1993 Altima GXE won't start

[bdsutto]

A month and a half ago, I changed the plugs and the plug wires. Shortly after, the car started to have idling problems, but not all the time. Yesterday, I put some Gumout fuel injector cleaner into it. This morning the car won't start. I changed the fuel filter hoping that was the problem, the car still won't start. I have the Haynes manual, and it gives me a laundry list of things to check. I am hoping this is a minor problem, something I am overlooking. The car turns over fine, it just seems like it isn't getting any fuel/spark to turn the engine over. A new distributor is 150, and a new fuel pump is over 200, I don't think that either of those are the problem though. Any help is greatly appreciated.

[jserrano]

How old are the spark plugs? Are they fouled up?

[InnerDragon103]

There are a couple things you should do:

--if you didnt already, disconnect the battery cable from teh battery and allow it to sit for several minutes, then reconnect it (car will 'relearn' the fuel filter and plugs and wires)

--Make sure that you put anti seize lubircant on the threads of all the spark plugs when you had installed them.

--check to be sure all the wires are in completely and are not popping out due to lack of or absence of anti seize lubricant on the threads of the spark plugs

--look inside the altima, just above the lever that pops the engine hood; there is a fuse panel, check the fuse for your fuel pump (its 15amps); you should have pulled that fuse out and cranked the engine in order to release pressure before removal and installation of the fuel filter, make sure you had put the fuse back in before attempting to start the engine, or else the pump wont work and the pressure wont builld back up for the car to start.

--OH YEA ONE MORE THING; check the proper gapping was used on the plugs.

[bdsutto]

No, the spark plugs are brand new. I had to gap them myself, but I double checked them to make sure I did it correctly.

[nissandoc]

take off the distributor cap and the rotor button, then remove the black plastic cap that covers the crank angle sensor. if oil runs out you need to replace the distributor. you can clean it with brake cleaner and dry it off with compressed air but this is only a temporary fix.

[nicpon]

Similar thing happend to my altima 93'. Motor was turning and it was fuel pump that had to be replaced.

[jaded1958cars]

I had a similar intermittent starting problem with my 2003 Altima.
I'd come off a road trip and go to start it the next day and it wouldnt start.
Try removing the gas cap next time it wont start.
I ended up replacing the Mass air flow sensor for big bucks. I recently saw a reaosnably priced one for sale on EBay. Good luck.

[hondahawkster]

Hey mine is doing the same thing. I replaced the plugs, wires, cap, and button. but no luck $73.00 blowed away .I took the filter off and bypassed it to see what would happen .. nothing..but I did take the black cap off behind the rotor button and oil did come out . after winding on the motor awhile it started but it was popping and skipping and finilly died and that is where I am at now anymore things I can try before I spend more money?????

[bdsutto]

Originally Posted by hondahawkster

Hey mine is doing the same thing. I replaced the plugs, wires, cap, and button. but no luck $73.00 blowed away .I took the filter off and bypassed it to see what would happen .. nothing..but I did take the black cap off behind the rotor button and oil did come out . after winding on the motor awhile it started but it was popping and skipping and finilly died and that is where I am at now anymore things I can try before I spend more money?????

I ended up taking it to the shop. In a nutshell, the garage replaced everything you did, and let some oil soak in the pistons to seal it back up. He explained it all to me, but some of it I didn't understand. Basically, the injectors were spraying fuel, but it wasn't sparking or getting compression.

[hondahawkster]

I got some contact cleaner from work and took the black cover off behind the rotor button and cleaned all that I seen.. Then removed the neg cable on the battery for a min. Put everthing back together and it stsrted up I let it idle for about 20 min. then took it for a 3 mile ride... How long do you think it will last before I will have to do it again ...Does the distributor have a O"ring that I can Change??? Thanks for the Help guy....

[bracketshark]

I changed the o-ring on my 96 with little trouble. I removed the distributor cap, made sure the rotor pointed straight up, marked the location of the housing to a stationary location, next removed the two adjusting bolts. I had trouble removing the distributor so I had to remove the valve cover to get to all 4 bolts the hold the distributor to engine, loosened these and it came right out. You will see the o-ring that needs to be replaced, mine was flat and hard. I used a regular buna type from work. This type ring probably wont last as long as OEM. It took me about 30 minutes to change and reassemble. I'm not sure they can be purchased from Nissan any longer. Any other help here? Are the 3 O-rings still available? (dist. shaft, plastic cover, and cap)

[hondahawkster]

I might try that this weekend if I can get it to run.. got another post about stating problem