I couldnt find my old post, with original description of the problem. The car would idle rough between 1-2k rpm, like it was missing but was smooth the rest of the way up. It also shook or vibrated when I put it into any gear other than park or neutral. I had had an exhaust leak due to 3 broken manifold studs and a warped/cracked manifold and I thought that once that was replaced that the rough idle would dissapear. Well it didnt. So I double checked all the plugs to make sure they were gapped right, then I got new plug wires. I had noticed that plugs 1 and 3 were burned white which haynes suggests is due to it running hot, or incorrect timing. Well, I had had the timing adjusted by a Nissan tech after I had changed my timing belt (another long story) Needless to say the timing was off by 10degrees. From 15 to 25! I moved it back down and the engine vibration was virtually eliminated, it still has some small blips between 1-2k but hardley noticable.

I remember some other folks wanted to know what I found out so here is what worked for me.

Good luck.

 

How did your timming get off like that? I need to check mine, but I don't know how and I don't have a timming gun. Does anyone know if the time can just alter itself after normal driving over the years or is it something that someone has to manualy go in and change.

 

Thanks man, never even considered the timing.

 

IT was off from when the last time the dealer did the timing belt. Then after I did the timing belt I had forgotten to plug the MAF wire harness in and thought I screwed it up cause it wouldnt run right. So I took it to the dealer cause I had to be on the road in 2 days and he plugged that back in for free and checked the timing for me since I had tried to adjust it because I thought that was what was off instead of the wire harness and he said he set it back for me.

But the other day I thought I'd check for grins and it was way off. He had set it wrong. It shouldnt move on its own as far as I know unless the bolt that secures it is loose.