Nissan Xterra Won’t Start Clicking Noise (Troubleshooting Guide)

Is your Nissan Xterra failing to start and at the same time making a clicking noise? If yes, this can be quite inconvenient and annoying experience. Many other owners of this car commonly experience this problem. Luckily, we’re here to help you troubleshoot and resolve your no-start situation.

Nissan Xterra won’t start clicking noise problem is mainly attributed to a bad battery, failing alternator, or bad starter motor. However, there are several other potential culprits behind this issue including a failing started motor, ignition switch malfunction, starter motor wiring issues, and poor ground connection.

In this article, we’ll take a deep dive into all the potential causes of your vehicle failing to start. Moreover, we’ll discuss helpful troubleshooting tips to help you solve this problem and get your Xterra back on the road.

Why Your Nissan Xterra Won’t Start And Makes A Clicking Noise

Here’s the full list of all the possible causes behind your Nissan Xterra making a clicking noise and failing to start:

Drained battery

This is the most common reason behind your vehicle not starting. When you attempt to start your engine with a dead or weak battery, a clicking sound will occur due to lack of power.

In this case, you’re likely to hear loud clicking noises every time you try to start your car.

Solution: You’ll need to use a multimeter to test the condition of your battery. Simply connect your multimeter’s positive and negative leads to your battery’s red and black terminal and check the voltage readings.

If you get anything below 12V, this indicates low power. This could be caused by an old battery that needs replacement, leaving your vehicle lights on overnight, or a faulty charging system.

Bad battery connections

If your battery terminals are malfunctioning, probably due to corrosion or lose connections, they can also lead to starting difficulties.

They won’t be able to provide the necessary power for starting the engine, even if the battery is in perfect shape.

The clamps for cables that connect to your battery may become loose over time, probably due to vibration on the road. This makes them unable to make proper contact and disrupts the electric flow to the starter motor.

Corrosion also tends to build up on your battery terminals and cables—reducing the amount of electric current reaching your starter motor. This can lead to a clicking problem when you attempt to start your vehicle.

Solution: Inspect your battery terminals for loose connections and tighten them. You can easily tell when the terminals are corroded by looking for powdery white deposits, green and black buildup (caused by oxidation from weathering). Sometimes it can appear as a dirt accumulation.

If present, clean it as follow:

• Using a wire brush or other similar tool, remove the build-up around the terminals.
• Next, clean off the remaining corrosion residue using a mixture of baking soda and water and a cloth rag or old toothbrush dipped in the mixture.
• Lastly, rinse off any excess baking soda solution on the terminals and dry them through.
• Apply terminal grease on the posts to prevent further corrosion.

Preventive Tip: We advise you to regularly inspect your battery terminals for corrosion and lose connections and fix them as necessary.

Failing alternator

Another possibility behind the no-start issue in Nissan Xterra and the clicking noise is a bad alternator. This component is important in that it generates the necessary power for recharging your battery.

When you try activating the motor, therefore, it quickly drains much of the stored power in the battery.

The alternator is then supposed to replenish the battery. However, given that it could be faulty, it won’t be able to do so. This will make the engine not start a clicking sound will likely come out as well.

Solution: Have a reliable mechanic inspect your alternator and replace it if it’s not working properly.

Starter motor malfunction

Your Nissan Xterra could make your car have trouble starting and at the same time produce clicking noise.

The starter is essential a small electric motor tasked with engaging the engine whenever you turn the key in the ignition.

Over time, the starter’s component may be worn or become stuck, causing it to malfunction.

Solution: Get a reliable mechanic to inspect your starter motor and give you an inaccurate report of whether it’s faulty or needs repair or replacement.

Faulty ignition switch

Your Xterra could also be having a failing ignition switch, which can cause trouble starting your car engine and even lead to a clicking sound.

The ignition switch is essential for the successful starting of your car. It facilitates power transmission from the battery all the way to the spark plugs and starter motor.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t last forever and will wear out with continued use.

Key signs of a faulty ignition switch include difficulty turning the key, abnormal noises when trying to start your car, dash lights failing to illuminate, and the engine failing to start.

Solution: If you experience a combination of these issues, we advise you to have your ignition switch inspected by a qualified mechanic and any potential issues diagnosed and repaired.

Starter wiring problems

Issues with the starter wiring can easily disrupt the power supply to your starter motor. This can make your car not start.

At the same time, you’ll likely hear a clicking sound, from the starter solenoid which is still powered as it’s connected to a different circuit.

The poor connections can be caused by corrosion on the connections or if the connection becomes loose.

