2011 QX56 won’t start unless I leave headlights on for 5 seconds

[chrisrach3]

Anyone else with this problem? Happens to me intermittently. I push the button, all the lights come on just fine but ignition doesn’t work. I had the battery checked at Advance Auto, he said it was fine but had to turn on headlights for a bit to get the juices flowing. Happened to me again today, 2 days later.

 

[marctronixx]

thats a rare issue to have. not seen that on any of the armada forums i frequent in the years ive been on them.
you may have a bcm issue, or a crank/cam shaft sensor issue. could be an issue with the starter or solenoid on the starter. could be a wiring issue, an issue with the vehicle immobilizer (security alarm).

if you can reproduce it every time, it could be something that is affected by temp changes. maybe a wire is losing continuity and something happens to regain it. just spitballin' brotha.

did you just get the car or have you had it since 2011? if its a used car, did it happen right away or over time? any aftermarket alarms or modifications done to the electrical system? radio, dvd/av system? any led lights aftermarket on the car?

if you have a scan tool, or access to one, its a good idea to see if any codes are there.

 

[chrisrach3]

Thanks, I’ve had it since October 2000. 141K miles on it. I scanned the computer, just the same old 0430 cat code that I’ve had since I bought it.

I thought it may be temperature related too but I fired it up a couple days ago, drove it for about a half hour, started it again at 9:30am, drive it another half hour, went inside, came back out and tried to start it again at 10:30 and it wouldn’t start, had to turn on the headlights again.

I did talk to someone this morning who said it could be my key fob battery? Same thing happens to his Beamer and he just holds the fob closer to the button. I’ll replace the fob battery and keep you posted.