Problems starting

Apr 21st, 2003, 03:27 PM

Ive been having problems starting my '93 hardbody, I have changed the fuel pump, distributor cap and rotor, the spark plugs, the fuel filter and the fuel pump relay. I am beginning to scratch my head because I can't think of what I need to do to fix the problem...for a while it would start a couple of times then would just stop starting for a couple of days then start up again. All it does is sit there and crank but will not start. I get a spark from the plugs and I can't smell gas in the throttle chamber but others say they can. Does anyone have any ideas for me??? They would be greatly appreciated.

Apr 21st, 2003, 04:20 PM

Hi. I was having a similar problem with my 95 Altima. I checked the plugs, EGR, fuel injectors and suspected the PCV Valve.

But needing the car urgently, I took over to my local Nissan dealer (I know it was going to cost me some bucks). They checked the distributor housing and discovered oil had been leaking into the unit. This caused damage to a sensor in the unit.
They replaced the unit (expensive!) and so far no problems.

Get the codes checked (use the Nissan Consort) and check to see if you are not leaking oil into the distributor.

aaronford · Apr 21st, 2003, 07:53 PM

Can you start it with gasoline/starting fluid? That would indicate a fuel problem. I've honestly never heard of this in a Nissan... Write back and we will shoot from there Does anyone know if these trucks have an oil pressure switch that needs to be made up to send power to the fuel pump? Aaron

Apr 22nd, 2003, 03:20 AM

I have done the starter fluid approach and the engine will start for a couple of seconds till the fluid has all burned off...when this all first started happenning the fluid would actually jump start it into starting but now it doesn't help.

jadcock · Apr 22nd, 2003, 07:31 AM

Boy, it sure does sound like you're not getting fuel -- especially if it runs for a few seconds on the starting fluid, and once that's gone, it dies again.

Have you checked the fuel pressure regulator? I've never heard of one going bad on a Nissan, but I haven't been involved with Nissans very long either. It seems like that's the only fuel system component you HAVEN'T replaced yet.

There are also a myriad of things to check on the ignition side of things (like the oil in the distributor that rajnaz mentioned), but it sounds to me like the problem is in the fuel delivery.

aaronford · Apr 22nd, 2003, 10:34 AM

Is this a 2.4 or 3.0? Okay, we have determined it is a fuel prob. Starting fluid will not light on its own, so spark must be present. (Yes, a diesel will, but they have an outrageous compression ratio) Check fuel pressure at the fuel rail. If there is none look at the pump. Is it getting power or is this simply an intermittent fuel pump? I have seen this on other cars, but like i said, never a Nissan. BTW, why did you replace the fuel pump relay? Was it a guess or did it fail prior? Aaron

Apr 22nd, 2003, 11:06 AM

The relay was a guess because it was one of the first things I did. I changed the fuel pump and it seemed to be working for a week or 2 then it started acting up again. I think im going to cave today and just tow it to the dealership near here and have them look at it.

aaronford · Apr 22nd, 2003, 11:18 AM

Look for a ground or a connection that you disturbed during the pump changeout process and you should find your problem. The new pump could have failed as well, but I doubt it. Running a ohm check on the fuel pump ground and a voltmeter on the power wire should help isolate the problem. Be sure to do this with the pump disconnected or you will get readings through the pump. Let me know what you find.. aaron

Apr 22nd, 2003, 11:41 AM

The ground and everything should be ok...I haven't checked them yet but they are on the pump inside the actual fuel tank so I'm sure they are still ok. My guess right now is that it is something in the throttle body that is sticking or something like that since I have ~113k miles on it with no type of overhaul on that part of the engine.

aaronford · Apr 22nd, 2003, 12:15 PM

Check the tank ground and continuity from the relay to the pump. There are few moving parts in the throttle body, they are normally not suspect Aaron

Apr 22nd, 2003, 04:07 PM

i finally caved this afternoon and had it towed to the nissan dealership near me to have them look at it and tell me what it is. So we will see. Thanks for all the help though.

Warren · Apr 29th, 2003, 01:33 PM

Have they come up with anything yet?

May 9th, 2003, 12:42 AM

I am having a similar problem with my truck. Please post what the dealership found.

Thanks,

Will

May 9th, 2003, 01:13 AM

After a couple of tries at the dealership they figured out that it was the fusable link to the injectors. I got it back on Monday and haven't had any type of problems with it since then.