backfiring,stumbling,hesitation

Hello all

My car is a 1992 3.0L villager.

When ever the car reaches operating temperature, it starts to backfire severely. it doesn't matter if it's in P,N,or D.

I continued to drive the car, but now it has become too dangerous. The speed doesn't go above 25 mph, and the RPM needle fluctuates violantly up and down.

again this only happens at operating temperature. If the car is cold it drives fine. But that usually lasts about 15 minutes or so.

can someone plese help me diagnos this problem? I have no check engine light, only when i turn the car on. But once I turn the engine over, the light goes out.

And also. How do I retrieve codes from my car. I am well aware that it is not OBD2 equiped. So i'm clueless as to how I can retrieve codes.

Thanx in advance for your responses.

the light is suppose to do that, before start it comes on to let you know its working and after a start goes off unless there is a fault. you wont have a code stored
unless it comes on during opperation.
have you done a tune-up lately? check timing. also check your airflow

Have you checked your sparkplugs? If one or 2 are fouled it could shake the van a lot. You would also lose power. If they are fouled, check your distributor/rotor.

like i said, tune up.

Here are sites with pictures to show you where & how to check codes
http://www.nmia.com/~dgnrg/nissan1.jpg
gives a picture of where you check the codes

http://www.nmia.com/~dgnrg/nissan4.jpg
shows which wires to jump

http://www.nmia.com/~dgnrg/nissan3.jpg
picture of jumper wire

http://www.nmia.com/~dgnrg/nissan3.jpg
plug and socket –

Yours is a different year than listed below for codes - so don't know if there is any change - maybe someone else can help there.
Just ask for the codes for your year on a thread.

When you make your little jumper wire - you need a little clip on one end
an on the other you need the male side of the flat connection - it's only about 1/2 as wide as the regular one - had to wittle mine down so it would fit.

The Check Engine Light (CEL) codes can be obtained without a trip to the shop or dealer, & without an expensive code reader. The Haynes manual for Mercury Villager/Nissan Quest covers this on page 6-4. To extract the stored codes:
1. Turn the ignition off
2. Unplug the diagnostic plug nearest the starter solenoid
3. Turn the ignition on but don't start the engine
4. Reference this diagram to determine which pins to jumper
5. Plug the jumper wire into the indicated pins in the plug & socket for exactly 2 seconds, no more, no less, and remove the jumper wire
6. The CEL should start blinking, a series of long flashes followed by a series of short flashes. It will repeat the cycle so don't worry about rushing back to the cockpit to get the codes. When the flash sequence repeats, count the number of blinks for the longer duration flashes, & count the number of blinks for the shorter flashes. This will give you the code, for example 12 long flashes followed by 5 short flashes is fault code "1205" which is the transmission "Line Pressure Solenoid" and/or circuit fault (96 & newer).

1993-1995 OBD-I fault codes:
1st digit = number long flashes & 2nd digit = number of short flashes
11 Camshaft position sensor (CMP) or circuit fault
12 Mass air flow sensor (MAF) " "
13 Engine coolant temp sensor (ECT)
14 Vehicle speed sensor (VSS)
21* Ignition signal fault
31 Powertrain control module (PCM)
32 EGR control solenoid
33* O2 sensor
34* Knock sensor (KS)
35 EGR temp sensor (EGRT)
43 Throttle position sensor (TPS)
45 Fuel injector leak
51 Fuel injector signal fault
55* No faults, system normal
* indicates CEL doesn't illuminate but stored fault code can still be retrieved

Did you ever find out what was wrong with your car?

My very similar problem turned out to be bad wires. Jackass#1 was right, tune up.

I also saw on another thread that the O2 sensor could cause similar problems.

Lar

Gerard, I'm having similar problems, see my post, have tried most all replacements, you should too, your problem could very well be different from mine..I am interested to know your outcome, good luck!