[321sentra]

First time poster here.

I own a 99 Nissan Sentra, 158K miles on it. Yesterday, I pulled up to the gas station to fill up my tank. After putting in $46 (a new record for me), I go to start up the car and it wouldn't start. "That's weird" I thought. I popped the hood to look underneath but nothing looked weird.

I checked the oil fluids (more near the Low then High but nothing bad). I thought it could be a battery problem but my radio, power windows still work.

I turn the key and the car cranks, it wants to start but can't! There was no warning whatsoever. None of my warning lights came on. The car has been running great. It started without a problem four times yesterday before the incident. The last time I had any problems with my Sentra was April 2007 when my alternator belt broke and I had it replaced.

I've been looking all over online and it seems that it could be a fuel problem? I am a noob when it comes to cars. A friend of mine said it could be the fuel pump relay switch? Fuel injectors? I'm clueless and any guidance would be much help!

 

[94 Sentra-XE]

one thing you can check is the fuel pump, make sure it is silent where you are, and turn the key to the on position you should hear a humming come from the back seats.....if its bad i can sell you one =P

 

[321sentra]

one thing you can check is the fuel pump, make sure it is silent where you are, and turn the key to the on position you should hear a humming come from the back seats.....if its bad i can sell you one =P

you know what, we tried to start it and i very much so remember hearing a buzzing/humming noise from the back seats. i wondered what that noise was.

so if its humming near the back seats, does that mean the fuel pump is good?

if it doesnt hum, the fuel pump is bad?

 

[nissannick1]

Just because it hums doesn't mean it is still good. It may be humming but not pumping enough fuel for start up.

 

[94 Sentra-XE]

well the hum is a indication of it working/ not working, just a general indication

have you changed your fuel filter recently? that could be clogged

 

[sinning]

Well all i got to say is that it sux i just got off the same problem you did i put gas and then a couple secs later while i drove the car it died and it didnt want to turn on any more i didnt fill up the tank like you did but for some reason the car didnt want to trurn on. it turned out to be bad gas maybe you might have the same problem the chances are slim to non but its something worth thinking about

 

[321sentra]

Well all i got to say is that it sux i just got off the same problem you did i put gas and then a couple secs later while i drove the car it died and it didnt want to turn on any more i didnt fill up the tank like you did but for some reason the car didnt want to trurn on. it turned out to be bad gas maybe you might have the same problem the chances are slim to non but its something worth thinking about

i was thinking that today but after my car wouldnt start, i was stuck at the gas station for over an hour and watched everyone fill up and i didnt see anything out of the ordinary.

i ended up towing my sentra home so now its sitting in the driveway and im gonna be looking under the hood some more.

anyone else who has a thought on it, feel free to chime in, i would love to hear any advice!

 

[321sentra]

looks like im gonna have to take it in this weekend. been doing a little research and it could be related to the fuel pump relay switch.

cant for the life of me find where the fuel pump relay switch is in my 99 sentra. any thoughts?

 

[321sentra]

looks like im gonna have to take it in this weekend. been doing a little research and it could be related to the fuel pump relay switch.

cant for the life of me find where the fuel pump relay switch is in my 99 sentra. any thoughts?

hope everyone had a good weekend.

can anyone help out with where the fuel pump relay switch is in a 99 sentra? thank you!

 

[LIUSPEED]

hope everyone had a good weekend.

can anyone help out with where the fuel pump relay switch is in a 99 sentra? thank you!

have you read the fsm that posted on this forum that might help you.

 

[IanH]

search for flooding, and read.
If the car is started and moved a short distance it could be flooding.
Then hold down the gas pedal to the floor and crank continuously till it starts.
Don't lift your foot up till it runs.
This clears the flooding.
others remove the fuel pump fuse. I have done this several times successfully.

 

[94 Sentra-XE]

the fuel pump relay is under the hood

if you find out what it is i have a partout going on so let me know if i can help

 

[Novelist]

Sniff the exhaust. Smell of petrol? If so then the fuel pump is working.
Next, get a can of the easy-starting stuff with ether in it. Spray into the inlet manifold while cranking the engine. If it still won't fire up it is almost certainly spark. If the electronic distributor gets damp you'll get a weak spark and it will "try" to start but won't succeed.

 

[rogoman]

you know what, we tried to start it and i very much so remember hearing a buzzing/humming noise from the back seats. i wondered what that noise was.

so if its humming near the back seats, does that mean the fuel pump is good?

if it doesnt hum, the fuel pump is bad?

An easy way to test the fuel pump and filter is to disconnect the fuel hose from the top of the fuel filter and insert a long length of spare hose into the top of the fuel filter with the other end draped over the fender going into a catch can placed on the ground. Now turn the ignition key to the run position but DO NOT START THE ENGINE. You should see fuel going into the can at a good rate for several seconds.

 

[vvll]

Before anyone jumps in buying a lot of stuff check your timing chain mine broke I thought was the fuel pump but not I ended up buying a new engine

 

[jdg]

Before anyone jumps in buying a lot of stuff check your timing chain mine broke I thought was the fuel pump but not I ended up buying a new engine

...which would've easily been found by popping the distributor cap...and/or pulling a plug wire and checking for some spark...