Hello all, I'm hoping the wonderful folks here can help me yet again!

I have a 2000 Xterra 3.3L with about 150k miles. I drove it over 60 miles today with no issue, but when I pulled away from the ATM this evening, it sputtered, and then stalled. I was able to start it once more, move it 30 feet and there it died. I had to get it towed home. There was no warning sign before it happened. There are no CELs.

Initially, I thought it was the battery. I jumped it and used a jump pack, to no avail. I bought a brand new battery, which also didn't help. The engine cranks, but it just does not turn over. I can smell fuel in the engine bay, so I assume it is getting fuel. The gauge registers 1/4 tank. I have run it lower than 1/4, so I know the gas guage should be accurate.

Edit: I should mention that all electronics (int/ext lighting, radio, etc) appear to be working normally. All fuses were checked and look fine. I recently had trouble with kelyess entry, but I stopped using my FOB, and just use the key (likely not relevant).

Edit again: I took the distributor cap off while my assistant tried to start it. The cap did spin, although slower than I expected. There was some buildup on the contacts of the cap. After I cleaned the deposits, it still would not start.

I replaced the distributor and wires (and fuel filter) two summers ago (April 09) when I had an issue with hesitation (see http://www.clubxterra.org/forums/showthread.php?t=10276). Most recently, I replaced the muffler (yesterday), but am fairly confident I didn't do any damage while replacing it, nor could I envision a scenario where that would have to do with my current issue.

Again, any help is much appreciated.

have done the timing belt?

No, have not done the timing belt. I had intended to, but while doing the manifold job, I discoverd marks on the engine and other things that indicated that there had been a timing belt in the past. Thats an expensive assumption, I understand.

pull the dist cap crank the engine and see if the rotor turns get back to me.

Dejablue, I appreciate your quick responses. I edited my original post a few times, as I wanted to mention that I had inspected the rotor. It does turn, although slower than I had thought it would.

There was some minor corrosion on some of the contact points on the dist cap. I cleaned them off, reattached the cap, and it still did not start. The metal on the rotor is heat-discolored.

I suppose for the price of a cap and rotor, I should probably just replace them?

ok do you think you got the right dist when you replaced it . there are at least 5 different ones for the 2000 and they are not and i mean not interchangeable they must match up with ecm. do you have the old dist?

there is only 2 things spark and fuel let work on fuel first . pull the air horn and carefully but some gas from the lawnmower or some starting fluid in and crank it see what happens.

Deja, I don't have the old distributor any longer. I've been running the current one for about 25k miles, with no ill effects so far.

The air horn? I'm not sure what that is. Intake or MAF?

Deja, Again, thanks for the help. Unfortunately, this Xterra is my daily driver/commuter vehicle, and I don't have the knowledge or time to fix it properly. I had it towed to a mechanic who is familiar with Pathfinders and Xterras. I will post back with the results of his inspection.

It was immediately diagnosed as a spark problem and traced to a bad distributor. It was replaced and installed at a very reasonable price (under $400), and it runs perfectly now.

Thanks again Dejablue, as you have always assisted me through my Xterra issues. This time I just couldn't afford the time & headache of doing it myself (for the second time in just over a year).