my sentra is flipping out

[sureletsrace]

ok...im driving back from the store and:
1- my radio begins cutting out...i turn it off and back on, and it comes on but doesn't play.
2- my battery/brake dash lights are on, unless im flooring it, and they turn off.
3- my gears feel like they're slipping, and im getting pretty much no acceleration. im hoping that's just the transmission fluid.
4- when i step on the brake, my speedometer falls to "0".
5- my engine BARELY turns over, but it won't start.

is this all a connected problem, or is it two seperate problems...to me, it sounds like the starter(which "got changed this weekend"[i just bought this car two days ago]) and the alternator as far as the electrical problems go, and the transmission sounds like hopefully the fluid, if not the whole chimichanga.

any help or advice is appreciated. thank you

-richard

[sirsmiley]

Originally Posted by sureletsrace

ok...im driving back from the store and:
1- my radio begins cutting out...i turn it off and back on, and it comes on but doesn't play.
2- my battery/brake dash lights are on, unless im flooring it, and they turn off.
3- my gears feel like they're slipping, and im getting pretty much no acceleration. im hoping that's just the transmission fluid.
4- when i step on the brake, my speedometer falls to "0".
5- my engine BARELY turns over, but it won't start.

is this all a connected problem, or is it two seperate problems...to me, it sounds like the starter(which "got changed this weekend"[i just bought this car two days ago]) and the alternator as far as the electrical problems go, and the transmission sounds like hopefully the fluid, if not the whole chimichanga.

any help or advice is appreciated. thank you

-richard

sounds like whoever did the alternator change left something not grounded properly so your electronics are all out of whack and keep cutting in and out, i definitely would blame it on the alternator , if nothing else was replaced lately....

[sureletsrace]

well i just went out and my car started (barely) and when i floor it, it revs normally to a certain rpm then bogs back down and jostles around erratically...so its not a transmission problem (thank god)...still sound electrical?

[JerodKing]

Originally Posted by sureletsrace

ok...im driving back from the store and:
1- my radio begins cutting out...i turn it off and back on, and it comes on but doesn't play.
2- my battery/brake dash lights are on, unless im flooring it, and they turn off.
3- my gears feel like they're slipping, and im getting pretty much no acceleration. im hoping that's just the transmission fluid.
4- when i step on the brake, my speedometer falls to "0".
5- my engine BARELY turns over, but it won't start.

is this all a connected problem, or is it two seperate problems...to me, it sounds like the starter(which "got changed this weekend"[i just bought this car two days ago]) and the alternator as far as the electrical problems go, and the transmission sounds like hopefully the fluid, if not the whole chimichanga.

any help or advice is appreciated. thank you

-richard

1-Check the wires, other than that, no clue.

2-The battery and brake light is Nissan's way of telling you your alternater is shitting the bed. I am guessing the lights go off at high RPM's because the crank is spinning the belt fast enough to overcome the weak alternator.

3-Is it a 5 speed or an automatic? If it is a 5 speed, change the fluid with Redline 75-90 tranny fluid, it's great, trust me. Change it if it is automatic too. If it is a 5 speed, try adjusting the clutch cable, or you might need a new clutch.

4-Sounds electrical, I'm not sure.

5-Try tapping the starter, if it starts after that, this trick usually works if the starter is on its way out.

[slideways...]

1. probably alternator
2. probably alternator
3. change tranny oil
4. probably alternator
5. probably alternator


replace alternator and get your battery recharged and tested and see if those problems go away

[Mykozo]

Originally Posted by sureletsrace

well i just went out and my car started (barely) and when i floor it, it revs normally to a certain rpm then bogs back down and jostles around erratically...so its not a transmission problem (thank god)...still sound electrical?

I also think that it's you alternator/coil/igniter. If you stay on the gas does it run ok, and then die when you let off? It's the starting, and then reving to a certain rpm and then sputtering out that makes me think that there is the possiblity of it being blown head gasket. You could certainly have two issues here, because the electrical failure of you stereo and the such has nothig to do with compression. Easy way to check and 3 rules that you should follow for a car that won't start properly;
To start a motor you need;

1. Fuel
2. Spark
3. Compression

1. I know of no easy way to check fuel, as I just got my Sentra Spec V 2 days ago, and can't tell you how, hopefully someone here can. Coming from Honda's, that have in tank fuel pumps, the easiest way to find out is to put the car in Accessory, and have a friend put his ear up against the fuel door or tank. If you hear the pump whirring, it's prob not a fuel problem, unless you smell it, then you have a leak.
2. Easiest way to check is turn it over with the end of your wires laid on the head, provided everything is grounded correctly. You are gonna want to do this at night, or in a dark garage, cause your looking for spark coming from the wire and arcing with the head. Spray a mist of water on the head to help this process out. Or, just get a volt meter and ground from the chassis to the wire, and check for voltage while turning it over. No voltage at the wire = electrical or course.
3. Pray your ass off that this isn't the problem, but if all electrical and fuel are OK, then compression is next. Blown head gasket is the most likely cause, and a huge pain in the ass unless you are handy with a wrench or a wallet. Even if you are handy, your probably going to want to get the surface of your head decked to make sure no warping has occured (perfect time for a rebuild, hooray!) If you haven't had overheating problems until now though, head gasket is prob not the issue, but considering you just got the car two days ago, you never know what the previous owner did to it, and how close to death it may have been.
Best of luck.