Odd hesitation/bucking problem. Fuel pump...filter?

[michelangelo]

2003 Nissan Quest with 108k miles.

On very infrequent occasions it will buck, hesitate and act like it doesn't want to accelerate or shift the transmission. This is accompanies by the temp gauge dropping from normal running temp bars (middle of gauge) to only 1 bar on the gauge! This bucking and temp gauge oddity go together and after a few seconds it will clear itself out, run normal and the gauge will return to normal operating temperature.

My wife seemed to think it was a transmission problem. I'm leaning more towards a fuel pump or fuel filter issue. What do you think?

[Kompresshun]

Has the check engine light come on at all? I think it's pretty safe to rule out the transmission, but the fuel pump/filter could be a possible issue. The only thing that seems confusing to me is the temperature gauge dropping, which could mean you may also have a bad thermostat or coolant temperature sensor.

[michelangelo]

negative on the engine light.

I'm thinking I"ll replace fuel filter since it's cheap and relatively easy? I"m hoping it's easy. Any advice on doing that? I hear it's in the right side firewall area, looking at the van?

[michelangelo]

Can anyone confirm location of the fuel filter on this 2004 Quest? Checker autoparts told me it was inside the tank. For some reason I thought it was on the front firewall.

[Joe84]

thats where it is on my 94. not sure about the newer ones though.

[ricebike]

welcome mike... did you get AZhitman's link to the online FSM?

for this 2004 quest model, the fuel filter is integral part of the fuel pump itself... shouldn't be a maintenance item to change it out

dunno why they change the design like that... ugh! i like my filters on the outside as previously stated so i can change it out at least every 2 years

reference: the pdf file see page FL-4 item 2

http://www.nicoclub.com/FSM/quest/2004_Quest/fl.pdf

just don't let your tank go empty

edit: you said you have a 2003 model??? it's either 2002, which has a fuel filter outside of the tank (underneath the vehicle by the parking brake cable) or 2004, which is the reply i posted

[JohnVT]

did this problem get fixed?? was it the fuel pump and/or filter? or something else?
my 2009 Rogue is doing this now. The dealer changed the strut mounts, and the spark plugs. I changed the PCV valve... I need ideas for a solution! thanks.

[JohnVT]

What else can cause this? i guess I'll clean the MAF, maybe throttle body?? Has anyone used Sea Foam on this engine? does it work? or make it worse? Canthe o2 sensor cause this? Or the fuel pump. is it possible to service the fuel pump? that is, check it, clean the filter?
thanks for any ideas!

[JohnVT]

I've seen multiple threads about this problem, but I don't see any response about resolving it. Has anyone resolved the problem? What did you do? thanks