Hi everybody! I have had my xterra for a year now and I really love it, but it has an issue That drives me nuts!! It gives me problems starting when Warm. It will start great when cold or if I just turned it off, but if it has had a chance to cool down, it cranks for about 10-12 seconds before it'll start. When it does start like that, it sounds weak and the rpm rises to a little over one, dives almost to zero then rises to normal. We replaced the plugs and cables before last winter when this issue started because we thought maybe that was the issue. We just replaced the distributor cap and rotor last week. Replacing that made it work for a few hours like normal, but then it started doing it again. I also noticed, although my bf thinks i'm crazy and making it up, that it seems like it has issues accelerating sometimes. I'll be going 60 on the freeway and if I want to accelerate, sometimes the rpm will go up a little, but it won't accelerate. When that happens, i have to REALLY QUICKLY let off the gas and slam it down and then it jumps to life and works fine. Yesterday, we had nasty rain and I wanted turn on the 4x4 because my ABS light keeps coming on ( haven't had this diagnosed yet, think its just a sensor because it's sporadic) and when I turned on the 4x4, it ran really rough like a stick shift does when you don't give it enough gas and it's about to cut out. I pulled into an empty area of the parking lot and put in neutral to turn off the 4x4. I had to reverse it a little distance to get the 4x4 to disengage, and then it was much harder to accelerate. It's been harder to accelerate all of today as well. My mechanic thinks it could be the Fuel pressure regulator, but I am not sure and my mechanic isn't really a diagnostic mechanic. He just swaps out parts when asked. I don't trust other mechanics in my area because I have heard way too many mechanics have completely differing opinions and they all end being wrong. Also, I know I have some sort of electrical short because only one of high beams works. I have had the bulbs replaced and when that happened the side that worked actually switched places lol. I really just want help with the Start issue. the other things are not as sever and I am worried that one day my truck won't start.
Also, not sure if this makes a difference, but this truck was hit in the passenger side at some point. I think it was a t-bone due to the visible repairs done to the frame. (top of rear passenger side door the frame looks thicker, like maybe it was welded or reshaped.) This had to have happened at least 2 owners ago, and the frame was fixed, but the rear passenger door has a gap in the bottom where it doesn't meet the frame. It is a 2001 nissan xterra XE automatic v6. My radiator line is blocked as well, but we have been putting fluid directly into the radiator to mediate the issue for now. Oil and tranny fluid are fine. Had the front brakes replaced before winter because one was starting to squeal. One of my belts is going because it will squeal occasionally on start up, but I don't want to fix this until I can get it starting properly because I think it may be getting extra stressed by the bad start ups. If you need any extra info or pics of something, just let me know. Mind you, if you need pics, I may need guidance about where the piece is because I am not good at car mechanics. This is my first vehicle ever and I want to keep as long as possible.
Also, not sure if this makes a difference, but this truck was hit in the passenger side at some point. I think it was a t-bone due to the visible repairs done to the frame. (top of rear passenger side door the frame looks thicker, like maybe it was welded or reshaped.) This had to have happened at least 2 owners ago, and the frame was fixed, but the rear passenger door has a gap in the bottom where it doesn't meet the frame. It is a 2001 nissan xterra XE automatic v6. My radiator line is blocked as well, but we have been putting fluid directly into the radiator to mediate the issue for now. Oil and tranny fluid are fine. Had the front brakes replaced before winter because one was starting to squeal. One of my belts is going because it will squeal occasionally on start up, but I don't want to fix this until I can get it starting properly because I think it may be getting extra stressed by the bad start ups. If you need any extra info or pics of something, just let me know. Mind you, if you need pics, I may need guidance about where the piece is because I am not good at car mechanics. This is my first vehicle ever and I want to keep as long as possible.