[xpterodactyl]

Yes - there are other threads EXACTLY like this - however, no one has posted what actually fixed their problems. and I haven't heard back from any of the people who originally listed their problem.

So.

2001 v6 4x4 Xterra w/ 115000 mi - replaced the timing belt, plugs & wires about 1k mi ago. 2nd owner, bought from anal-retentive-keeps-cars-immaculate father-in-law. this is a good thing.

Aug 12 - speedo stops working along with trip etc. (God telling me to stop speeding or yelling at slow drivers? maaaybe..)

Aug 13 - Car shudders around 1500-2000 rpm at apprx 35 mph - throw it in neutral, give a little gas, back in drive, back in business BABY!

Aug 14 - Car says 'eff you!' and begins shuddering everytime I get to approx 35 mph. threw it into 1st, then 2nd, then D, and it didn't do it every time, but still cut out.

Aug 15 - Same thing, Check engine light comes on. Get to destination, when I leave, CEL gone, but comes back after 1st sputter.

Aug 16 - take out gun, shoot xterra, drink whiskey. jk.

if ANYONE can help me, I'm driving a friends car right now, but MUST get the X fixed.

I don't think it's the dist cap, I've listened and it sounds fine, could be wrong tho. Please don't say its the VSS please please. Maybe just a fuel filter? c'mon!

THANKS EVERYONE! I will post the solution, promise!

 

[Xterra Mike]

sounds like fuel issue or random missfire. did you get the code checked?

 

[xpterodactyl]

haven't gotten the code checked because i don't have any extra $$ right now (student teaching, no paycheck till January WOO) I thought I would come to you guys first. I don't think it's 'random misfire' because it happens at a consistent shift point, if that's what you mean.

on other threads a few people have recommended the vehicle speed sensor, dist. cap/rotor, fuel filter/pump, but I need to limit it to as little money spent as possible. Iiiiii'm BROKE!

THANKS ALL!

 

[Xterra Mike]

most auto stores will read the code for free.

 

[dejablue]

have you change the dis yet . there are a lot of problems 2000 and 2001 dis bearings going out ,take the cap,rotor, sensor out and look in the bottom for trash from the bearings

 

[payneme]

Mine has been doing something a little similar.

Mine just sputters at first crank. Basically, idles rough while in park or neutral, but when I put it in reverse, it shakes pretty violently and the RPMs hit about 500 or lower. I give it gas and it mellows out. What is throwing for such a loop is that once it warms up (either idle for 7 minutes, or a mile drive through the neighborhood) it is A-OK the rest of the day.

It will then repeat the process next morning, or after it has cooled completely down. If I work straight through a full work day and dont take my car to lunch, it will do it at the end of the day when I leave work. Like in the morning, after it warms up, it is all good.

With all the talk of distributors and my year (2000 with 118k), I looked at mine, but it looks OK in there. I am now thinking fuel filter or bad O2 sensor. Can O2 sensors be cleaned, I wonder? Probably not

 

[dejablue]

im thinking when the alu is warming up it expanses and takes up the slack in the dis if this really is the problem it will get worse. when was the last time you changed the fuel filter,is it throwing any codes?

 

[payneme]

That makes sense. I was thinking something similar about heat and expansion. If it is the dist, hopefully it will get progressively worse and not do an "up and die" on me in traffic. Changing that whole dist out seems straight forward, but I'd need to check for the little quirks that doing something like that always seem to have.

I havent changed the fuel filter, yet. It is on my list since it seems pretty easy. I havent had the codes read yet, either. I am debating on just buying a code reader (I hear ScanGauge II are good?) instead of taking to places all the time.

There is a thread about making the car show the code through the flashing of the SES light. I'll play with that too.

Thank you for your suggestion!

 

[alpine spirit]

Need to know what the code is.... there are so many things it could be. The code will help narrow it down.

 

[xpterodactyl]

Autozone read a VSS and Knock Sensor code. The guy is POSITIVE it is the knock sensor causing the problems telling me it will cause the timing to be off and make the engine run weird (which kind of describes my problem). However, I've read on here Knock sensors are nothing to think twice about unless you have a supercharger (which my poor a$$ doesn't).

Thoughts anyone? I don't think I'm mechanically inclined enough to remove the intake manifold and everything else to change the (two on a v6 apparently?) sensors.

Am I just going to have to take this to the shop? sigh..

THANKS!

 

[TN4x4Xterra]

most of us non S/C'd have knock sensor going bad and don't bother fixing it b/c the Xterras will eat 'em up like a horse....if you had the S/C, then yeah, you'll have to get it fixed otherwise it'll just go into bypass mode.

Totally up to you but mine has been bad and I haven't bothered with it since.

 

[J Everett]

If you got a VSS code then that's most likely the culprit, seeing as how you're cutting out at a consistent speed.

 

[xpterodactyl]

i think you are all correct about the Knock Sensor, and a few mechanics I called agreed. They all want to charge $80 to do their own diagnostics and bla bla, any thoughts on just telling them to fix the VSS etc? any idea if this is a few hundred $$ or several $$?

 

[The_Hammer]

if its the VSS it would not take no longer that 10 mins to change and you could do it yourself. it is on the back of the t case if your 4x4 nd on the tail housing of transmission if your 2 wd not a hard change out. with a bad VSS the trans should not shift out thou cause it is not making the curcuit to the ECM and TPS

 

[xpterodactyl]

FINAL SOLUTION:

as so many brilliant people predicted,

the Vehicle Speed Sensor.

replaced this device (few hundred $$) and now everything is back in business!

not a difficult change, but can be frustrating.

 

[dejablue]

glad you got it fixed

 

[Justin2476]

Yes - there are other threads EXACTLY like this - however, no one has posted what actually fixed their problems. and I haven't heard back from any of the people who originally listed their problem.

So.

2001 v6 4x4 Xterra w/ 115000 mi - replaced the timing belt, plugs & wires about 1k mi ago. 2nd owner, bought from anal-retentive-keeps-cars-immaculate father-in-law. this is a good thing.

Aug 12 - speedo stops working along with trip etc. (God telling me to stop speeding or yelling at slow drivers? maaaybe..)

Aug 13 - Car shudders around 1500-2000 rpm at apprx 35 mph - throw it in neutral, give a little gas, back in drive, back in business BABY!

Aug 14 - Car says 'eff you!' and begins shuddering everytime I get to approx 35 mph. threw it into 1st, then 2nd, then D, and it didn't do it every time, but still cut out.

Aug 15 - Same thing, Check engine light comes on. Get to destination, when I leave, CEL gone, but comes back after 1st sputter.

Aug 16 - take out gun, shoot xterra, drink whiskey. jk.

if ANYONE can help me, I'm driving a friends car right now, but MUST get the X fixed.

I don't think it's the dist cap, I've listened and it sounds fine, could be wrong tho. Please don't say its the VSS please please. Maybe just a fuel filter? c'mon!

THANKS EVERYONE! I will post the solution, promise!

Its not the distributor or fuel pump or plugs and wires mine does the same thing it literally done it on my way home today im gonna try the vss next...2000 xterra se 4x4 auto