Could sure use a lil help from my friends.....

[2001se2.0]

2000 Se 2.0 5 speed w/o PP

Here's a rundown:
Left work yesterday evening and stopped to get gas, put $30 in, low octane, start the car and it starts to start then dies, tried it again a while giving it gas it started but dies upon idle. Started it again and kept gas going to it and it runs but won't idle.

So I'm about 4 mile into my 8 mile commute home and the engine feels like it's missing or hesitating, so I pulled over and popped the hood to see if anything noticable was off. Checked battery and plug wire connections (at plugs and dizzy) and started it again, it idled so I went on my way.

Got home and in the process of pulling off the plug wires one of the connectors that goes on the plug stayed on the plug, so I went and got new NGK 8mm wires and (4) NGK iridium plugs. Swapped those out this morning and the car will idle but has a definate hesitation on rev and a bogging noise can be heard in the cold air/short ram intake.


At this point I'm guessing bad gas, timing off, or MAF sensor but I'm curious if any of these symptoms taps into y'alls memory banks. I did not do a search as I'm already late for work but wanted to put this up before I went in for the day. Sorry for the long read but I see so many posts about issues and the first page is all "what kind of car", "what engine", "was she hot?, etc. LOL

[Y2K SE]

Are you still on the original alternator?

[2001se2.0]

As far as I know, yes, had the car for about 2 months now

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[Spectre]

I had that problem when I first bought my Sentra. It would bog going uphill at first and as time went on it would hesitate cold and get better as it warmed up. One day the car cranked but couldn't rev past 2k. I replaced the MAF with a Cardon reman but I had the same problem. Replaced O2 sensor, fuel pump and the MAF again which seemed to fix the problem but my SES would not go off (pulled P1179 both banks).

At that point, I gave in and brought it to a shop. They replaced the MAF (said they got bad voltages coming out) and some temp sensors and the problem went away. My car is in the shop right now getting strut work done but once I get it back I can look at the repair bill to see exactly what they did to fix the SES.

[2001se2.0]

Really hoping it's not the MAF, alternator may be the culprit.

Any links to how to check the alternator (without taking to the parts store), I have a multimeter just don't know where to put the leads to check the output from the alternator to the battery.

[i68k]

start by making sure the battery terminals and grounds are tight and have good connection. then check your battery voltage with motor on&off, if you can get it to idle.

EDIT: you use the multimeter on the battery terminals, with it set for double digit voltage readings. motor off should be like 12.5ish, motor on should be like 14.5ish. so + or - .5 should be good.


you did plugs and wires, did you check the contacts in the distributor, or not put it back correctly timed? other things to look into are cam&crank sensors if you havent changed those yet, might be a good idea to get metal type ones if you change them. other things i would look into things that are vacuum related items, like the iacv and egr before you spend money on maf or something else pricey.

[2001se2.0]

Well last weekend I cleaned and reoiled the air filter, I'm thinking I may have pulled some of the oil onto the MAF. Is there a special cleaner to use on the MAF?

[i68k]

yes, only use cnc maf cleaner on the maf

[2001se2.0]

ok, thanks

[2001se2.0]

Broke down the CAI and found the k&n oil definately blew back into the MAF and the next section of the intake, so I cleaned it all with the CRC MAF cleaner feeling really good that I found the problem and would be back on the road.

That is not the case at all.

Put everything back together then pulled off the battery to reset the car, but when I started it it idled around 1500 for about 3 seconds then immediately fell off and stalled out. Tried it again and it baraly ran before stalling and ended up continuing to sputter after I had turned it off. Kinda like Smokey's ride in Friday, anyway open to any suggestions as far as what to try or check next, thanks for reading.

[Y2K SE]

Originally Posted by 2001se2.0

[...] alternator may be the culprit.

......

[SpecBee]

What codes do you have? Ses

[2001se2.0]

Pretty certain I f'ed the MAF with the blowback. Picking up a scanner from a friend here in a bit, also gonna check the sensors with a multimeter. Can't really test alternator until it's running again.

[2001se2.0]

UPDATE:
Scanner showed 4 codes:
P0300 - multiple engine misfires
P1490 - vacuum cut valve bypass valve (circuit)
P0446 - evap canister vent control valve (circuit)
P1126 - thermostat function

Cleared the codes and started it up, still not running. Took it to my mechanic and with 99% certainty he suggested it was the MAF so we threw in a reman MAF and it started right up. Has a small fall off after rev but as of right now the major issue is fixed!

[i68k]

the maf are very sensitive, maybe the oil caked up on it, did you try recleaning the old one with maf cleaner? maf wouldve cause 3 of those codes, not sure about the thermostat code tho. dont flood the filter with oil and next time let the filter dry overnight or couple days. i put a paper one in for a few days