Help me fix 1988 nissan sentra

Feb 26th, 2003, 11:01 AM

This is my question. I just bought this nissan sentra 1988 with about 155k miles. It ran great for the first week until two days ago it started with a problem. The engine looses power completely and wont go past 2500 + RPMs. it wont stall at all, it just buckles and jerks when accelerate trying to pass 2000 + rpms. aftet a few minutes of sitting on idle it rans good again. this happens intermittently. any ideas where i can start? so far i have replaced cap and rotor. next thing is going to be the fuel filter.

I suspect a carburator problem.

please help. i didnt make it to work because of this.

RockyB · Feb 26th, 2003, 11:09 AM

Hey, I had a simular probem on mine. Check for a cracked vacuum hose on the back of the carb or tb.

nastynissan · Feb 26th, 2003, 12:45 PM

Fuel Filter and Vaccum lines, Spark Plugs and Wires, Id go through these in order. If that doesnt do it you might want to check engine codes. E16i/s or GA16i which you got. If the valve cover says 12 valve youve got a GA16i. There are certain things on both to go bad.

Feb 26th, 2003, 04:03 PM

i replaced the cap, rotor, fuel filter and spark plugs. still no good. i gave up and just sent to a shop.
they think is the computer or fuel injector.

nevermind. it is not carbed duh

any more ideas?

Feb 26th, 2003, 04:28 PM

i forgot to mention
i also replaced all the vacuum hoses. most of them were cracked lol
but that still didnt fix the problem

nastynissan · Feb 26th, 2003, 09:02 PM

Run a Fuel Pressure test before replacing injector or ECU. If that checks out. Then have them test the injector, and run the ECU codes.

Mar 14th, 2003, 10:00 PM

I have an '86 Sentra with the E16 and apparently the dreaded Hitachi carburetor. Your problem sounds very familiar. Had the carb overhauled 4 years ago when I bought the car. Ran fairly good until it suddenly started the bucking at higher speeds and when climbing hills (auto transmission with no tach, so no rpm stats). It also ran rough sometimes at idle. It hesitates badly from a standing start.

I have replaced the wires (long overdue) the rotor and distributor, the plugs are 6 months old and ok. I cleaned up the battery wires/connections. The first relief-ray of hope-I got was that it ran great for a week right after I replaced the PCV valve. The rough idle cleared up and it seemed to be better.

Then I filled the tank and within 20 miles it was back to the bucking and rough idling afterwards. It also sometimes isn't kicking the fuel enrichment in - hard to start and keep running sometimes. Probably wiring or the enrichment solenoid? Computer?

Took it to a guy who replaced the fuel filter - no help.

Took it to a different shop that SAYS they popped the top off the carb and replaced the accelerator pump (diaphragm type?) and cleared blockages out of the primary and secondary jets. It ran fine (higher idle when out of gear though) for a few days until I filled it with gas. Back to the problem after about 15 miles.

When I looked under the hood they hadn't put the air cleaner housing back on correctly, although the vacuum hoses were ok. Some weren't clamped anymore. (Never going back there.)

I have since taped the ends or replaced some of the vacuum hoses. I checked further and the carb top wasn't back on correctly. When I finally gave in and took the carb off myself, I found two screws in the wrong places - one was too short and didn't tighten, the other bottomed out a turn early. Swapped them successfully. Vacuum pressure is great, btw.

I still have the carb off and am getting ready to go inside to see what they messed up with the accel pump. Anything I should know about taking the top off the carb? Can I get to the jets from there?

Thanks - great website here. I found a website that explains the workings of the Hitachi carb - www.fcproducts.com. That's where I figured out the secondary doesn't kick in except at higher rpm/power settings. I don't think that's my hesitation problem or my bucking-cutting out problem.

Cheers,

The Foot

Mar 14th, 2003, 10:38 PM

my car is fixed now. you know what it turned out to be? the computer was bad. replaced with another used ECU and it works fine now.

thanks for the help guys

you probably need a carb

dave

Myetball · Mar 15th, 2003, 08:44 PM

Man Sinful, you should have an awesome running car. After all the stuff we had you chasing after. But hey, no need for a tuneup for a long time.

LittlebittaContact · Mar 16th, 2003, 12:16 AM

Another possibility was the MAF sensor, my E16I did the same thing and that was it.

AVERAGE · Mar 16th, 2003, 04:47 AM

so i even have maf with the s motor?