My harmonic balancer seperated from the outer serp. pulley about a week ago, I bought a new balancer from Nissan, installed it without issue. Went to start the car, fired right up and ran fine. Pulled car out to parking lot of my dad's shop, left it sit for a while while I did some stuff in my trunk, and when I went to start the car it wouldn't start at first, then after about 5-10 seconds of cranking it finally started, and seemed to run ok. Shut the car off, try to start it again and no start. Finally get it to start again and take it for a drive, seems to run ok until I try to run the engine up past 5k and it acted like it wanted to cut out.

I put the scanner on it and it came back with cam sensor circuit A malf, and engine ign misfire something or other. So I thought the cam sensor may have gone bad, got a new one from Nissan, installed and now I can't get it to start at all.

Car is a 97 w/ 175,xxx miles, 5spd. I have never had an ounce of engine trouble out of this car, but it seems like ever since it hit 170,000 miles it is falling apart. I just don't know where to go from here. If anyone has ANY suggestions, I would greatly appreciate the help. Also if any more info is needs, please let me know.

I posted this in the 4th gen general forum, but I figured maybe you guys would be a little more help.

Thanks in advance,
-Matt

 

Well first thing is are you getting any different codes? Did you check the sensor and wiring before up and replacing it, or was your first recourse to buy a whole new one?

 

I already checked the wiring harness as best I could, I've been trained a little better than to just throw parts at a problem, but I guess I should have noted that I already checked the wiring harness...

What is weird is that it ran PERFECTLY before replacing the balancer, the only codes I was getting before were for the EVAP system.

 

Made sure the CKPS wasn't broken during install, or that the harness was securely connected? I've found that at least on mine, it's extremely hard to get the connector fully clicked on the sensor unless it's off the car.

 

Did you disconnect the crank position sensor while replacing the front pulley?

I have found out the hard way that the male pins in the sensor are very easily bent when reconnecting the harness plug to the sensor. It has happened to me on two different Maximas. I pay very close attention to that now.

 

I unplugged the CKPS after the car wouldn't start and cleaned the connection, then plugged it back in. It seems to be securly plugged, I have to unsnap the clip to get the plug to come apart, so I would assume it is plugged in securly.


I did not disconnect the CKPS until after as per above, it wasn't in the way as far as I could tell to get the pully off.

 

OK, I have to work today so I had my brother who is at the shop try and start the car this morning. He said after about 5 sec of cranking, it started, and now the cam sensor code is gone!

But, it still has the same other code as it had before :

P1335 MFR Cntrlld Ign Sys or Misfire

He says it still is hard to start, but once fired off it runs great. And the one above is the only code it has.

Any new ideas?

 

Ok, so I did some digging, and P1335 is

Crankshaft Position Sensor (REF)

Is this the one down by the crank pulley, or the one back by the tranny? COde 1336 is also Crank Pos sens, but it has (CKPS) at the end...

 

Ref is on the crank pulley. Slow/inconsistent starting speeds could also throw this code.

 

I understand that the more knowledgeable people like to hang out in this forum but I can't leave a general maintenance topic open. There's a place for everything here. I'll try to help over in the 4th gen forum.