01 Xterra - Cranks but won't start

meelaud said:

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.

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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 said:

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.

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Awesome, glad it was something simple!!


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meelaud said:

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

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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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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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meelaud said:

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.

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


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kms1990 said:

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

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Agreed.


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kms1990 said:

we should petition the admins....

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Not bad idea.


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kms1990 said:

lets do it, im a computer tech i can help build the buttons

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Cool, I’m got to imagine that first step would be contact admins about this idea.


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