Posted: Nov 16 2008 at 1:28pm | IP Logged

I have a 1998 Nissan frontier 2wd standard.  This issue has been driving me nuts trying to figure out so I figured id post something on some forums to possible see someone who may have had the same issue, here we go.

About 2 weeks ago, I came home from work late at night and accidently left the lights on.  Well naturally the battery was dead and needed jumped.  I jumped it off and all was well, so i thought.  Driving short distances the truck was fine. (10 miles or so)  I drove the truck down to a relatives house to help them with some house repairs and when i got down to their house the truck wouldn't crank.  So once again i jumped it off and it all seemed well till i turned on the  headlights and began to travel back home.  The vehicle shimmyed like it was bout out of gas and the lights dimmed and almost shut out.  I immediately pulled into a family members driveway. Once i put it in nuetral the truck no longer shimmied and stayed running. 

My first thought was the alternator was dead/weak.  So I started checking into that, found out all was well there.  So i decided to crank it up and drive it to see if it repeats.  Would not crank alone or by a jump.  When i turn the key to the on position the lights come on but dim in and out.  When I turn the key to the start position the lights go out and don't come back on till I turn the key to the off position and back to the on position.

Im by no means an electrical guy and really am at a loss with this situation.  I have checked all wires on the battery to the starter and the altenator also checked all fuses, everything there seems fine.  Does anyone have any idea of where to check next?

Posted: Nov 16 2008 at 5:16pm | IP Logged

Ok i went today to work on the truck some and i have good results.  I heard from a few folks at the parts store that nissan frontiers are semi notorious for  this, but.......

On the positive side of the battery there is an extra cable running down to the alternator acting as a nuetral im assuming.  The metal connector on this wire was indeed not all the way connected causing the  lights to flicker.  It was also making the alternator look like it was dying or dead.  I re-sautered this connector back on the terminal and all is well.  Kinda odd how i didn't see this when i cleaned the battery terminals but as i was looking over the terminal i saw that it had corroded itself together since it is a two piece connection on that side for my make and model.

Thanks for the info danny, i checked that out as well and it seemed to be fine after i got every thing back in order.

Posted: Nov 16 2008 at 5:18pm | IP Logged

ooops forgot something

Truck runs great now, no problems cranking whatsoever.  But, for some reason my airbag light is just a flashing away.  Any clue on how to get that thing to stop, aka reset the sensor, without bringing it in to the dealer?

Thanks for all the input guys, really informative stuff

Posted: Nov 16 2008 at 6:08pm | IP Logged

Hey, I had the same problem after I installed my stereo system, easy fix for us first gens.

it took a bit of research, but this worked on my 03 4x4 XE

Turn key to on (don't start)

Watch the air bag light, once it disappears, immediately turn off (leave key in ignition) (Also, if it blinks, start over)

Once in the off position, count to 5 (one one thousand, two one thousand, etc)

Turn key to on (again, same procedure as before)

wait for the air bag light to disappear and then turn back to the off position and count to 5 again,

perform this procedure 3x.