1995 Nissan Altima Weird Problem

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Bongman - 04 Oct 2006 16:07 GMT

If I drive it until it's warmed up, it's like the timing goes all to hell.
First it starts with a dead spot around 2K RPM. It just starts sputtering
and missing when you hit 2K RPM. The problem progresses until it starts
missing and sputtering at lower and lower RPM, and I have to pull over. At
this point, it will barely even start, if at all.

Let it cool off for two hours, and it starts right up, runs like a top.

Anyone have any insight or suggestions?

Thanks!

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Orv - 05 Oct 2006 01:56 GMT

> If I drive it until it's warmed up, it's like the timing goes all to hell.
> First it starts with a dead spot around 2K RPM. It just starts sputtering
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>
> Thanks!

You might want to suspect the crank angle sensor that sends the light pulse
to initate firing the plugs. There's a seal on these early Altimas (maybe
all 2.4L engines) that tends to let oil get in. The leaking oil obscures or
partially obscures the little slots in a spinning disk so the light cannot
be detected reliably by the sensor on the other side. One symptom is that
they run well again after sitting awhile because the hot oil drains off the
slots. My '94 Altima didn't have much of an intermittent phase, but a
friend had one that was intermittent like yours for about six weeks. Nissan
has a good supply of rebuilt units. Installed by Nissan three years ago I
paid $675. But, I've heard much lower costs from independents.

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Bongman - 05 Oct 2006 14:04 GMT

>> If I drive it until it's warmed up, it's like the timing goes all to
>> hell. First it starts with a dead spot around 2K RPM. It just starts
[quoted text clipped - 21 lines]
> good supply of rebuilt units. Installed by Nissan three years ago I
> paid $675. But, I've heard much lower costs from independents.

Thanks for the input, that would certainly explain it. I'd suspected the
distributor seal because there was a lot of "funk" in the old distributor
cap, but when I inspected the cam position sensor, the little slots were
all clear.

I guess I'll pull it and inspect the seal.

Thanks again!

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AS - 06 Oct 2006 16:05 GMT

Not to argue but if the disc with the slit in the senson spins,
centrifugal forces will keep it clean, unless there is a ton of oil
sipping in.

On the other hand, the fact that when hot it stalls would lead me to
believe it is an electrical problem, perhaps ignition wires, distributor
cap full of rust, ignition coil.

Good luck

> If I drive it until it's warmed up, it's like the timing goes all to hell.
> First it starts with a dead spot around 2K RPM. It just starts sputtering
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
> Thanks!

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