Need help! Engine cranks then sputter out and dies

[John]

I have a 1999 nissan altima se and its not starting. I’ve recently replaced the spark plugs, distributor cap, rotor and the fuel access plate under the passenger seat. When I first got the car it wasn’t running and I replaced the fuel access plate and the car actually fired up and started. Then a little more then a week and a half after that, it wouldn’t start. You can hear the engine turn over and actually want to start. As soon as it starts it sputters out then dies. It wont stay running so I can’t check fuel pressure. Anyone had this problem with these types of nissan? And if anyone could help please respond.

Topic

[dan]

a engine running for a little bit and sputtering out sounds like a fuel starvation issue, this can be caused buy a series of things, a clogged fuel filter, a weak pump, ect ect, the best thing you can do that i recommend would be too see if you can get any diagnostic codes with a scan tool or something and see what it tells you, and test fuel pressure and see if it is up to spec

if fuel pressure is lower than specified it is most likely caused buy low fuel pressure fuel starvation, and the car will not start beacuse the engine is not getting enough gas… most common causes for low fuel pressure are bad pump, clogged filter, fuel leaks from my experiences.

[Tom]

Open the fuel door / cap, and have someone turn the key while you listen. Do you hear the fuel pump priming?

If not, check for bad fuses. If fuses are good, then get at the wiring to the pump, and check for voltage when the key is on.

If the pump is priming, check fuel pressure at the fuel rail. If fuel pressure is normal, check it as you try to start the engine. If pressure is low, you might want to replace the fuel filter, and then test the regulator. If the regulator checks out good, and the filter doesn’t fix the problem, it is probably time for a new fuel pump.

[Josh G]

Fuel pressure is a good one to start with. Also you could check sensors that have to do with mixture. I had a car stall due to a bad TPS (EGR is one to check also). Vacuum leak and bad injectors can cause mixture problems too

[EricTheCarGuy]

Even if it’s not starting you can check the fuel pressure. That said, Nissans sometimes have a problem with the optical distributors. Aside from checking fuel pressure, you might also check for spark.

http://www.ericthecarguy.com/faq/solving-automotive-no-start-problems

Keep us posted on what you find.

[John]

I have spark because i replaced my spark plugs and plug wires and my fuel pressure is normal, it just seems like its not firing at the right time or at incorrect order. Does that mean i need to replace my distributor? And how would i be able to tell if it is my optical distributor that is acting up?

[college man]

Check the cap and rotor. Is the firing order correct with
the wires and plugs? are you getting injector pulse? Try
a little starting fluid to see if it starts.

[Kevin Criswell]

[quote=”measme24″ post=78027]I have spark because i replaced my spark plugs and plug wires and my fuel pressure is normal, it just seems like its not firing at the right time or at incorrect order. Does that mean i need to replace my distributor? And how would i be able to tell if it is my optical distributor that is acting up?[/quote]

How many miles?

I have seen the KA24DEs jump time by one tooth and do the start-die routine. The long backside chain guides break and that allows the timing to jump.

[college man]

see if this helps.

http://www.justanswer.com/nissan/3e7v7-hello-1999-nissan-altima-cranks-will-not.html

[george gonzalez]

Just because you replaced a few things in the ignition system, that doesn’t guarantee that you have spark.

[EricTheCarGuy]

You might want to check the firing order as pointed out. You might also want to check the engines mechanical timing as was also pointed out. Both could cause a misfire like you describe. Also, you don’t know that you have spark or fuel until you check for them. One of the worst things you can do in this situation is to make assumptions. Take the time to verify and test and it can save you a lot of headache.

[John]

Finally sent it to a mechanic and found out that I had no compression in any of the cylinders….ended up charging me $180 for tow and compression test. Mechanic said I would need to by a new engine so i ended up letting it go 🙁 Also he wouldn’t tell me why I had no compression just said that there was none….last time i’ll go to that shop.

[Author]

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