1991 240sx: having idle problem

[Denko44]

I did some reserch and got a few idea's that should keep me busy for a while. its a ka24de by the way. and when i got the car all was good, but the after a few months idle started to sputter and then car would turn off, i changed the fuel filter and things went back to normal, now the same thing is starting to happen again, sputters and the rpm wont go over 2500-2700, but when the car warms up real good the problem goes away..WEIRD(and my car starts fine). I have a walbro pump that should come in any day now so im gona change the it as soon as i get it, and in the mean time i am planning to try and check the grounds. or maybe there is something wrong with the MAF? So throw some info my way or some links or something, anything would help.

[kaktus]

i think it might be the MAF. my car is now experiencing something like this. idle is really low, about 200-300 rpm. some times it sputter while driving. lucky, my CEL came on and flashed the code of the MAF.

[BamaCracker]

I'm having a similar problem with my s13, except for going dead, I had the same problem with my jetta and it was the MAF, but the one for the jetta was 200 dollars cheaper than the nissan one.

[vancouverbc]

zerothread/253879

[ChickenWyng]

I just had the same problem with my 91 240sx. It was doing the same thing yours was but it eventually got to a point that whenever I would come to a stop it would shut off and not come back on. I changed the filter and pump and that really didn't help even though I think I wore out the pump with the constant trying to turn the car on when it stalled. Anyways I ended up using carb cleaner and using some Lucas Fuel injector and Fuel system cleaner today to clean the fuel line and it runs like a champ. These forums did help out quite a bit and I am very thankful for the wealth of info and help from other forum members.

[vancouverbc]

I just had the same problem with my 91 240sx. It was doing the same thing yours was but it eventually got to a point that whenever I would come to a stop it would shut off and not come back on. I changed the filter and pump and that really didn't help even though I think I wore out the pump with the constant trying to turn the car on when it stalled. Anyways I ended up using carb cleaner and using some Lucas Fuel injector and Fuel system cleaner today to clean the fuel line and it runs like a champ. These forums did help out quite a bit and I am very thankful for the wealth of info and help from other forum members.

what specifically did you do with carb cleaner?

[Denko44]

thanks for great link, and to all of you who responded so quickly, i just got home from work and didnt exept such a response.So should i just replace the maf? or what?

[ChickenWyng]

what specifically did you do with carb cleaner?

I hope I am explaining this right. I removed the hose that connects to the intake manifold where the throttle is. I started the car and my father in-law sprayed the carb cleaner in there while using the throttle to keep the car running. We did this probably about 3-4 times. I think this and the Lucas stuff was what did the trick. I'll know for sure when I get up for work in about 4 hours and see if the car will make it. I ran it for about 7 miles along a road that is 55 mph and it ran just fine without the car stalling out whenever I stopped at a light.

EDIT- Actually you helped me out zer...12677 here. I clicked and searched through the links in your sig to help me out. Guys like you are why I like this site.

[KavG]

Hi im new here, just been researching a bit and found that many 240's do have the same problem mine has got.

So heres the story, i changed my water pump (i dont think this has anything to do with the problem) but then after a week or so the car started dying at stops and had idle problems. I then changed my spark plugs and fuel filter which needed changing. After the fuel filter was changed the car started running fine and everything was normal... after about a month the problem started again but now the car doesnt die.. it just idles around 200-300 at stops and SOMETIMES dies but rarely. NOW there is a bigger problem sometimes when i press on the gas all of a sudden i find im holding down the gas but nothing is happening lol. and then the gas kicks in causing the car to jump a bit and this happens for a bit and then stops.. and sometimes the car just runs fine.. again idles perfect.. really weird situation my car is in haha. anyone have any suggestions.. i have an intake.. 2.5 inch pipe and a muffler, 280kms which to me is kind of a lot.. Also i feel as if ive lost horsepower at the same time.. it just feels like shees dying on me . either i'll fix it if i can or possibly do an sr20 swap but if this problem is going to continue then there is no point of doing the swap. PLEASE HELP!!!!

[Denko44]

ye kinda what my car is going through...sighh... anyways still waiting for the pump, and will check the grounds and maybe ecu tommarow, and kav, trying doing some of the things that the fellas (vancouverbc) mentioned above maybe it will help your babe, i will post a update friday or as soon as i have some timeNISM POWER ROCKS!!

