My 2000 qx4 quit while driving at 45mph today. It first sputtered a bit and after a few seconds, sputtered again and then just quit.
I am wondering what the heck it could be. It was driving great until now.
A few points though.
We got this in Nov of last year and the condition while buying it was that the dealer would replace the timing belt and the water pump. The Q had 125k miles. They agreed and and I bought the vehicle. It drove great. After a week, when they got the parts, they asked me to come in and drop the truck off and I did. The next day, they call me to let me know that they would have to change all the belts as they were worn and bad. I asked them to go ahead and it cost me close to $100 for just the parts (belts). Since then, theres been this squealing noise at startup and the dealership's mechanic kept telling me that since the belts are new, they would squeal a little at startup and he tightened them up and said its no biggie and asked me to bring it back in when it happened again. i did it twice and then decided to just live with it. It squeals for a second or two sometimes at startup but I didnt worry about it. I did post here about it too.
So is it that the timing belt failed? Or a distributor cap/rotor issue? Or fuel filter/pump issue?
What do you guys think. Please let me know.
Thanks for the help.
200 QX4....quit while driving...
Re: 200 QX4....quit while driving...
I was also wondering, if there is a scannner I could buy to check for any codes. A reasonably good one as I also have an 02 and it could be useful. Basically if there is any specific model and where I could get it the quickest. Something around $200 is possible?
This is what I have in mind with my limited knowledge.
1) Timing belt
2) Distributor cap/rotor
3) Fuel filter, pump.
3) Crank, cam sensors?
4) MAF??
5) Any other sensor or a starter issue?
Thanks for the help.
This is what I have in mind with my limited knowledge.
1) Timing belt
2) Distributor cap/rotor
3) Fuel filter, pump.
3) Crank, cam sensors?
4) MAF??
5) Any other sensor or a starter issue?
Thanks for the help.
Re: 200 QX4....quit while driving...
Yeah the belts squealing is normal for new belts, since they stretch. They need to be tightened.
For the code, i'd definitely check it. A basic $80 scanner will get the job done (check and erase code), while $200 ones show you all the little details (what RPM you were at when the light was triggered, what the water temp was, what % throttle you were giving it, etc etc) You can get an OBD2 scanner at any auto parts store.
What happens when you try to turn it on? Does it fire up at all? Or does it just crank and crank?
For the code, i'd definitely check it. A basic $80 scanner will get the job done (check and erase code), while $200 ones show you all the little details (what RPM you were at when the light was triggered, what the water temp was, what % throttle you were giving it, etc etc) You can get an OBD2 scanner at any auto parts store.
What happens when you try to turn it on? Does it fire up at all? Or does it just crank and crank?
Re: 200 QX4....quit while driving...
Thanks for the reply. I think I ill pick up the $80 scanner today.
It doesnt fire up at all. It just cranks and cranks. But sometimes, its like it almost starts at the exact point when the key is turned back off. Almost. For a split second. Could it be a fuel issue?
But to define the problem, it only cranks but doesnt start.
Under the hood, I removed the oil cap and looked to see if I could see the rocker arm?? Theres this shaft (?) in there which is visible which I am assuming is the rocker shaft. When I crank the engine, this shaft doesnt seem to turn. The pulleys do but this shaft does not. Does this point to a failed timing belt?
This belt is supposed to be brand new. Not even 5k miles old.
It doesnt fire up at all. It just cranks and cranks. But sometimes, its like it almost starts at the exact point when the key is turned back off. Almost. For a split second. Could it be a fuel issue?
But to define the problem, it only cranks but doesnt start.
Under the hood, I removed the oil cap and looked to see if I could see the rocker arm?? Theres this shaft (?) in there which is visible which I am assuming is the rocker shaft. When I crank the engine, this shaft doesnt seem to turn. The pulleys do but this shaft does not. Does this point to a failed timing belt?
This belt is supposed to be brand new. Not even 5k miles old.
Re: 200 QX4....quit while driving...
I was in a blazer once, and the fuel pump went bad, but after letting it sit for a few minutes, it was drivable again and turned over/started right up and then shut off after a few more miles... we we able to drive it to the mechanic to get it fixed so its possible your problem is not the fuel pump
Re: 200 QX4....quit while driving...
Hmmm...did a few things this morning when my mechanic buddy came over. We were looking for four things. CODES, COMPRESSION, SPARK and FUEL.
