Had my 2003 sentra gxe for almost a year now and every sense the day I have bought it, it always takes two-three starts to get it running, I was told because its not a 'flexfuel' pump that its working the ethanol pockets out of the fuel pump, but so far the only major issue i had was an ecu glitch that the wonderful maf(i hate nissan for not following honda and making these go bye bye >.>) had issues and was giving the car the classic it has no maf affect of losing power and dieing. I was freaked that it was the fuel pump dieing but luckily the mechanic reset the ecu and so far its just back to its usual two-three starts to get it going routine. I am just wondering if anyone had this problem and if it was the fuel pump or something else that maybe simple I need to work on. I saw a few people mention battery leads being replaced and not having start issues, i have a good interstate battery and the terminals look almost brand new.
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Nissan Altima 2000 gxe (manual)
AEM WAI (short ram)
Strut bar
Modded VTC synalloid
Full ecm tune up programmed
Painted the valve cover and some other parts
Wire tucked.
current project:girlfriend restricted >.<
current repair: mystery check engine light(havent had a chance to run code..thought it was the temp sensor I put in *sighs* another problem....)
Nissa Sentra 2003 GXE (q18 went to the heavens...sr20det swapped)
Full custom fab exhaust.
Turbonetics 6085 (at 20 psi)
Forged street pro piston
Street pro (stage 5= cams)
Street Pro stage 3 clutch (she grinding alittle into 3rd)
New special computer (gonna tune after turbo still been doing motor work)
strut bar
Custom fabricated pod WAI, breather Intake.
New Fuel pump/fuel cell(buddy wont tell me what he used)
17's rims
lowering springs
Swaybar bushings
High performance camber/caster kit.(custom fab)
JDM Smoked headlights
8k blue HID's (xenon high/low)
432 HP to the wheels (before boost)
*priceless*
Current project:
Current repair: Still trying to figure out how to install tach gauge. Paint Job. Finishing install of header and permanately attaching turbo. Still need to re-tune after we complete the turbo as a permanate fixture, he had to custom weld and build a header running 4-2 sense the boost wasnt working right on 4-1, will post final WHP when Hondata runs the dyno again.
does it make a different noise when it doesn't start? does the car sit for long periods of time between driving?
you can pick up a cheap plug in voltmeter and see if it's any kind of power drain. could be a ground issue, check the starter and alternator. also a good idea to make sure all the plugs and relays you can find are connected good while your under the hood.
just for laughs, try turning it on (pause) and off twice without cranking, then crank it and see if it starts the first time.
Yeah I have double checked just about any battery electrical related connection and terminal but i havent used a volt meter, I usually crank the car and then let it click a few times the repeat till it starts. Everyone keeps telling me its most like the fuel pump but I do not want to spend $280 unless that really the problem, if it is, then I just can not imagine how much power gain i am going to get when a fuel delivery issue is resolved cause that can mean major power lose, thing is I have had this issue sense day one so I do not know what a sentra without my current problem runs like to compare it. Pretty rare and hard to find someone with a 2003 sentra 1.8L that manual instead of auto.
I'm pretty skeptic about the ethanol pockets... if you check the fuel pressure it should clear up whether its the fuel pump, old school way I learned on my t-bird was to just listen for the electrical 'wind up' of the pump when you first turn your car on. if anything it'd seem like you have some sort of vapor lock in your lines.
with it clicking when you crank leads me to believe it might be something with the starter... you can try banging it lightly with a hammer and see if it'd start on first try...
vapor lock doesnt sound to friendly, sometimes it gives out in power and exhaust puffs out heavy white smoke then its fine again as well. Be said if a starter went out at 28k Oo for that matter a fuel pump as well. Everyone I talk to keeps telling me its a fuel delivery issue and fuel pump more then likely the problem but I really appreciate your suggestions, just spending 280 bucks and not knowing its the issue hurts. well it fires up just fine then it dies out at least twice then the third start it fires just fine and runs.
