2 symptoms, but probably 1 problem? (95, 5spd w/ 165k mi)

symptom #1.
after i start the car, it will just die on me while sitting at a stoplight. no warning or anything. i can usually restart it immediately, but the acceleration for the next few minutes is a little herky-jerky. doesn't happen everytime, but it does happen frequently (twice today)

symptom #2.
sometime the car just wont start. it's turning over but no detonation. crank it 5-6 times for 20-30 seconds. then usually around the 6th time it will start to run rough (little tap of gas will usually set it straight then). happend twice this week...

ideas? i couldn't check the stickies so point me in the right direction if there is something there. flame away!

many thanks!

 

Could be the fuel filter, IACV, ECTS, or an alternator problem. When the car dies, do the lights start flickering and then it dies?

 

no flickering. the tach just drops off like you turned the key off and some of the lights turn on and stay on.

ECTS?

 

Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor .. i think

 

It is your fuel pressure regulator.

 

Are you throwing codes?

 

Mine did this along with other problems resulting from a grounding issue. I'm not sure if grounding was causeing this but mine would sputter for a few seconds every once in a while until I replaced a whole bunch of stuff that is in a list in the begining of this thread here- http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=452286

One of these ended up cureing it:

-ECT sensor (engine coolant sensor)
-crank sensor
-crank ref sensor
-camshaft sensor
-ignition switch

 

hang on...i'll pull the codes...duh on my part - should have done this first...

 

Mine hard starts every once in a while to, You hav to give it gas to keep it going then it smooths out. That what yours does?

 

codes: 0304 (stupid KS) 0908 & 0103 - ECTS problems.

Haynes covers it as do the ECU stickies

long live the .org

 

why? explain...

 

ok...problem still not solved...

checked the resistance of the sensor cold & hot and it matches the specs. so i reset the ECU and drove it a bunch. CE light never came back on and car never stalled/sputtered.

yesterday, while driving (car wasn't fully up to temp - 1/2 way btwn cold & run temp) light came on and car sputtered, but kept going. no further problems. again, i checked the resistance - it was still in spec.

is it possible that there is a bad "spot" on the resistor that as the temp is going up (and resistance is going down) the sensor screws up and the ECU tries to compensate?

think i should just replace the sensor?