1997 J30 hard starting need help

[Erfourth]

hello everyone

Just bought myself a 1997 J30 from a close friend of mine. Car has 191,000 miles on it. When we started it up she runs fine and great. but lately I've had problems of the car not wanting to start right up when its sat over night. did some searching and tried the flooded deal and that's what it seems like. I have to have the gas peddle all the way down let it turn over and idle rough till it cleans all the fuel out for about 2 to 3 min. then she runs great can go around town shut it of and start right back up. but if it sits for a while its hard to start. anyone out there able to help point me in the right direction to find out what the problem is and get it fixed. I did pull a code the other night 0400 about the mass flow but now its off and still doing the hard starting.

Thanks again

[yodawill2000]

Sounds like a leaking lower O-ring on one of the injectors.
This can cause hydrolocking so it needs to be addressed QUICKLY !!
Also the fuel will seep past the rings into the oil.
If you try to crank it up with a cylinder full of fuel it will destroy the valves and rod in a heartbeat.
(Hydrolock)
Try pulling the plugs one at a time after about 10 minutes after shut down and see if one smells strongly of fuel.

[Erfourth]

so I should let the car run for about 10 min then pull out each spark plug to see if one smells of gas bad. by any chance dose anyone have a diagram of or a how to, to pull the plugs since I've never worked on one of these types of cars.

[yodawill2000]

Hard to describe without pics but here goes.
The J motor has whats called Coil over ignition, meaning each cylinder has its own Ignition coil.
Forget any American made engine reference you have.
On either side of the engine you will see three coils with two bolts securing them.
(In between the plenum runners)

Remove the two bolts and CAREFULLY pull the coil straight out.
(Wiggling slightly)
Then with a socket extension and preferably a ujoint on the end before the plug socket,
Remove the plug like any other car.
Please keep in mind when you reinstall the plug you are deaing with a aluminum head.
DO NOT over tourqe.

[Erfourth]

Hey yodawill200 just got done with the plugs. a hell of a lot easier then American made engines!! my 01 jimmy is a pain in my a** to replace the plugs!!. So went through all 6 plugs and didn't smell any gas on them. I did notice all the plugs look to have normal wear and so I'm thinking tomorrow I'm going to replace the plugs. do you have any suggestions on good plugs I should use?

[houster2001]

Plugs may not need to be replaced though if you got money to burn why not. the best thing you can do is right next to the plugs is the injectors. Replace all the o-rings and then see about swapping the mass air flow with a salavage one for a test to see if that may be it. But it does seam like a fuel problem maybe the fuel filter or pump. Have a buddy turn the key on while you listen in the trunk for the fuel pump to come on. Or check the pressure at the shrader valve on the fuel rail. that is all I can think to help. For less money you can get a fuel filter. If you do change plugs only use OEM Nissians ONLY!!!

[Erfourth]

I went out to start the car today and it's still acting like its flooded out. I guess I'll need to let it sit longer then 20 min and check all the plugs for gas again. But looking at the plugs they seem to be all warn the same (compared them to the plug chart online) I found a deal on here about replacing the injectors but what you say houster2001 is to take them out and replace the O rings on them. From the post I read it looks like a b**** to just take them out without damaging them. dose anyone know of a easy way to get them out with out busting the crap out of them?

[yodawill2000]

NGK PFR5G-11 are the OEM spec.
Any other plug is known to cause trouble.
They aren't cheap but its worth the price for peace of mind.

sparkplugs.com is a good source

[Erfourth]

So called a buddy of mine today who works at a Nissan dealership as a service manager. he asked around and was told it could maybe be the Cam or Crank Sensor. I'm going to get a fuel pressure test on the car but I wanted to tell you guys it did throw a code 0400. So maybe that'll help pin point the problem. so throw out the ideas to me guys/gals lol

[fourdrinie]

0400 is an EGR problem...
might want to start the car...press the EGR diaphragm and see if it dies out....your tubes may be clogged.

[yodawill2000]

EGR malfunction shouldn't cause a hard to start/flooded issue.
Sounds like you have a few daemons to eliminate.
Clogged tubes in my case caused the check engine light to come on when I got to about 50 MPH.
Easy fix if that's the case.
The tubes usually clog up right where they feed into the intake manifold.
Let me know if that's the case and I'll email you the fix.

[GerryO]

I'd also check things that are supposed to sense or change position corresponding to engine temperature are working properly, as it sounds like something is occasionally sticking in its' "warmed up" position and not returning to its' "cold start" position. IAC/AAC/Air Regulator?

Also check that the throttle plates are closing like they should, and that the TPS output voltage is correct and it's working properly.

A couple of my favorite write-ups:
http://home.swipnet.se/e-solutions/IdleTech.html
http://home.swipnet.se/e-solutions/IdleTech2.html

[Erfourth]

Ok heres a update on the J30. Had taken it to my mechanic shop right by my work. He hooked up the car to a fuel pressure test and kept it overnight to see if its losing pressure. Well the next day no pressure lost and the car started right up. So in looking at the hoses on the fuel pressure regulator I noticed they were dry rotted so I replaced them and also replaced the fuel pressure. Car starts right up after sitting overnight so have no clue what happen but its working good. I'll keep you guys posted and thanks for all the help!

[Amadauss1]

Yoda, trying your suggestions on pulling the plugs and you state carefully pull the coil straight out. I just posted an issue with pulling these coils out. Seem to have problems with getting them out. Tried several with no luck. seems like rubber on bottom is stuck on one side and not moving. Hopefully you will read my post and offer suggestion. Thanks. car has 175,000 and fixing it up for my daughter. Had it brand new, one owner.

[J30_Kidd]

Hmm was the valve on the fuel rails maybe letting the pressure seep out?