[meelaud]

I have a voltmeter on my X, over the past few days the voltmeter would read low (10-11v) when I was at an idle but would go to the normal range (13-14v) when cruising. I was idling in a parking lot for like 2 minutes when it just died. It cranks, but won't start back up.

Within the past 10k miles I've replaced:
-timing belt/pump/t-stat
-battery
-plugs/wires
-distributor cap

my money is on the distributor rotor. fuel filter was replaced like 7 years ago. it's still on the on the original fuel pump i think. i should also note that it's throwing a bad cat code.

 

[C23rd]

I have a voltmeter on my X, over the past few days the voltmeter would read low (10-11v) when I was at an idle but would go to the normal range (13-14v) when cruising. I was idling in a parking lot for like 2 minutes when it just died. It cranks, but won't start back up.



Within the past 10k miles I've replaced:

-timing belt/pump/t-stat

-battery

-plugs/wires

-distributor cap



my money is on the distributor rotor. fuel filter was replaced like 7 years ago. it's still on the on the original fuel pump i think. i should also note that it's throwing a bad cat code.

You pull a wire and check for spark? If no spark check if rotor is spinning that little bolt for rotor might of fell out. Also out of curiosity, you changed wires,plugs and cap but not the rotor?


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[meelaud]

You pull a wire and check for spark? If no spark check if rotor is spinning that little bolt for rotor might of fell out. Also out of curiosity, you changed wires,plugs and cap but not the rotor?


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so i finally had some time to tinker with it. i tested the ignition system first by pulling a plug wire and putting an extra plug in (grounded) - it got spark.

i then checked the fuel pump relay, felt a good click when the ignition was on. opened up the gas cap and put the ignition on, heard the pump.

next i sprayed some starter fluid in the intake manifold, and then it started right up.

i figured it may have been the fuel filter, replaced that and it now starts like a champ.

 

[C23rd]

so i finally had some time to tinker with it. i tested the ignition system first by pulling a plug wire and putting an extra plug in (grounded) - it got spark.



i then checked the fuel pump relay, felt a good click when the ignition was on. opened up the gas cap and put the ignition on, heard the pump.



next i sprayed some starter fluid in the intake manifold, and then it started right up.



i figured it may have been the fuel filter, replaced that and it now starts like a champ.

Awesome, glad it was something simple!!


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[meelaud]

Looks like i spoke too soon. Today was the first day I actually drove it. It started fine, engine warmed up and all seemed well during a 5-minute drive. I realized I forgot something at the house, so I turned around and came home - it idled for like 10 seconds in my driveway and died. It wouldn't crank back on without a healthy dose of starter fluid.

Any other fuel related things I should be checking for?

I ordered a distributor rotor that should be coming in soon. But it seems to get spark.

 

[kms1990]

Looks like i spoke too soon. Today was the first day I actually drove it. It started fine, engine warmed up and all seemed well during a 5-minute drive. I realized I forgot something at the house, so I turned around and came home - it idled for like 10 seconds in my driveway and died. It wouldn't crank back on without a healthy dose of starter fluid.

Any other fuel related things I should be checking for?

I ordered a distributor rotor that should be coming in soon. But it seems to get spark.

i think we found the issue, it really does sound like a fuel leak or pressure issue

 

[meelaud]

Also eliminated the MAF being the issue today by unplugging it after it started.

The fuel pressure regulator sounds like a possibility, I'll look into it more

 

[smason54321]

Get a fuel pressure gauge.

 

[meelaud]

Get a fuel pressure gauge.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oXLUqE4Sf0

Good deal - got one on order. I've never done a fuel pressure test before. Which line on my engine do I tap into?

 

[C23rd]

Good deal - got one on order. I've never done a fuel pressure test before. Which line on my engine do I tap into?

