Isn't someone here a Nissan tech?

[ray1970]

Or an import tech?

I need some help with a 98 Pathfinder.

Thanks.

[drift_g35]

I'm not a Nissan tech but ive had multiple Nissans and Infinitis. Worked as a mechanic for about 2 years before I switched jobs. Whats the issue?

[dwalker460]

I sometimes work on Nissans

[ray1970]

Damn thing stumbles, sputters, and won't accelerate. Had miss fire and knock sensor codes which I think we're set due to the poor running condition and not the cause of the poor running condition. Timing belt was done last October and plugs and wires were done about a month ago due to a bad #2 plug wire. I've checked several things but haven't found the cause. It's kind if an intermittent thing but seems to do it more often than not. Fuel pump pressure checked OK but I decided to pump the gas out and try some fresh fuel and when I went to pump it out (I used the fuel pump) the volume seemed incredibly low. Took forever to fill a five gallon can.

Anyhow, I just put a pump in it and we'll see what happens. I need to charge the battery up before I can start it.

[BushMasterBoy]

Check the fuel filter. I read online it is near the frame under the vehicle. Some models have the filter under the hood.

[drift_g35]

I had a very similar problem with a eclipse I had. Turned out to be a small leak in the head gasket that was leaking into one of the cylinders causing it to misfire sometimes. I would also check your distributor or coil dont know which one you have. Could also be bad clogged injectors. I dont know how mechanically inclined you are but that would be where I would start.

Of course, i would only move on to my suggestions after changing the fuel filter like BushMasterBoy suggested.

Keep us updated.

[Ghosty]

For starters, if you can't get it put on a computer at the Nissan mechanic, I'm thinking either the fuelpump, fuel filter, plugs (or coilpacks?), and/or O2 sensor(s). I'll bet it's one of those. How many miles on this thing and is it the original plugs still? How about O2 sensors? It probably has at least two, and they're both an easy swap.

I'd buy new O2 sensors if it's been a long time, swap them in, have Advanced/Autozone/Oreilly/PepBoys clear your codes, reset the ECU (pull the main one in the fusebox), then go drive it for awhile so the computer can "re-learn" your air-fuel curve at this altitude with the new sensors. See if your Check Engine light stays off and whether it still stumbles and sputters. If it comes back on again, go back to Autozone and have them pull the code, and report back here.

I'm normally a Toyota guy, but my folks had a '98 Pathfinder too.

[Great-Kazoo]

For starters, if you can't get it put on a computer at the Nissan mechanic, I'm thinking either the fuelpump, fuel filter, plugs (or coilpacks?), and/or O2 sensor(s). I'll bet it's one of those. How many miles on this thing and is it the original plugs still? How about O2 sensors? It probably has at least two, and they're both an easy swap.

I'd buy new O2 sensors if it's been a long time, swap them in, have Advanced/Autozone/Oreilly/PepBoys clear your codes, reset the ECU (pull the main one in the fusebox), then go drive it for awhile so the computer can "re-learn" your air-fuel curve at this altitude with the new sensors. See if your Check Engine light stays off and whether it still stumbles and sputters. If it comes back on again, go back to Autozone and have them pull the code, and report back here.

I'm normally a Toyota guy, but my folks had a '98 Pathfinder too.

This O2 sensor. has your gas mileage dropped, noticeably? is the tailpipe darker than normal, hard to start maintain idle etc?. Or it could be the fuel filter. What's the mileage and has the O2 sensor and or f/filter ever been replaced.

[ray1970]

Well, took a bit longer than I expected but I finally figured it out. Seems after only 200,000 miles it had a catastrophic bearing failure inside the distributor housing. This was causing the camshaft position sensor which is inside the distributor to contact the sensor pick up intermittently and wig out. Think I might just replace the whole damn thing with a rebuilt unit. Either that or I'll try to get numbers off the bearing and just rebuild the thing myself.

Thank you all for the advice and the PM's offering assistance.

][

[clublights]

I'd say replace the whole darn thing .. they aren't THAT expensive are they ? ( what 100 bucks ? ) would be worth it to have the piece of mind that there is no galling of the bearing surface to cause you more issues down the road.