wissnx01

I was comming home tonight same as always. Comming down a hill the car died; engine stopped, and the idiot lights came on. Managed to get it to a parking lot.

I can crank the engine over, but can only start it when pumping the gas, though it misses, and only stays running when the pedal is to the floor. If I leave off the pedal, of corse it dies almost at once.

Im thinking that it may be the spark plugs, but others are thinking that its a fuel or timing issue. I dont suspect the timing chain, though what the hell do I know. This is a second car that we have just to get my ass back and forth to work. I havent ventured much past routine maintenance, and even that I havent had to do since we have a new car and its all under warranty.

I bought this car because the other Sentras we have owned were great cars and ran very well. This one has cost me a small fortune and Ive only had it a month. Id appriciate any suggestions or things to rule out to narrow the scope of what could be the problem down.

Simply its a 95 200SX with a 5 speed, with approximatly 140k miles. All maintenance has been done, plugs, filters, fluids are all new. Hell, if anyone in the SoCal area would care to take a look personally, I wouldnt mind paying a 'consultants' fee. Im not mechanically enclined as I had hoped, so any help is appriicated.

 

IanH

Hard to tell from this distance. Try listening to injectors with screw driver.
Check for fuel pressure, is pump priming when you turn it on ?
Check for spark on all the leads.
It possible its a coil or ignition, but I dont think its timing or timing chain.

Good Luck.....

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1997 Sentra GXE .... SOLD
1997 S-ER 5 sp yea !!!
2003 Pathfinder SE 4WD
Ex- 2001 Sunny N16 RHD (N16 Nissan Bluebird Sylphy)

ghost_ryder35

I would check the spark (take a spark plug and touch it to the frame of the car and see if a spark jumps from the end of the plug to the frame), do this for each plug. I think maybe its a weak fuel pump maybe, fuel pump about to die. anyone else think that?

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wissnx01

Actually, two others I have spoke to who know a heck of alot more than I suggested that the pump may be failing. It will prime itself, but perhaps its just an immenant failure. Im going to try and get it home tonight when its late and there is little traffic. Its about 30 miles away, so it could be tough. However, once I get it back, I will probably replace the fuel pump, just to eliminate that for now, and to get rid of that as a possible failure in the future. Unfortunatly, I am running low on money, so I will probably head out to the scrap yards this weekend and seek out a newer sentra and see if I can recover a semi-newer fuel pump. Using a used one will definatly require me to change it to a new one in the future, but by then I shouldnt be strapped for cash as much.

Also, I did try to remove the Number 1 plug wire, and the damn rubber boot came off with the plastic thing still in the cylindar. I attempted to free it with a long screwdriver, but a small edge of that plastic fell into the cylinder. Fortunatly its not in the engine, yet. Right now I hope that it melts to something, otherwise, I dont look forward to tearing it down just for a tiny piece of plastic, but I know that will destroy the engine fairly quick. Im wondering if I can remove the plug, and it falls into the combustion chamber, then crank the engine, in hopes the pressure will shoot it out. Doesnt seem likely, but I cant risk removing the plug, otherwise it will fall in the combustion chamber.

Its just a small series of problems like this that fustrate me. So, once I get the fuel pump changed out, its time for new spark plug wires.

I appriciate your response and advice, it will prove useful. For the longest time I went to some automotive trade schools, thinking it was my calling, only to realize I couldnt afford it, and it just wasnt something that I cared to do. Now, I can set up a large Token Ring network or fix most any computer failures, just dont ask me about cars! Either way, thanks again.

oliverr87

Dude, you live in Riverside? I live in West Covina, if you want, i'll take a look at it for free or whatever. =) But yea, it does sound like a fuel delivery issue...the car wouldn't just 'die' unless the pump wasn't properly pumping fuel. It could also be that your injectors are clogged or something, try running a bottle of Chevron Techron or Redline Fuel System Cleaner (NOTHING ELSE, OR YOU WILL RUIN THE INJECTORS) and see if that helps.

 

wissnx01

Ill be damned I was comming home from work in West Covina when it died comming down the hill into Pomona. Id appricate if you could. Unfortunatly, wife took the car, otherwise I would meet you there. When would you have time. Its always a good thing to have assistance from another Nissan fan.

wissnx01

Took some suggestions from Oliver, went out to recover the car, and I couldnt get it to start at all. Fuel delivery is good, until it gets to the fuel rail. Because i cant get it off easily to see if its clogged, I have no idea what to do. I definatly have concluded that the fuel is now not getting to the combustion chamber, I just dont know where its blocked.

If anyone has any advice, Id appriciate it, otherwise, I will have to have it towed and repaired by someone obviously more capable than I.

ghost_ryder35

your injectors are probally bad. or i belive theres a resistor box for the fuel injectors that could have shorted out causing them to stay closed. check that out.

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wissnx01

A resistor box is one of those big blue fuses, right? Christ bad injectors! thats going to be expensive.

wissnx01

Its just flooding out. Spark is good, pump is fine. Plugs just become real fouled up with gas. Seems like the injectors might be open, but they are electrical, needing to be pulsed with an electrical charge to open, so doesnt seem likely. Oliver and I were able to get a better look at it. The flooding is an issue that would cause it to not start at all now. We both know the trick of starting a flooded Sentra. Unfortunatly, that method isnt making any difference.

Any other thoughts would be great.

 

ghost_ryder35

so the car is flooded? spray some carb cleaner in the intake manifold and crank it at the same time. stand back, but that bitch should turn on then. why would flooding cause it to turn off? there has to be another problem

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wissnx01

Thats what we are trying to figure out now. If its too flooded, then it wont start since its too rich. We are also thinking maybe the timing has jumped. But we are unsure of how to diagnose that. At this point Im ready to get it towed and have someone else deal with it and Ill pay the price later.

Kennizmo

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**WILL WORK FOR HP**

wissnx01

Yeah, you know, if I had the 250 for a timing light that would be great. Ill look around, Im sure I know someone that has one.

oliverr87

There is no resistor for the injectors. The pulse is controlled by the ECU. As for the timing, how would you check the timing while cranking the engine?