Please help to end my NIGHTMARE!

04Cobra · 12-24-2006, 11:35 PM

I have a 2004 Titan KC 36,000 miles (dammit!!!!)

I've had the truck for a while now and I've been lucky to not have the typical Titan issues, no brake issues, no freezing doors...blahblahblah. I finally opened my mouth a week ago and said "I've been lucky with this one".

Well...here I am, with what appears to be a nightmare of a problem.

Friday night was the last time I drove my truck. Sunday night I made an attempt to leave, as I got close to my truck I heard a rapid clicking. I opened the door and saw my Sirius head unit was blinking on and off. The clicking was really loud, it was the click you hear when you first press in the brakes to start the truck/shift out of park. I put the key in the ignition without thinking I might not get it back and sure enough, the key won't return to off & come out, the truck had no juice and with the ignition on, the truck will not come out of park. If I press in the brake, the clicking will stop. If I leave the ignition on, the clicking will stop.

I am experienced with many vehicles, except for these Titans. If someone could give me a place to start...that would be excellent. My truck is my source of income and I really need to narrow down the problem tomorrow so when Tuesday rolls around I can hitch a ride to the dealer and pick up whatever parts I may need...

titaninak · 12-24-2006, 11:40 PM

if it was me i would be trading it in on something new.............

04Cobra · 12-24-2006, 11:44 PM

Yeah I simply CANNOT afford ANY electrical problems with the truck, not with my line of work.

It's unfortunate because the truck has been REALLY good to me, especially when I talk to other Titan owners...

But really... have any ideas? I don't know where to start with this one. BTW, I've pinpointed the clicking, it is definitely the click you hear when pressing in the brakes to start the truck. I'd figure the NSS is fubar? Is it possible I didn't have the truck fully in park when I shut it off? I tried moving the shifter, but I didn't try moving it to the left with the key in the ignition, that didn't cross my mind at the moment. However, the fact that the ignition will not return to off & release the key has me worried it's much worse than a NSS issue. I pulled the battery for a couple minutes and it didn't help.

AgTitan06 · 12-24-2006, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 04Cobra

Yeah I simply CANNOT afford ANY electrical problems with the truck, not with my line of work.

It's unfortunate because the truck has been REALLY good to me, especially when I talk to other Titan owners...

But really... have any ideas? I don't know where to start with this one. BTW, I've pinpointed the clicking, it is definitely the click you hear when pressing in the brakes to start the truck. I'd figure the NSS is fubar? Is it possible I didn't have the truck fully in park when I shut it off? I tried moving the shifter, but I didn't try moving it to the left with the key in the ignition, that didn't cross my mind at the moment. However, the fact that the ignition will not return to off & release the key has me worried it's much worse than a NSS issue. I pulled the battery for a couple minutes and it didn't help.

Did you try the ECM reset procedure? If this won't work, leave your battery unplugged overnight for at least 12 hours or so..then see what happens.

04Cobra · 12-25-2006, 12:01 AM

What's the procedure? Is a Titan different from other vehicles and it takes longer than 30 seconds to reset the ECU by disconnecting the battery?

*** I just researched the ECU reset and well.. I can't do it if my ignition won't return to the 'off' position... which it won't do now.

rcantu · 12-25-2006, 01:28 AM

so your key won't come out and the truck is in park right?

I had that happen to me in my 04. I turned jiggled the steering wheel left to right a few times. it's like the steering lock is on.

check your battery voltage too. these oem batteries really suck imho.

04Cobra · 12-25-2006, 01:31 AM

Tried that. My steering wheel can be moved 3-4 inches to the left & right.

Even if that were the issue, that doesn't really explain why there was a rapid clicking noise coming from under the driver side dash & why it would stop when the brake pedal was depressed.

rcantu · 12-25-2006, 01:34 AM

when my battery died, it would click like crazy but the guages would flicker too.

i'm guessing you have a center shifter? if you do, there's a round plastic cover near the P. pop that off and you can insert a narrow screwdriver or something to depress the shifter lock. you can try to move the shifter up and down.

BKW · 12-25-2006, 01:40 AM

When you try cranking it...does it start?

If not...that clicking could be the sign of a faulty starter relay or dead battery.

Why the noise goes away when pressing on the brake, I haven't a klew.

Were your wheels turned when you shut the key off last time?

Try shoving the truck forward and back, then get in and wiggle the wheel...see if that unlocks the key....works on Fords.

04Cobra · 12-25-2006, 01:41 AM

Hell yes, some good info...

I'll give that a try. Even if I'm not trying to start the truck (key is still in the ignition but will not reach the position where I can remove the key) it clicks like crazy.

I always wondered what that little hole was for. Yes, I do have a center shift.

AgTitan06 · 12-25-2006, 01:46 AM

Try to get behind the truck and push it a bit..that sometimes helps disengage the key lock.

AgTitan06 · 12-25-2006, 01:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rcantu

when my battery died, it would click like crazy but the guages would flicker too.

i'm guessing you have a center shifter? if you do, there's a round plastic cover near the P. pop that off and you can insert a narrow screwdriver or something to depress the shifter lock. you can try to move the shifter up and down.

good info. i was about to tell him that.

04Cobra · 12-25-2006, 01:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BKW

When you try cranking it...does it start?

If not...that clicking could be the sign of a faulty starter relay or dead battery.

Why the noise goes away when pressing on the brake, I haven't a klew.

Were your wheels turned when you shut the key off last time?

Try shoving the truck forward and back, then get in and wiggle the wheel...see if that unlocks the key....works on Fords.

When I got to the truck and discovered what was wrong, the battery didn't have enough power to start the truck. But when I got to the truck, that crazy clicking was going on. When your truck is off & the key is in the ignition waiting to be turned & started, press your brake pedal, you hear a click right? That's the *exact* click that is constant in my truck, this was happening even before the key was stuck in the ignition.

My wheels were straight. I'm going to charge the battery this morning, but my main concern is why the clicking was happening & why my sirius unit was flashing to match the clicking noise from whatever the brake pedal activates.

04Cobra · 12-25-2006, 01:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AgTitan06

Try to get behind the truck and push it a bit..that sometimes helps disengage the key lock.

I'm definitely going to try this too.

04Cobra · 12-25-2006, 01:51 AM

Maybe I'll get some video footage of whats happening before I go fooling with it.