2002 GX Nissan Patrol , Mystery

Hi Everyone, I am new to this Forum. The Mystery is, This vehicle has done 300.000 KM it has presented a real problem, it has a new starter, new glow plugs , new heavy duty battery, On a cold morning it will not start the click of the relay is heard ,the glow plug light is on and when it turns over it turns very slow like the battery is almost flat. roll it down hill and instant start then turn around ,park and turn off and it will start and run all day perfectly,does anyone know if the relay can appear to operate but not be sending current to the glow plugs and why the starter turns over slowly all on a cold morning, a jump start makes no difference,

Welcome to the forum. Check the connections to the starter, as it seems to be a problem there. Is it a good starter or a cheap Ebay purchase? Also check the earth straps to the engine and chassis. Did you check that the alternator is charging properly?

Can you take a pic of the battery showing the type on the sticker with the terminals in the pic also?


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Thanks for the welcome, All has been checked out and all good,I have taken it to three mechanics and all cannot find the problem

Thank you for your reply, I am elderly and no good with the photo and phone thing however it is a brand new Bond battery fitted by them,three garages have looked at the vehicle and could not find the problem.

Certainly sounds electrical, battery would have to be load-tested.
Glow plug function can be tested with a voltmeter (I assume it runs through a computer...and they're normally my first suspect for things-not-working)
Through I would also check for shorts to ground (through a relay/solenoid) and maybe a sticking fuel solenoid.

Where are you? Maybe there is a reputable workshop that a nearby forum member can point you to. I think Bonds are usually a very good battery, but yeah, a load test will confirm it is getting a full charge. But not starting with a jump start points to the starter or plugs.

Kyneton Vic

I think an auto electrician may be a better bet than a garage mechanic. To me it sounds like a battery not holding charge. Bump start it & the short run it gets puts enough charge in the battery for the next start........provided you don't leave it too long. If a garage checked the battery voltage after you have just driven there, they may not have picked up on it. If you can borrow a known good battery to try it would test this 'hypothesis'.

Thanks Cuppa, Knowing when it is a cold morning that it won't start I replaced the battery with a new HD one from the tractor , same thing it would only turn over very slow, I then rolled it from the small hill where I leave it so it can be rolled 2nd gear and 2 seconds away she went, it will go all day and pull well next day cold same thing , through warm weather instant key start , Retired heavy vehicle mechanic and seen many odd things but this has me intriged as I am from the old school and the modern systems elude me a little.

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Originally Posted by Parmenter43

Hi Everyone, I am new to this Forum. The Mystery is, This vehicle has done 300.000 KM it has presented a real problem, it has a new starter, new glow plugs , new heavy duty battery, On a cold morning it will not start the click of the relay is heard ,the glow plug light is on and when it turns over it turns very slow like the battery is almost flat. roll it down hill and instant start then turn around ,park and turn off and it will start and run all day perfectly,does anyone know if the relay can appear to operate but not be sending current to the glow plugs and why the starter turns over slowly all on a cold morning, a jump start makes no difference. Or maybe is it better to sell it via sca.auction and save tons of time?

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This sounds like a strange problem you're experiencing with your vehicle. It could potentially be an issue with the glow plug relay or the wiring connected to it. The relay is responsible for sending power to the glow plugs, so if it's not functioning properly, the glow plugs may not be receiving the necessary power to heat up and start the engine.

It is also possible that the issue is with the starter motor, which may be having trouble turning over on a cold morning. This could be caused by a variety of factors, such as a weak battery or a problem with the starter solenoid.

It would be best to have the vehicle inspected by a professional mechanic, they will be able to run diagnostics and diagnose the problem more accurately. It's also recommended to check the wiring and connections to the starter, battery, and glow plugs, as well as the starter motor itself, to make sure they are all in good working condition.

It's worth mentioning that sometimes, the problem could be related to the engine oil viscosity in cold temperatures, that can make it harder for the starter motor to turn over. Make sure to use the recommended oil viscosity for your vehicle and the temperatures in your area, and check the oil level as well.

It's also important to note that the Nissan Patrol is known for its durability and longevity, even with high mileage, so it's possible that with the right diagnosis and repairs, your vehicle will be back on the road running smoothly.