[Denko44]

well i was able to check the grounds i could find today and they all seemed fine, all were 0.3-0.4 on the meter. Atleast i think thats fine cuz i heard as longs as the ohm's are under 2 the grounds are ok, and i FINALLY got my walbro pump today Then my dad told me to get some new spark plugs, so ill try to get both pump+kill switch and spark plugs in tommarow, if that doesnt help then ill replace some of the existing ground wire and maybe add a couple new ones. IF you have some fresh ideas please post

[KavG]

ok so today on my way to work i started the car and everything was kind of okay.. idle was avg.. then the gas thing started, i floor the pedal but nothing happens lol so i had to downshift so theres more gas on higher rpms and then the gas kicks in.. my gas was just above E so i put in like $20 and it came up just above quarter. After that it was fine... car has strange idle but atleast doesnt turn off or do that strange cut off of gas all of a sudden lol.. its the scariest thing.

is my problem the fuel pump? it has to be a gas thing im guessing because as soon as i pumped some gas the car started running better...

let me know what happens after u install the new pump

[Denko44]

It does sound like its the fuel pump thats messed up, Ill probly change the fuel pump today or saturday ill let you know how things go... and umm, check your fuel lines make sure you dont have a leak or something and ur injectors, cuz it sounds like you have something wrong with fuel delivery

[Somers Racing Innovations]

I had the same problem. Its prob the Maf. Fixed mine and no more stalling or searching for idle. First I would take off the AICV and clean it. That could be it to. It is located on the bottom of the intake fight in front of the fire wall.Peter
Modified by Somers Racing Innovations at 3:07 PM 2/29/2008

[jetroy240]

I will try to adjust the idle first, that;s why it's dying at stops, the idle is low sometimes. If the accelerator pedal is sticking, u have to clean the throttle body, probably it's thick w/ carbon deposits. Some stores, they sell throttle body cleaners spray cans. If not, I'd use carb cleaner.

[KavG]

i got carb cleaner.. is there a special way i shud clean the throttle???a quick instruction would be helpfull

[Denko44]

what do you mean by fixing the maf?? kinda a stupid question, but is the a curtain way u clean it or you just replace it

[KavG]

zerothread/254283

[Denko44]

hey thanks for the link
Modified by Denko44 at 12:46 AM 3/2/2008

[KavG]

yea np. Any updates? im kinda stuck now i got my car to work and then back today.. but its running really badit wont let me go over like 2000rpms it just cuts off and makes this bad sound, it must be bad for the engine.... so i need to fix this problem please somebody help..

im going to look at the maf and see what i can do...****ty thing is i dunno any good places i could take my car for them to take a look at around here..

[jetroy240]

seems like u got 2 problems, low idle & no power. I would check first if u have any codes for the hesitation problem, check TPS adjustment, how's ur air filter? check ur exhaust for restriction , probably a plug cat? a bad MAFwill also cause for no power, once u check codes, it will reveal the problem.Check ur fuel pressure, should be approx. 35 psi at idle . To clean the throttle body, simply remove the air duct at the throttle body, spray the butterfly w/ carb cleaner while opening & closing it by hand, wipe the soaked carbon deposits w/ a rag.

[KavG]

ive been spending hours on this site researching. its really got some great info. this makes a lot of sense.

If anyone has any kind of problem with hesitation around 2700 rpm, running rich, lack of power, having trouble getting hp out of higher rpm's or unstable idle (shaking) READ THIS:

thats whats happening to my car... and also i had to disconnect my subs cause they were pounding on their own.. lol without going with the beat.does that mean i have a bad ground...

im not an expert on cars but i know some stuff.. i'll go see what i can do but any input would be great thanks.

[Denko44]

well i wont be able to change the fuel pump till wendsday, but tomarrow ill try clean maf and add a couple more grounds from the engine to the firewall

[XxXnissanXxX]

When you clean the maf take it off lay it down on paper towel and use the special maf cleaner stuff you can get from pepboys or whatever DON'T USE CARB CLEANER OR THROTTLE CLEANER....

That stuff is to strong and will remove a thin film off your hotwire on the maf causing it to be bad anyways..

Clean your throttle body, your maf and then run a top end engine cleaner through one of your vacuum lines to clean out all your valves and stuff, also put in a good fuel cleaner.

then see where your at after this..

[Denko44]

cool thanks, ill try that

[KavG]

right now im real happy. i just hooked up 3 ground wires and the car runs amazing!!!!i would have never guessed it was the ground wire. i suggest everyoneadds a couple here and there just to improve the over all performance.thanks to everyoneespecially azhitman

zerothread/159907

[Denko44]

Hey Congrats man!! post here in a couple off days with a update and tell us how things are going with the car?? as soon as i get a freakin torch then ill add some grounds myself. And i replaced my spark plugs today and that did nothing to help my problem...lol but atleast i wont have to worry about them for a while, and checked my injectors and they are fine so then i took off my MAF and things got really ****ty...lol the car got ALOT worse so i think that the maf is fine but ill clean it anyways

[Denko44]

so i added a ONE ground my self and my probs went away for now.. and ill probly add another one tommarow.. just to make sure all is good

[KavG]

NICE!

good stuff

i still have a little idle problem but its not bothering me.. just burning a bit rich might think its o2 sensor. will change before aircare..

[Denko44]

well those grounds that i added did not help... well heres a vid to better explain whats happening to my car, this was before i cleaned the maf and throttle bodyhttp://youtube.com/watch?v=A1gL0aQHZIs
Modified by Denko44 at 9:23 AM 3/25/2008