Strange problem
 

So I have a weird problem arising in my base 09 Z. It's been doing this for about a week now, but whenever I go to start it up, it sorta pauses halfway through and then finishes starting. I noticed it at first it happens after not driving over night, but now it's doing it even when I start it again after an hour or so of not driving. The strange thing is my radio also powers off completely and the outside temp reads in Celsius. I'm guessing it's an electric issue somewhere but I can pinpoint it. The only mods I have are:

K&n typhoon intake, test pipes, full cbe, new headunit, new speakers, and a backup camera.

I did try to search but I honestly have no clue what else to use as keywords other than I've used, or if this is even an engine related issue. I did do an Ecu reset after everything as well.

You said you have new speakers and a head unit. Did it start around the same time you had them installed?

No, I've had those in for about 2 months now.

With the radio powering off, I suspect an electrical wiring problem. I'd check the radio wiring and all wiring around it for loose connectors, shorted wires, etc.

I was thinking that, but I'm sure it's not. I've installed stereos and speakers often, and I'm quite thorough checking connections and making sure noting can ever come loose. After reading other nissans on other sites with similar issues, I'm thinking maybe it could be the battery? I bought this car from Carmax in February, and it seems like they did no service at all to it, so I'm thinking it still has the original battery since there was only 38k on it when I purchased it.

Another reason I suspect the battery, my headunit is an android joying unit. I noticed that it doesn't always power off with the car, and that's one thing I can't seem to figure out. But maybe that has caused my battery to drain significantly and wearing it down?

Have you checked the ground cable on the battery. A loose ground can cause a lot of odd electrical issues.


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If it's an OEM battery, check the electrolyte level. Add distilled water as needed.

Yea, it was tight and no cracks in the cable.

I'll look into that. It seems that while running, the voltmeter reads around 13V. Is that normal?

Running should be around 14.4v

So same problem this morning, went to the gym came out an hour later and it turns over a couple of times, then stops. Everything else works. Fans, radio, locks, windows. Tried resetting the ecu again, but still doesn't want to start. If I the it multiple times, it'll crank less and less each time until it does nothing at all. Any ideas?

Buy a new battery?

I'll try that and update. Any suggestions for a replacement?

I've always had good luck with Autozone on batteries. Their warranty is solid. I'm 99% sure that all but the expensive sealed batteries are all built in the same factory overseas anyway and the only difference is the label.

^^^^
I second the Autozone battery. Been putting them in my cars for a years and the one and only time my wife's went bad after a year, it was replaced (in their parking lot) with no questions asked...