STR problems

[farmerSTR]

Hi all.
Great forum.Well done.
I am new here .I am trying to iron out a problem with my STR 3 Litre .The check engine warning light flashes every now and then.It continues to flash until the ignition is turned off.Sometimes,during this times,the car may stall when taking off from trafic lights or driving up my steep driveway.Seems to be just above idle when it stalls.This too is intermittant.It does not do this when the light is not on(flashing)I am unable to find a cause.Nissan dealer here has not a clue .The vehicle has done 162 000 lm .Serviced every 10 k as per nissan Aust advice for 4 cylinder diesel.
Could it be air bubble from changing the fuel filter?
Would love to sort this out.So far its been a great truck.
thanks

[06nismoKC]

It doesn't throw a code?

[farmersSTR]

yes mate it did.
p7-f/inj timg fb

I presume this means injector timing.The nissan guy could not find a fault with injector timing.Could itmean something else?
I am recently led to believe it could be faulty turboboost sensor.The check engine light seems to come on mostly when I have been driving on highway for some time and take an exit causing engine revs to fall back to idle.
Thanks for your reply

[Tweak'e]

got a boost guage on it ?

can you give a bit better discription of whats happening when it fualts ?
ie speed travelled at, does motor perform badly when fualt arrises, any other minor problems ie drivabilty, any mods done, etc as much info as you can possibly think off.

if its is the timing sensor your problerly looking at a new pump ......VERY expsencive.
so you really need to make sure its nothing else before go and change it.

how many pumps on the fuel primer before it goes hard ?

[farmersSTR]

I could be driving at 70 kmph or 110 kmph and I stop the vehicle at lights ect so it is idling.Within a few seconds the engine warning light will start to flash.This does not alway happen though.I may drive for days and no problem .Sometimes,not always, the vehicle has a dead spot just as I depress the accellerator to take off and if I don;t ride the clutch a little and depress accellerator further it will stall.At the next set of lights when I stop and go to take off again it may run perfect.The light will still be flashing.
It only does it after the engine has been running and then goes back to idle.
I put a brand new fuel pump assembly on the vehicle 12 000 km ago.This was the genuine nissan one with the primer ect.cost 240 bucks including fuel filter cartridge.The local nissan guy suspected the old one was leaking air so suggested I buy a new one to fix the problem,which it hasn't.
Hope this answers some of your questions.
Thanks for helping out

Tweak I forgot to add,
the car runs perfect right through the rev range other then the occassional dead spot above idle on first accelleration.No loss of power as far as I am aware.
Thanks again

[Martin from Downunder]

Look for the simplest problem first not the hardest !!!

When I get vehicles like this breaking down, I tend to take it for a drive to make sure the engine is at operating temp, next pull the hood and start wiggling all wires more often then not the fault will not show unless the plugs are moved just like the vibrations on the road that can cause the same result

Try wiggling all the electric plugs first under the hood and then moving to under the st/wheel inside

I hate intermittent electric faults
and welcome to the Forum

[Tweak'e]

usually when you get dead spot like that the TPS is a common suspect.

they changed the primer pump. have you tried pumping it to see how long it takes to go hard ?

i would be inclined to change fuel filter again. mayby you picked up a batch of crap diesel and its blocking up the filter.

the other thing is if they have been suspecting air in te fuel check the injector/spill return line. one of the joins under the rocker cover may be leaking and this will suck air into the injection pump. you could be getting a lot of air into the injection pump which could throw timing out.

did they check the connection to the pump. i think one is quiet low on the pump and can get dirt etc in the connection which will cause problems.

[farmersSTR]

Thanks for your replies men.
I am praying that it is something simple.I am in "faulty Inj Pump" denial at the moment.Got 3 opinions from different diesel inj. shops today and they all said with the code p7 probably the pump.3000 to 5000 dollars. ouch.
Also heard that the inj. pump on the zd 30 is crap and they go.Only a matter of when not if.After owning 5 toyotas and only having 163 000 km on this rig I am a tad disapointed.
I will try all the things you both suggested and if you have anymore throw em in as well.
As far as the primer pump,last time I bled the fuel lines it only took aprox 10 pumps to prime.I pumped it before when the light was on and it was hard on the first push.
I think I will have a look at those return lines and keep you p[osted.Next week I have booked it in AGAIN to ther local nissan guy to get his second opinion before I take it to the inj shop for the 3000 to 5000 rebuild.
The exhausts and D-tronic are on hold

[Tweak'e]

i'm not sure if the pumps are repairable. the USA have similar pump in some bigger diesels, when the pump goes its terminal. not usualy repairable because of the damage that gets done. tho i have seen the odd site in USA saying they repair them. no idea about downunder tho.

just check if your getting oil coming out from air inlet pipe joins after the turbo. the oil can make the joins loose and leak air which can throw things out.

also i would block EGR just to rule out that side of things.

[farmersSTR]

The process of elimination continues.
Replace fule filter today with nissan fuel filter.Replace hoses on this as well plus 2 hose clamps per line to rule out air leak here.Put extra clamp on fuel inlet hose on inj. pump.Primed .Started engine.Light comes on flashing.Normally have to drive to get it flashing.Pumped primer until hard switch engine off /on half doz times but flashing check engine light remains on.
(seems to come on more so when there is interuption to fuel lines).Switch engine off,cursed it a few times and restarted.No light.Went for a drive.Still no flashing light.This is so intermittent indicators are pointing towards electrical rather then mechanical.????????.Just guessing here.
Will see what the nissan guy comes up with next week.
I am worried that it is in the best interests of the inj pump shop to diagnose faulty inj. pump .
stand by