[Dave65]

I have an 11 cube base with 175K miles, it has been the most reliable car I have ever had but recently it has had starting issues at times. Battery is brand new, cable connectors are new and tight. What happens is sometimes it will not crank when you turn the key. lights and all work fine. It appears that when it wont start, applying the brake, turning the key to run and move the shifter to neutral, then cycle the key to stop - start a few times, put it back in park, and it will start right up. I am lost, any idea what is causing the issue? I'm not a mechanic, but can usually figure things out with a Haynes manual, but it doesn't appear they made one for the cube. any other resources out there that are good for non mechanics?

 

[jeplloyd]

You can download the service manual through the following link. Cube Service Manual Also I would download the 2010 version along with the 2011 version. There are some missing contents with the 2011.
Since your car is a base model and likely doesn't have the keyless remote like mine I would only be able to take a stab in the dark. Does your car require the brake to be pushed in to start? If so you may have a brake switch that is not making the connect that allows you to start. I had this happen where I couldn't get the car to start every time, and it was showing that the brake pedal needed to be pushed, even though it was. I replaced that and was able to get it starting without any issues. I actually happened to keep the old brake switch and took it apart and there are two metal connectors that were dirty. I cleaned those up and put it back into the car and it started right up with just the cleaning, so you may be able to clean the connections if you open up your current one if you don't want to buy one. Possible solution.

Your car may also not know if the shifter is correctly in the park position and won't start.

 

[Columbia1991]

I have an 11 cube base with 175K miles, it has been the most reliable car I have ever had but recently it has had starting issues at times. Battery is brand new, cable connectors are new and tight. What happens is sometimes it will not crank when you turn the key. lights and all work fine. It appears that when it wont start, applying the brake, turning the key to run and move the shifter to neutral, then cycle the key to stop - start a few times, put it back in park, and it will start right up. I am lost, any idea what is causing the issue? I'm not a mechanic, but can usually figure things out with a Haynes manual, but it doesn't appear they made one for the cube. any other resources out there that are good for non mechanics?

Same. After a year of agony a local Nissan specialist diagnosed it as a head gasket leak. $1000 fix

 

[Dave65]

Same. After a year of agony a local Nissan specialist diagnosed it as a head gasket leak. $1000 fix

OK, not a mechanic, but how could a head gasket leak cause the car to act like a valet key is being used???? > everything works except the engine doesn't crank, and it only does it sometimes. I dont see how a head gasket could cause that. Any mechanical brainiacs out there that can explain that to me please???

Also BIG THANK YOU to jeplloyd for the link!!!!

 

[Dave65]

Wow, never posted the solution to this. It turned out to be the starter, which had tested good at the local autoparts store. I bought a new one from rock auto on line for about half the price I could find it locally and problem solved. Car hasn't had any starting issues since.

 

[eLMC]

Definitely starter, @ 175k miles it would make sense. The head gasket thing would cause a miss fire, but not starting issues and even then you would loose oil and/or overheat before it caused any problems.