Hard Starting Sometimes

yuke · Dec 2nd, 2005, 09:40 PM

I have a 94 sentra GA16DE 1.6 and sometimes is very hard to start.After cranking and cranking and stomping on the gas it roughly starts.After running appox. 10 seconds it smoothes out and runs smooth.It will run good for a couple of months and then reoccur.When I pulled my plugs before this incident they were very white.I think the car is not getting enough fuel but yet gets poor fuel mileage.I replaced the filter which seemed very dirty but it was very hard to get started.Can a fuel pump be bad but then run good for months?Or could the problem be in the relay or hoses sucking air?This is about the 3rd time this happened in about a year.Hopefully it was just a clogged filter but I have my doubts.Any comments from someone who has experianced a similar problem would be appreciated.

BORNGEARHEAD · Dec 2nd, 2005, 11:57 PM

I have seen oil leak into the distributor causing long cranking, stalling, no starts. Pull off your dist. cap, rotor, dust shield, and see if there is any signs of oil. If so, replace the distributor. Something to check.

cshepard · Mar 19th, 2007, 05:26 PM

I also seem to have the same problem on my 93 Nissan altima. This is the second time in a few months. If I crank for a really long time it will try to start then be rough for a few seconds then starts. Seems like it was getting gas because I could smell it after a few seconds of cranking. I may have seen a little oil on the distributor the first time I pulled it off but don't remember. Is this the only thing to check?

cshepard · Mar 19th, 2007, 05:51 PM

I do have a small amount of oil leaking around the inside edges of the distributor dust shield. The rubber O-ring appears to be alot larger then it should be around the distributor cap and distributor as well.

cshepard · Mar 22nd, 2007, 08:08 AM

Replaced the distributor, and so far so good. I haven't noticed any change in the way it performs but it runs, which is a good thing.