Hi,
I've had another thread on here regarding crank no start. I finally got my 98 Max, 252K Miles, oil in coolant, to the shop. Shop was highly recommended but is not a Dealership.
Spoke to the technician/owner this morning. He thinks it has jumped time. He advised that compression check (one cylinder per bank) was around 110-120 PSI, well off the norm. It is getting fire and fuel.

He asked me if my issues occurred suddenly (indicating jumping time) or over time. I told him that the crank hard start problem had been going on for several months.

I thought that, due to oil in coolant, I might have a head gasket problem which could affect compression. However, isn't it unlikely that both head gaskets would fail at the same time? Also, I am not using oil. Run 4K between oil changes w/ Mobil 1 and Wix filters and have never been down more than 1/2 quart, which I thought was about normal.

I've not read of any 4th Generation maximas jumping time. So, I'm baffled.

Any suggestions or recommendations?

Thanks,

OK, got the max back on Tuesday. After PCM Replacement, one coil replacement, and a starter replacement, it runs like a champ. I was a little disappointed the tech/shop didn't call me and charged me $50 for a used starter when I had lifetime warranty on mine from O'reilly's, but at least it's fixed. I put a fresh oil change on last night, had the cooling system flushed today and I'm ready to sell it!!!

Thanks for all the help and input!

 

Did he check for spark on all 6 cylinders? If it's jumped time it may still fire 4 out of 6 coils. I think it's cylinders 2 and 3 that stop firing if the TC jumps. Have your mechanic check that out. Here's a link that explains that http://www.asashop.org/autoinc/jan2001/techtips.htm The car actually will run if it's only jumped a tooth or two. The loss of compression could be do to wash down from fuel. Did he squirt some oil in the cylinders to see if comperssion comes back up? How about a leak down test? Was any of that done to verify compression?

4th gens don't jump time often at all.

Has diagnostics been run on CPS ref and CPS pos?

 

Unfortunately, I think that the compression check was only w/ starter driving cylinders. Still will not start. He says that timing chain replacement calls for 12 hours labor and says it'd be cheaper to buy a used engine. He did not pour oil in cylinders to check compression.
I'm not convinced that it's jumped timing and no on CPS diag. Perhaps he's a little out of his league, but the only alternative is dealership.

 

Dealership isn't the only guy to work on your car. There is nothing special on a 4th gen VQ that any experianced mechanic can't handle. It's actually becoming old technology at this point.

Have the compression checked correctly, all 6 cylinders, oiled and leak down.
Verify operation of both crank position sensors.
Verify fuel delivery, injector pulse.
Verify spark on all 6 cylinders. Again, if the TC has jumped you most likely will be missing spark on cylinders 2&3, but the car may actually run.
Scan for any stored error codes in the ECU.

Find another qualified mechanic?????

Other things to check - ignition switch & CTS.

 

I'm an idiot. Daughter in law has a 97 GLE w/ 100K less miles on it. Been getting it worked on in town for years. Called her, got a recommendation for a shop. Went to the shop. Owner is very knowledgeable about maximas. Had it towed, again, to his shop. Will get to it Tuesday.

Will keep the org informed.

Thanks for your advice!

 

What do you mean 'unfortunately, only with starter driving cylinders'? That's how you do a compression test, you don't actually start the engine...

So he tested only a third of the cylinders, failed to do a wet compression test to narrow down the problem...don't go back to this guy (IMO).

You mention having other problems, but fail to specify them?

If you're having issues, keep it in one thread. No one is going to want to jump around to all the threads you've made on the subject just to give you some ideas.

 

Roger, got it. Mentioned all my problems in original post. Initially long crank, then start. Then oil in coolant. Sorry I didn't make it more clear.
Did not know how a compression test is done, now I do.

Have it at another shop now with better technician who has some experience with Maximas. He'll give me a diag NLT tuesday.

Thanks,

 

Hi,
I got good news from the new technician/shop today.

He tested and replaced the Crank Sensor (REF) and found only one bad injector (which he ordered and will be in tomorrow). He says the compression tested up to 145 with oil in cylinders but that they were completely soaked with fuel due to the no start issue.

Letting them dry out overnight and will install injector in AM. He says that spark and fuel delivery look good and that, even at minimum 145 PSI on compression test, it should start and run fine. He believes that the next compression test tomorrow will improve.

Thanks for all the input!

 

Sounds like that mechanic knows what he's doing.
Update us as to how it's running when you get it back.