Nissan Repair: Intermittant No Start, neutral safety switch, pathfinder 4x4

Question
Hi Norm here.  I have a 96 Nissan Pathfinder 4x4, 3.3L, Auto.  It has just recently started having no-start problems... It has power to all interior... the first time it did this to me it was for several hours until I popped into neutral and boom - no problems for several days... this evening it started doing this again but without starting... I read in some archives about the CIR Clutch Relay on 2 standard trans 3.0L's and wondered if this could apply to the automatic's also?

Or maybe any other ideas as I just over a month ago also started get a ground loop type noise through the radio at low volumes. Could this be a related ground problem


Answer
Norm,

Yes, if you have an automatic there is a neutral safety switch.  The car should start in neutral and park.  If you are having difficulties starting try pressing the brake and turning the key while shifting from park to neutral and back.  If you get it to start this way you know the neutral safety switch needs to be replaced.  If you use a length of wire and, while the vehicle is in neutral and the brake is set and the vehicle is in neutral touch from the large battery cable wire to the starter terminal to confirm the starter is good.  This is just another way to verify the starter is good and the neutral safety switch is defective.