01 Sentra 1.8L GXE Idle

etschwed · #1 (**permalink**) 12-13-2011, 08:01 PM

My girlfriend purchased a 2001 Nissan Sentra GXE with a 1.8L engine and about 40k miles on it a month ago for $3000. We knew it had a couple problems but figured it was something minor. The car was an older man's before he passed away then from my understanding, it sat for about two years. I noticed that it was idleing rough and acting funny so we took it to a backyard mechanic we know. I had the code it was throwing at first but do not anymore. Upon research between him and I, we found that whatever is happening is a common problem for this car. We narrowed it down to the ECM or the Crank Sensor. He tried the sensor and that didn't take car of it so next was an ECM. From searching on multiple forums for related topics, I finally found out what I needed. With some phone tag between a dealership and my mechanic we found one for $230. I bought it and it just arrived last night. The mechanic put it in this morning and it is STILL running rough according to my mechanic.

I have about had it with this car as I've put easily 12 hours into researching and calling people trying to figure out what it is. I was almost positive the ECM would fix it but it didn't. We were planning on taking this car to Florida on the 26th so we need to get this fixed ASAP. We do have a backup and would take my '98 Taurus down but I would rather put the miles on her car then mine with 120k.

Please let me know if you have any ideas or suggestions!

etschwed · #2 (**permalink**) 12-13-2011, 08:30 PM

He is getting a P1165 now

etschwed · #3 (**permalink**) 12-14-2011, 01:08 AM

UPDATE:

The code I mentioned earlier went away. He said he checked the wiring and the switch itself and it was all working. Now its throwing the original code which was a P0335. Again, Crank sensor is replaced, Cam sensor is replaced and swapping computers did nothing. He and his friends seem to think the timing chain might be off. He is going to check the timing tomorrow. Does this seem likely or do you have another idea?

shortfusemonkey · #4 (**permalink**) 12-15-2011, 06:00 PM

just to make sure, and i am sure you did. but did you get the old gas out and clean the injectors?

etschwed · #5 (**permalink**) 12-16-2011, 05:33 PM

I found out that it was driven for awhile before we bought it so I'm sure the old gas was out. About the injectors, I'm not sure. The timing chain was pretty loose so we bought a kit to fix it for $145 and its being installed soon.