2004 Gen won't pop-start / bump-start: WHY? Please help

[DGO Joe]

I just bought a 2004 Gen 1 with 5-speed with the anticipation of being able to pop-start it but it simply won't. I live in Colorado where we have large hills and it won't start even when rolling at 20-30 mph and popping in 2nd gear. Yes, the key is in the on position. It starts fine with the electric starter but I spend a lot of time in the backcountry of Colorado and Utah and intentionally park my vehicles so that I can pop-start them if I leave the lights on or something else goes awry with the starting system. I've been driving manual 4WD vehicles since 1976 so I am quite familiar with the procedure and own two other vehicles that pop-start just fine. If I cannot enable pop-starting I will be forced to keep my XTerra within a few miles of roads that have some traffic every few days which is quite a restriction.

I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE HELP. If anyone knows how to bypass whatever 'safety' feature is disallowing the pop-start, please let me know.

 

[jsexton]

I don't know first gens well, but I suspect you have to bypass the clutch safety switch.

 

[Prime]

The clutch switch is only an interrupt for the starter motor circuit. As long as the ignition is in the run position, it should start. Here is a grab of the ignition circuit.



This shows that the key in the on position supplies power to the ignition coil. So that's really confusing why it wouldn't do it. I can't recall if I was able to bump start my old 1st gen. Hrmm.

 

[BEEFY]

I have an 03 and I roll start it all the time. So I know it should. I'm stumped on why yours wont.

 

[TerryD]

Do you have an alarm or security system? Most of those (even OEM) prevent being able to roll start a vehicle.

 

[DGO Joe]

Thanks greatly for all the help. The circuit schematic is great.

I have no alarm or security system.

Any internal combustion engine must start if it fuel and ignition are available while the engine turns over. I therefore conclude that there must be a safety feature that cuts power to the fuel pump or fuel injectors. Why an '03 will start and '04 won't is quite a conundrum.

Again, many thanks to all of you.