I called nissan to verify any callbacks and they claim my car has none but given it was 7 years old with only 28k miles I have this itching feeling it might be this but they deny it has any callbacks.
A circuit board operating the crank or camshaft position sensors in 2003 Nissan Sentras might be defective because of faulty workmanship. This can cause the engine warning light to illuminate, reduce engine power or prompt the engine to stop running. The crank and camshaft position sensors, and perhaps the variable timing control sensor, should be replaced. About 630,000 Nissans are affected.
Read more: Types of Nissan Sentra Engine Problems | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/about_5626845_ty...#ixzz1P1cxBw1Z
would that sound like the issue given the situation cause I would really hate to fight nissan over this but I really do not know if the original owner did there recalls on the car :/ and considering 7 years and 28k its more then likely they haven't.
Last edited by drossdarkblood; 06-12-2011 at 02:35 AM.
Last year when I had this problem I purchased a used (28K) fuel pump and it worked fine until recently (it now has 51K) on it and priming does not always help. Also it seems to happen when the car, not the engine, is hot like in the summer. So I believe that the problem is the sending unit and this time I will buy a new one.
One thing still bothers me. If the fuel leaks back down into the tank then why does it work fine in the morning or when it has been sitting for a long time. Seems like it should still have the cranking problem like it does when it is hot.
Last year when I had this problem I purchased a used (28K) fuel pump and it worked fine until recently (it now has 51K) on it and priming does not always help. Also it seems to happen when the car, not the engine, is hot like in the summer. So I believe that the problem is the sending unit and this time I will buy a new one.
One thing still bothers me. If the fuel leaks back down into the tank then why does it work fine in the morning or when it has been sitting for a long time. Seems like it should still have the cranking problem like it does when it is hot.
Your sadly about 2grand behind me in fixing yours :/ why do I have to replace so many parts on a car before 61k is sad...new radiator now...new thermostat...still has starting issues even after using a airtex freaking 60psi high flow...it doesn't sputter anymore but now its not circulating water through the engine so now I gotta figure out why...sense its not the thermostat its either the water pump or temp sensor...and still haven't resolved the starting issue...sad this cars a freaking nightmare.
Thanks for this post guys I was going through the same thing.
Sadly we all are :/ and yet nissan won't recall or admit it....just for the time sack check your lower and upper hose of your radiator and see if they even have coolant flowing......it sounds stupid....but my radiator actually blew up when I put a new fuel pump in LoL...and the car was off...
yeah I suspected the coolant leak thing so I have been watching my coolant levels for 10 days, no change
started priming every start, don't alway hear the fuel pump turn on and run, why would that be?
you mean that weird bubbling noise that you hear from the pump sucking fuel Idk mine is intermitten also or was with oem pump....haven't heard that sound sense I put my high-flow in.
you mean that weird bubbling noise that you hear from the pump sucking fuel Idk mine is intermitten also or was with oem pump....haven't heard that sound sense I put my high-flow in.
so on the coolant thing, I have heat the upper hose is hot the lower one in not - was yours llike that?
so on the coolant thing, I have heat the upper hose is hot the lower one in not - was yours llike that?
Yeah mine felt the same way as well...with the car running...were doing the water pump right now and custom heating housing on the hoses and a few other things today...my buddy called the mad scientist of cars LOL i gave him my insurance money and he going insane with the car X_X I will post updates on if it helped the issue, if it doesnt I am going for temp sensor next.
Have you tried flipping the ignition switch to on, letting the fuel pump prime for a couple seconds, then starting the engine?
yeah my mechanic buddy said the same thing but it doesn't prime unless you pump the pedal...i know it sounds weird but some reason to get it to pump or trigger you have to pump the gas pedal (which you think would flood it but this car it doesnt Oo) while trying to turn it...its really...weird...
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2002 Nissan Sentra SE-R
Linear Mode
