Does anyone know the best place to get a new air regulator? The one on my car I fear is about dead. Not finding it listed at any parts house - is this a Nissan only item?

 

It's definitly a nissan only item. If you don't want to spend alot of money goto a salveyard and get one for $75 or less. New ones run around $175+.

 

Ok, thanks for the info...

The reasoning I have for the idea that air reg. is dyeing is this:

The car has just now rolled to 225k, for about the last 25k, it has been running quite rich - especially in the mornings, and most always when cold out. It was running rich enough to blow blackish gray smoke plumes, and the exhaust has smelled very gas heavy for a while now.

Now, however, when it's cold, or hasn't been run for a little it, it'll blow a slightly blueish black, gassy smelling smoke somewhat heavily until the engine has warmed up some (ie, the temp gauge has started to move)...at the same time, it runs quite rough, and idles REAL low until it's warmed up some, which vibrates the entire car pretty badly.

I looked back through all the old posts here, and saw several cases of this same situation, with several solutions...However, I've suspected the air reg for a while, since it basically functions as the choke.

I will also be trying to clean the FICD first, and replace the much less expensive CHTS, but I have a feeling that I'm going to be stuck with the expensive fix...that's been my luck lately...

The car already has new cap & rotor, and the plugs are still good, and were re-gapped. It will be going into the shop soon for a proper tune-up, since there's a shop here who will make sure the FI is calibrated for the new climate it's in - it went from NC to TX.

BTW, when I tried to look up the CHTS, I was unable to find it's location. Where would I find it on the engine? Unfortunately, I am unable to afford the FSM...having to make due with a Haynes...

 

On my 86SE, the CHTS is located near the water pump and below the distributor, to the left. Look for a single wire coming out from that location to a connector plug.

The Air Regulator provides an air by-pass when the engine is cold for the purpose of a fast idle during warm-up.

A bimetal, heater and rotary shutter are built into the air regulator. When the bimetal temperture is low, the air by-pass port is open. As the engine starts and electric current flows through a heater, the bimetal begins to rotate the shutter to close off the by-pass port. The air passage remains closed until the engine is stopped and the bimetal temperture drops.

Those are the words from my 86 FSM, sounds like you can check the heater terminal for continuity on that air regulator.

My 86SE has 110K miles and when cold, you can smell the odor of gas in the exhaust. Remember when new, you could almost breathe it. Been like that for a while now, I should find out why too. If I park my car outside overnight, it starts up and wants to die. Have to keep the rpm up till it settles down. It will idle good at start-up from my garage.

Guess I can check that heater in the regulator too.

Good luck, Al

 

Air bypass reg. RETAIL Nissan $101.56 Should be around $80. at courtesy. More than likely used be bad. There are 10 different part#'s. all look the same but only one will work right. U want PN 22660-W2465. (assuming MaxWag is not a 85. This # is for 80>84 910. L24) Buy new. Pinch off elbow hose w/car cold, if no diff, change it. Also check your EGR system.

 

I don't think these air regulators last too long. My car only has 100K and the air regulator is bad. It can be a ***** when starting it up when the engine is cold, the idle is usually low and pretty rough. The guy at the Nissan dealership said it really isn't that big of a deal to replace though, so whenever I get money to burn I'll probably replace it.

-C-

 

Well, my battlewagon is an 87. For everyone's info, my local dealer quoted me a price of $87 for a new regulator...