Rodents are also notorious for chewing up starter motor cables and disrupting electrical power flow.

Solution: Inspect the starter motor wiring for loose connections and tighten it for better connectivity. Check if its connection is corroded and clean it with sandpaper.

You can also test the motor for continuity from the battery to the motor. If the voltage reads 12V+ then the starter wiring is good.

Look for signs of damage by rodents and replace the damaged cable section as necessary.

Bad ground connection

If your vehicle’s ground connection is faulty, probably due to rust and corrosion or lose connections, your car will experience a myriad of electrical issues, including difficulties starting and clicking sounds on attempting startups.

Your Nissan Xterra starter motor and solenoid rely on the engine ground connection for proper functionality.

If the ground goes bad, the starter may not work due to the high current it requires to function.

However, the solenoid may continue working—making it the source of the clicking sound.

Solution: Inspect your Xterra ground connections for signs of loose connections or corrosion. Tighten the connections and clean any rust/corrosion present with sandpaper.

Why Your Nissan Xterra Won’t Start And Makes Multiple Clicks

The type of click you hear also matters. In some cases, your Nissan Xterra will make a series of multiple, fast-paced clicks (or if you like, a rapidly clicking noise).

If this is the exact issue you’re facing, it’s usually an indication that your starter motor isn’t getting engaged. The repeating sound is made by the solenoid as it repeatedly activates and deactivates while trying to engage, but it fails to make a connection.

The lack of electric current to power the starter motor could be lying in one of the following:

• Car battery: Your battery could be weak or dead and unable to supply adequate, stable power to the starter motor.
• Loose battery connection: Loose battery cable will also interrupt the flow of electric current to the starter motor.
• Corroded battery terminals: If any of the terminals is invaded by corrosion, proper transfer of electrical current from your car battery will be hindered. Moreover, the fuse on your car battery +Ve can interrupt the current flow and make the starter malfunction.
• Bad alternator: A malfunctioning alternator can’t properly charge the battery, leading to a lack of power required to activate the starter motor.

When faced with this issue, we recommend you diagnose your car, starting with the simple issues.

Try to jumpstart your car, inspect the battery cables and terminals and check the battery voltage. Also, try recharging or replacing the battery.

If you’re not confident diagnosing your car on your own, get a qualified auto mechanic specializing in Nissan vehicles to do it for you.

Why Your Nissan Xterra Won’t Start And Makes A Single Click

If your case involves hearing a single click or a sluggish single click, this is your part. This could be a sign of an electrical problem related to your starter relay or solenoid.

If the solenoid is corroded or faulty, it may take in electrical current meant for the starter motor. This starter motor will then lack power; this makes your car not start, and you’ll hear a single click.

A bad battery may also produce a grounding sound that sounds like a single click whenever you try to start your engine.

If you have a damaged or locked engine, it’s also likely to make a clicking sound while you attempt to start your car.

Damage or lockup to your engine can be caused by a variety of issues such as low engine oil, infrequent engine use that encourage rust buildup, engine overheating, etc.

Sometimes a defective fuel pump or damaged spark plugs may also be the reason behind the single clicking sound.

In this case, you’d want to locate the starter motor in your car and then proceed to inspect it. If the motor is faulty, replace it and then try to start your car to see if it works.

If you’re not able to diagnose this issue, or nothing seems to work, get a qualified mechanic for further diagnosis and fixing of the underlying issue.

While Nissan Xterra owners occasionally grapple with the unique problem of their vehicle not starting, accompanied by a clicking noise, drivers of Hyundai vehicles sometimes face their own set of ignition challenges. The Hyundai Tucson, known for its reliability and sleek design, has presented starting issues for some owners. Dive into our detailed guide on the reasons a Hyundai Tucson might not start to learn more about potential causes and fixes. Similarly, the Hyundai Santa Fe, a favorite among families for its spaciousness and safety features, can occasionally have ignition difficulties. For insights and troubleshooting tips on this, our article on why a Hyundai Santa Fe won’t start is a valuable resource.

FAQs:

Video:

Conclusion

When faced with the problem of your Nissan Xterra failing to start and at the same time making noise, the most common culprit to consider is a dead battery, malfunctioning starter, or a failing alternator. Other potential causes include poor starter wiring, starter motor malfunction, failing ignition switch, or bad ground connection.

Without proper automotive training experience, it may be challenging to diagnose some of the issues behind your car’s refusal to start. Therefore, we advise you to get a reliable mechanic to accurately diagnose your car for the underlying issue and then perform the necessary repairs to make your car start smoothly again.