Hello, I have a very strange problem going on with my 91 Maxima VG30. I was driving down the road and the car stalled on me. I have yet to get this car started since. I replaced the fuel pump, because I didn't hear it whine from the gas tank. No luck. I replaced the ecu with one from the pull a part that had 69,000 miles on it. I seem to not be getting spark from the ignition coil and getting spark from the distributor. I have replaced the ignition control module, and swapped the distributor with a known working one. I checked for codes in the ecu and got three codes. Code 11 - crank angle sensor/circuit, Code 13 - Temp sensor, and Code 21 - Ignition signal. Now from what I have gathered, the VG only has the crank angle sensor that is located inside the distributor correct? Now, swapping distributors should have fixed the problem right? Is there another sensor somewhere that the Haynes manual doesn't show? I am at a loss as to why I can't get this car to start. I have checked all of the fuses in the fuse box and under the hood as well as the relays under the hood. I know that I am getting fuel, becuase I pulled the hose to the fuel filter and it gushed out. Please help, and thank you in advance!!!!

 

I don't think it is possible as distributor does simply that - distributes the high voltage generated by the coil. If you can see the spark on the plug then don't bother with ignition, it won't be able to give you more then that.

- can you erase all the codes and then read them again? This is in case some of them have been there for a while.

I don't think so - looking at the diagram the only thing which possibly can tell ECU about crank angle is camshaft position sensor. I hope you didn't do some work on the engine lately so the chains inside the motor are still in synch.

Engine needs 4 things to start: fuel, air, spark and timing. You confirmed fuel is fed to injectors, air is hard to screw up, spark seems to be present and if you haven't touched the chains timing should be fine. The following test might help to get some more info: if you take camshaft position sensor off the engine turn the key into ON without cranking the engine and start turning sensor by its shaft you shoul hear injectors clicking and you can see the sparks if you happen to have a plug connected to one of the wires. At least this trick worked on my VE30DE.

Oops, I got carried away a bit- yours doesn't have chains, it's belt driven. Then you should at least check if it's still there and its condition.

 

I haven't done any work on the car recently. Where is the camshaft position sensor at on a 1991 VG? I only know of the sensor that is inside the distributor?

 

It looks like camshaft position sensor is in the distributor as you mentioned so the test I described won't work.

I'd check timing belt and try to erase the codes then crank the engine and then read the codes again.

 

We'll do. Thanks for your help!!!

 

Check for power at the coil connector.....You should be able to connect the distributor to the harness but not install the distributor onto the engine and spin it by hand and made you coil fire a series of sparks....If power is not at the coil then check for power at the module. If power is at the coil replace that sorry a$$ Oem coil...IMO Nissan's epoxy filled ignition coils suck....

 

Will injectors also click while spinning the dstributor shaft? If so this would be equivalent to spinning CPS on VE engine and really helpful.

 

Those codes are most likely from the old car, not yours, If you haven't done any engine work on the car, I would check the MAF sensor, car will not start without it being plugged in and working properly. Sounds like you are going to have all new parts if you keep throwing them at it. I would also put the old ECU back in the car as well. Ant then check for codes.

 

Are you sure about MAF? All other cars I know of do start and let you drive although in so called 'limp' mode - rpms won't go all the way, etc. I'm not sure how VG behaves in this situation.

 

same way, if the MAF is DEAD or disconnected you can't rev past about 2k