[lane.mcpeak]

Hey guys, it has been a while since I've been on, but I'm in need of some serious help.

I was driving along and my engine just shut off.

2002 Nissan Frontier XE 3.3L Not supercharged. 4x4.

My g/f's dad has been helping me try to figure out the problem.

So far we've replaced the distributor, fuel filter, and fuel pump.

At first we thought it was the distributor, thinking it was a bad seal and water had gotten into it. (it's been raining a lot) So, we replaced the distributor, got it running, and it died going down the road. We had it set correctly, and it hasn't gotten eaten up. We also checked the intake to make sure I didn't just suck up some water into the engine. It was dry.

He said it sounded like it was starving for gas, so we checked the fuel line to see if the pump was pumping fuel to the motor. It wasn't. So, we figured it was the fuel pump, and just changed it tonight. It still won't start.... after priming the pump and letting it have plenty of time to prime the lines again to allow fuel to reach the motor again.

The only other thing he can think it would be is the ignition sensor. We noticed there had been a recall on them, as well as the fuel sending unit (or something along that name) a while back, and we're going to check and see if my truck had been taken in for the work.

However, I want to know if you guys think it would be anything else? I'm short on funds, and can't keep putting in a bunch of new parts.

The battery and alternator are fine.

Please give me any suggestions as to what you think it might be.

 

[lane.mcpeak]

Any suggestions would be appreciated. It tries to crank over, but just won't catch.

Called Nissan and gave them my VIN to the truck. No outstanding recalls on my truck. I'm out of ideas guys.

 

[mx390250]

Have you checked to make sure the coil and ignition control module are getting power? A while back on my pathfinder it would start and run fine but then once it got warmed up it would die and not start but just crank over without firing. One of the wires had gotten old and seperated so when heated up it lost connection. I replaced the wire and its fine now. Also check the main relay. Relay's are simple but can easily go bad. When my fuel pump relay went out I pulled the relay out and ran a jumper wire across until I got a new relay.

 

[TwoBills]

Have you checked your timing belt?

 

[airbag]

How many miles do you have on it ?

Are you getting the flashing "check engine" light of codes ?

Sorry if this one sounds stupid but did you check to see if fuel was pumping after changing the fuel pump ? Also, is there a fuel pump relay/fuse and are you sure that is good ?

When you got it running with the new distributor, Did you re-time it and was it running good or was it running off the whole time before dying again ?

I run my truck offroad through deep puddles, small streams and other water obstacles without getting more than a few drops in the air box. I think you can rule that one out.
I have only had my frontier for 6 months now so i'm not real familiar with our 3.3L but i've been fixing my own vehicles for years. I just went down a general list of things.

Make sure you keep that battery charged after cranking for a while if you haven't. No need to burn out your batt.

 

[lane.mcpeak]

Hey all, apologies for such a late reply. I don't have internet at the apartment anymore since it's getting close to moving time.

Well, we figured out what the problem was. The fuel pump relay was burnt out. However, that was caused by the underlying problem. Nissan botched a recall job on my truck. Turns out, after replacing the fuel pump relay, the fuel pump wasn't receiving power...still. So, that left only one thing, the fuel pump assembly. We dropped the tank again and super-cleaned off the plastic top. Come to find out, the recall that was back in 2004/2005 for my truck wasn't completed in a professional manner.

Instead of replacing the fuel pump assembly like the recall stated, whatever dealership the truck was taken to (by the previous owner) simply drilled out the connection piece that corrodes and cracks, and soldered in a new wire. That was it. No covering over the solder to protect it; no new fuel pump assembly. So, over time, the piece of solder disintegrated from the weather and dirt and sand, causing the piece of wire they stuck in there to fall out, leaving no connection from the power supply to get to the fuel pump.

So, we tried going to the Nissan here in Edmond. (bob howard nissan) However, "they do not warranty someone else's work"..... meaning they don't warranty work done by another Nissan dealership? So now I have to call an 800 number for Nissan, file a complaint, find out what dealership did the warranty work, file a complaint with them and try to get my money back for all the work I did on the truck, and then see if I can get a new fuel pump assembly since the recall fix wasn't ever really performed. It is going to be a headache.

 

[airbag]

^^^^ Wow. Hello nissan customer crap service.

Glad you finally got it straight.

PS: You should check to see if the dealer can use your vin to print out a service record of your truck that is in Nissan database. All dealers should be connected. If they can, you would be able to see where the warranty work was originally done. I am basing that off my experience with GM dealesrhips service depts.