[Jeff Kleb]

Well, I have a 2002 GXE (1.8L, 5-spd) with almost 129,000 miles on it. I have owned the car since it was new and have had very little trouble with it. I also recently had the car repainted, had the front CV joint boots replaced and purchased all four new struts. Additionally, I purchased four new Michelin Pilot tires in January. Obviously, my intent is to keep this car and hand it down to my son in two years (when he begins driving); but perhaps I should consider selling it and moving on.

It has been looking, running and driving just fine and I parked it Saturday night. When I went to drive it yesterday, it would not start. The battery is fine, the gas tank is nearly full and the starter cranked the engine as it is supposed to do. However, it would not "catch" and it seems as though the engine just isn't firing. After about thirty seconds of trying to start the car, I can smell an odor of gasoline - not immensely strong, but definitely detectable.

Anyone at the B15 Brain Trust have a clue what this could be? I hate to have the car towed (though I do have AAA, so it will not cost anything) to a local shop and end up at their mercy. All replies are appreciated.

THANKS VERY MUCH!!



P.S. Fortunately, I have another vehicle - my '04 Silverado truck - that I am able to drive.....but it eats a lot of gas.

 

[i68k]

do you have any ses codes? i know the cam and/or crank sensors are recalls, did you get those recalls done? whats your battery voltage? over 12v?

define your version of 'catch', is it firing/stumbling but not enough to run, or is the motor just spinning and not firing? or is your starter not catching the flywheel?

if you dont have codes to work with, and after you check your recalls. i would give it a tune-up, new plugs wires disbtributor, this way you can rule out ignition system. if you smell fuel its most likely pumping fuel. but sensors like cam&crank sensors will give the ecu bad signals when theyre failing and the ecu wont fire correctly. another thing to listen for when trying to start the car is if you hear any air leaking, possible vacuum leak somewhere, evap related would normally stall at idle, or prevent start.

 

[Jeff Kleb]

No air leaking, no "check engine" light illuminated, no fuel on ground - and the starter appears to engage normally. I am truly dumbfounded.

A neighbor of mine who is a 'car nut' is coming by on Wednesday evening to check it out (weather permitting), and then I'm probably going to call AAA and have it towed to a local shop. Argh! {Again, I am glad I can drive my Silverado, even if it eats a lot of gas.}

Thanks for the reply!

 

[i68k]

no fuel?, do you have nats? have you changed your cam&crank sensors?

there are many fuel related issues, there's recalls for fuel issues as well. if youre not getting fuel, it maybe the pump, or you still have an old fuel pump assembly. you can check the pump functionality somehow, it shows how test in the fsm. i would start there since you already t'd the fuel line.

 

[Jeff Kleb]

Well, it was determined to be a bad head gasket. I know that these engines are prone to such problems.....so it was no surprise when I got the call. He'll give me a firm estimate (won't be cheap) on Monday. Yargh!

 

[i68k]

you should replace your cam & crank sensors regardless. they are recalls and common failures. they could be causing this problem if it's not your headgasket.

did you pull the plugs yet? is there coolant on the pistons? im guessing the mechanic did a compression and leakdown test? and yes headgasket is also common failure, and there are a few ways to test it.

 

[Jeff Kleb]

Yes, there was some coolant in the cylinders and the spark plugs would not fire. he put in new plugs and it fired up. The head gasket is definitely blown - which is not uncommon with the 1.8L engine in the Sentra. I've read about many other people having the same problem.

As for the cam & crank sensors being a recall, I never heard anything about this from Nissan and have not received a letter or phone call about it. I have owned this car since it was new, so should I not have received something in the mail about this issue? Just sayin'. How much would it cost to have it done?

Thanks for the reply!

 

[i68k]

im not sure what years/models did or didnt get the cam sensor recall, just saying, those sensors are very common problems. most of the time you have to go by a dealership with your vin to have them check for recalls and service bulletins

 

[Jeff Kleb]

Would Nissan (dealership) still honor it?

 

[i68k]

yes, any dealership should honor your recall if they have not yet been performed. they are performed free of charge. unfortunately for the tsb's, you would need to pay for service, usually they give a break if it's for a tsb tho, ie common problem.

 

[Jeff Kleb]

Perhaps I shall have to check into that. You'd think that all of us owners would have been notified of a 'recall' for something that signficant.

I wonder if the local stealership would be willing to honor it after all this time & mileage has passed. I may give them a call (or stop by) after I get my car back from the local 'mom and pop' shop for the head gasket repair.

While they're doing the head gasket repair, machining, milling and other ancillary tasks, I am going to have them go ahead and replace the water pump. Might as well, huh? At least I don't have to worry about a timing belt - since my Sentra has a chain.

This is a bite in my a55, especially since I just had it repainted, installed four new Michelins tires and had the struts replaced. Grrrr!! I hope nothing else bad lies ahead. This has generally been a good car to me during the last 10 1/2 years and I still want to keep it awhile longer.

No way I'd ever get out of it what I have spent recently; but I guess that's how it goes. I might just keep it and hand it down to my son when he begins driving in two years.

 

[i68k]

for a recall, time and mileage does not matter, they will perform the recall if it has not yet been performed to your vin. each recall will be performed once per vin, usually no questions asked.

 

[Jeff Kleb]

Recall


I'll keep that in mind. Thanks!

Well, it is going to be $2,000+ by the time I get everything done. In addition to the head gasket, my car needed new spark plugs (the others were fouled by coolant in the cylinder) and I will probably get them to replace the water pump (cheap insurance, I guess) and the two accessory belts (for the A/C & alternator, etc.).

Heck; I could have put a serious downpayment on a brand new car for what I dropped into my Sentra this year. Dammit!!


I'm on vacation next week, so that is when I'll have everything done. It better be in "tip top" shape when I return. Sheesh!



P.S. It is a good thing that I actually like this car.

 

[i68k]

youve covered most if not all of the problems areas. the car should have no problem going another 5-10 years with minimal issues. just make sure your change all your fluids as scheduled, including your gear oil.

 

[Jeff Kleb]

Gear Oil


I had the gear oil done at 60k and again at roughly 120k -- and both times it came out looking very clean. Cheap insurance, I say.


This is going to be an expensive repair, but the car should be good to go for awhile after that. I'll either run it until it dies or try to sell it and make an effort to get out at least part of what I put into it.

Maybe it is high time to think about a new car. Nah; gotta avoid those payments. Sheesh!