My 2002 Pathfinder has problems turning over when trying to start. If I try turning the ignition 3-4 times it will start but it rarely starts on the first try. Thought it might be the gasoline i'm using but that hasn't helped. Also, temperature doesn't seem to play a role as I have problems in both summer and winter. After starting, white smoke sometimes comes out of my exhaust. Doesn't smell too good.
Any thoughts? Nissan dealer could find no problems. Go figure, was still under warranty.
Check battery and ignition system. I had the same problem on my old Tahoe, and found out that the battery couldn't supply enough juice to crank fast enough.
When you say "problems turning over", do you mean that the engine actually does not "crank" (turn over) or it cranks but does not fire or start. If it does not crank, it would be an electrical/starter issue - not fuel. I suspect you mean it turns over but does not fire.
Could be a bad fuel pump or electrical connections to the pump. You could try disconnecting the fuel line at the fuel filter (on the engine side of the filter) and then crank the motor to see if the fuel pump is pumping. If no fuel comes out, the pump is not pumping or the filter is plugged. The next step would be to take the fuel filter out and check again to eliminate the "plugged filter" option. If the fuel flows with good force, the pump is likely not the issue.
If fuel is being delivered (and assuming your injectors are clean - allowing fuel to be delivered to the cylinders), then lack of spark would be the next question - different ways of testing for this.
White smoke often indicates engine coolant (and water) is being burned together with the fuel in the cylinders. A grey or blueish smoke is more likely oil burning or excess fuel (too rich air/fuel mixture) being burned. This "too rich" situation could be the result of poor spark - - the fuel is being injected into the cylinders without being burned. Once the engine finally starts, there is now excess fuel to be burned off before the engine can return to it's normal air/fuel mixture. Similar to the "flooded engine" condition on older, carburated engines.
A "bad" smell from the exhaust could be a number of things. A rotten egg smell indicates a bad catalytic converter. On the other hand, a rich fuel mixture would also smell bad but in a different way.
So... I realize there is alot of "balloon floating" in this response and none of this answers any specific questions, but it may present more questions and allow you to add more detail so we can offer more specific insight and advice.
When you say "problems turning over", do you mean that the engine actually does not "crank" (turn over) or it cranks but does not fire or start. If it does not crank, it would be an electrical/starter issue - not fuel. I suspect you mean it turns over but does not fire.
Could be a bad fuel pump or electrical connections to the pump. You could try disconnecting the fuel line at the fuel filter (on the engine side of the filter) and then crank the motor to see if the fuel pump is pumping. If no fuel comes out, the pump is not pumping or the filter is plugged. The next step would be to take the fuel filter out and check again to eliminate the "plugged filter" option. If the fuel flows with good force, the pump is likely not the issue.
If fuel is being delivered (and assuming your injectors are clean - allowing fuel to be delivered to the cylinders), then lack of spark would be the next question - different ways of testing for this.
White smoke often indicates engine coolant (and water) is being burned together with the fuel in the cylinders. A grey or blueish smoke is more likely oil burning or excess fuel (too rich air/fuel mixture) being burned. This "too rich" situation could be the result of poor spark - - the fuel is being injected into the cylinders without being burned. Once the engine finally starts, there is now excess fuel to be burned off before the engine can return to it's normal air/fuel mixture. Similar to the "flooded engine" condition on older, carburated engines.
A "bad" smell from the exhaust could be a number of things. A rotten egg smell indicates a bad catalytic converter. On the other hand, a rich fuel mixture would also smell bad but in a different way.
So... I realize there is alot of "balloon floating" in this response and none of this answers any specific questions, but it may present more questions and allow you to add more detail so we can offer more specific insight and advice.
Thank you Zilverado. The scenario you described about too much fuel being injected into the cylinder seems a likely candidate w/ the problem. The smell is closer to a fuel smell rather than a rotten egg. Btw, the car cranks but does not start.
How would I go about testing the lack of spark? You recommend anything to clean the fuel injectors?
A simple way to test for spark is to remove a spark plug, keep the wire attached and ground the threaded end of the plug against the engine block. With the engine turning over, you can watch for a spark. There are also testers you can clamp over the individual wires that will flash as high-voltage current travels through the wires.
There are also a number of different methods of testing the ignition coils, etc. that others may be able to help with. I remember reading threads about this. You may want to do a serarch for similar topics.
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You recommend anything to clean the fuel injectors?
I've just simply added fuel injector cleaner (fuel additive) to a full tank of fuel and run it through. I've never had issues (not that I know of anyway).
02 Pathfinder Does not always start
Linear Mode
