issue first started with the truck struggling and losing power in acceleration. I already changed the sparks, cables, fuel filter and complete distributor. After changing the distributor the truck did start after a timing issue. Took the truck for a spin and it died on me after 10mils or so. Changed the crankshaft position sensor and still the truck doesn't wanna turn. My next option is the ECU or the gas fuel sending unit but before I go into that I'd like some professional info if I am heading the right direction. Meaning electrical problems and where to start. Any info would be very appreciated. Thanks.