Guro305

Ok guys, I'm pretty ignorant when it comes to my Sentra. This little problem started today.

Me and the wife hopped in on our way to work. Less then six blocks from home at the light the car stalled. The car would turn over but stall out. I told her to wait a few minutes and give it a little gas. The car started up and ran at an idle for about 20 seconds then stalled again.

I waited a few more minutes and the car started up again. I said the heck with it and went down the street to make a u-turn at the median to go home and get my other car.....after all she was gonna be late and I only had to work a couple hours anyway so why mess with it now. I felt the car wanting to stall but as long as I had my foot on the pedal, it was running. I hit the u-turn quick and then the right turn all the way home and when I let my foot off the gas to park, the car stalled. Lucky for me, it had enough momentum to roll itself into my parking space.

Later on today, I started it up again and left it idling and it seemed fine. I put it in neutral to rev the engine and it seemed fine.......then it stalled. I started it up again and it stalled after about 20 seconds. Any ideas?

joeli16

You may have a clogged Idle air control valve. Clean it out and see what happens. I know there is a thread here showing you where the IACV is but I cant seem to find it. The IACV locates on the side of the intake manifold. It has a purple connector with wires going to it.
If that doesnt work,I will change the fuel filter next.

Have you done any tune up before?

Guro305

Yes I have. I'm thinking it could also be the third sparkplug. For whatever reason every so often or so I lift up the hood and the cable would be out of the socket.

Mind you this is a new cable. I figured the sparkplug maybe loose. Worse part of it is it's stuck. I can't get that sucker out without some serious force. Would it be ok to put a little penetrating oil down there and let it sit a while to see if it comes out? I just don't want to smash the sparkplug inside the cylinder.

Guro305

Ok, I finally got that suspect sparkplug out and it looked prestine. No biggie, I still replaced it. Cleaned everything around the contacts of the IACV valve and cleaned the valve itself. Cleaned off the battery contacts and cleaned the air filter and oiled it.

The dumb thing would start and idle however, you slip it into gear and it would stall. Before running the codes I figured, it couldn't hurt to change out the fuel filter. Well, that did it. I've driven forty miles today and everything is lovely. Can't believe the stupid fuel filter caused that kinda trouble. Oh well, lesson learned!!!!