This link should help you out. It has instruction on how to test fuel pump pressure. Also the next page has how to test the fuel pressure regulator. FYI on this site you can view your whole service manual for your X. http://www.nicoclub.com/manuals/Xterra/2001_Xterra/ec.pdf#page51


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[meelaud]

update:

finally had some time to tinker with the xterra. My fuel pressure kit somehow never came, but the OEM (used) distributer did come in. I installed it, made markings to orient it as best i could. The car is so close to cranking over now. It almost fires up, dies, then tries again, then dies.

is this a timing issue now? of note - whenever i pull the dizzy cap off, the rotor is pointing to a new point.

 

[smason54321]

If you replaced the distributor it's imperative that you install it so the rotor is pointing precisely where it was when removed. To do so you had to rotate it slightly before inserting it because the rotor will rotate a bit as the base seats in the gear. You may have noticed the rotor moved some when you seated it. Even one tooth off and it's pretty obvious. Once you crank it over everything changes so you may need to get a timing light to check it now. Alternatively, if you think it may have been off a little in one direction from where it was when you removed it, you can try again using the tip I gave you above to correct it.

 

[C23rd]

It might be a timing issue. Smason54321 is right, you do have to be exact. If you are close how you thought you had it before it would run but not well backfiring and stuff. Try turning the distributor either direction see if that helps. If not your gonna have to start all over again and retime it. Doing that you would have to pull spark plug from cylinder 1 and get it to top dead center on compression stroke(if your not familiar with doing so. How I learned is on a old Chevy v8 is I took spark plug one out and shoved paper in the plug hole did short cranks until the paper pops out learned it from an old timer when I was a kid. Might not be practical but it worked for me. It also might be difficult to do on the X as well..)Then drop distributor in with the rotor pointed on cylinder 1 on cap( I’m pretty sure the cap has the numbers on it if not you have to figure out which is cylinder 1)


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[kms1990]

Also eliminated the MAF being the issue today by unplugging it after it started.

The fuel pressure regulator sounds like a possibility, I'll look into it more

be careful doing this in modern cars and trucks, its not a good thing and can actually fry the ecu.

 

[meelaud]

update (final?):

the xterra works! took C23rd's advice with the paper towel in the spark plug hole - worked great! somehow even managed to time it perfectly without adjustments. have driven about 20 miles so far with no issue.

 

[kms1990]

update (final?):

the xterra works! took C23rd's advice with the paper towel in the spark plug hole - worked great! somehow even managed to time it perfectly without adjustments. have driven about 20 miles so far with no issue.

you should be fine now, 20 miles would be more than enough to reveal maladjusted timing yeah the paper towel in the spark plug hole is good , but its even easier to not have to crank the motor by hand to get this job done, what i did on both the vg33 engines i had that ate their distributors was etch a mark on the old distributor right where the dead center of the rotor stopped at with some of the sign markers people use to write on car windows and then put a piece of tape over the rotor and down the side of the distributor to keep the rotor from being able to jump out of place when removing the old distributor then took the new distributor and old one oriented them the same way and matched up the rotor on the new one to where the mark on the old one was and taped it down so as to not allow it to move then installed, i think i advanced the timing just a smidgen both times but it had needed it since the distributor had been wearing and had so much play that it was already a little off anyways.

 

[C23rd]

update (final?):



the xterra works! took C23rd's advice with the paper towel in the spark plug hole - worked great! somehow even managed to time it perfectly without adjustments. have driven about 20 miles so far with no issue.

Cool! 20 miles no issues. I agree with @kms1990 you should be fine.


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[kms1990]

Cool! 20 miles no issues. I agree with @kms1990 you should be fine.


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i wish this forum had a like and/or thanks feature like the mazda 3 forums

 

[meelaud]

i wish this forum had a like and/or thanks feature like the mazda 3 forums

agreed.

thanks for your help btw.

great folks we have on here

 

[kms1990]

agreed.

thanks for your help btw.

great folks we have on here

no problem always glad to help when i know how because i never know when im going to need help, plus its just nice to do.