1) CODES: I picked up a cheap $50 scanner yesterday and checked for any codes. There were none. 0 Codes.
2) SPARK: Removed a plug wire and checked for a spark while cranking. There was none. Removed the dist. cap well and there was no spark.
3) The rotor was turning during cranking and hence he stated that the timing belt was fine. He said that he was sure that the dist. rotor would not turn if the timing belt has failed.
4) COMPRESSION: He removed the no #1 plug and wire and barely stuffed some 'toilet paper' in there while I was watching cluelessly. He cranked again a few times and the tissue just blew off into the air. He stated that the compression is good and hence the timing belt is fine. Also stated that the rocker shaft was turning during cranking and one could feel it turn with his screwdriver.
5) FUEL: Poured some gas through the throttle body and tried to crank the engine. It would not. Hence, a possibility that its a spark/ ignition issue.
I was thanking the valve gods and thinking about running down to the nearest autozone and grabbing a dist. (dist rotor and cap assy for $288) and be done with, when he stated that the timing was off. He pointed out the location on the dist. where the spark for the no#1 plug wire should occur and explained that the that center of the rotor should be aligned precisely with the point where the spark occurs and in this case it wasnt. It was off by a 3-5 degrees around maybe.
So he said that we would have to open everything up and look at the timing belt and see if any teeth have gone bad and why the timing is off.
I was wondering what you guys think about this. Sound about right? Is everything he said correct? Shouldn't I simply go ahead and buy a new dist rotor/cap assy and while at it, plugs and wires as they are due anyway before opening up? Is he correct about the timing being off?
I had the timing belt(gates) put on by the dealer before I got the vehicle in dec 1st week at 125k miles. Atleast theres a sticker in there under the hood which says they did. The vehicle now has 130k miles. Seems too early to fail and be off timing. Maybe they didnt do a good job.
Any help/input would be appreciated.
1) CODES: I picked up a cheap $50 scanner yesterday and checked for any codes. There were none. 0 Codes.
2) SPARK: Removed a plug wire and checked for a spark while cranking. There was none. Removed the dist. cap well and there was no spark.
3) The rotor was turning during cranking and hence he stated that the timing belt was fine. He said that he was sure that the dist. rotor would not turn if the timing belt has failed.
4) COMPRESSION: He removed the no #1 plug and wire and barely stuffed some 'toilet paper' in there while I was watching cluelessly. He cranked again a few times and the tissue just blew off into the air. He stated that the compression is good and hence the timing belt is fine. Also stated that the rocker shaft was turning during cranking and one could feel it turn with his screwdriver.
5) FUEL: Poured some gas through the throttle body and tried to crank the engine. It would not. Hence, a possibility that its a spark/ ignition issue.
I was thanking the valve gods and thinking about running down to the nearest autozone and grabbing a dist. (dist rotor and cap assy for $288) and be done with, when he stated that the timing was off. He pointed out the location on the dist. where the spark for the no#1 plug wire should occur and explained that the that center of the rotor should be aligned precisely with the point where the spark occurs and in this case it wasnt. It was off by a 3-5 degrees around maybe.
So he said that we would have to open everything up and look at the timing belt and see if any teeth have gone bad and why the timing is off.
I was wondering what you guys think about this. Sound about right? Is everything he said correct? Shouldn't I simply go ahead and buy a new dist rotor/cap assy and while at it, plugs and wires as they are due anyway before opening up? Is he correct about the timing being off?
I had the timing belt(gates) put on by the dealer before I got the vehicle in dec 1st week at 125k miles. Atleast theres a sticker in there under the hood which says they did. The vehicle now has 130k miles. Seems too early to fail and be off timing. Maybe they didnt do a good job.
Any help/input would be appreciated.
Re: 200 QX4....quit while driving...
Anybody?
I was wondering about the distributor. Do I need to get a whole distributor assembly or just the cap and rotor? If I get the whole assy, whats the procedure for R&R so as to not mess up the timing?
Any other diagnostic tips or methods that guys could let me know? I just dont want to open everything up if its only an ignition issue.
Thanks for the help.
I was wondering about the distributor. Do I need to get a whole distributor assembly or just the cap and rotor? If I get the whole assy, whats the procedure for R&R so as to not mess up the timing?
Any other diagnostic tips or methods that guys could let me know? I just dont want to open everything up if its only an ignition issue.
Thanks for the help.
Re: 200 QX4....quit while driving...
Anybody??
http://www.flickr.com/photos/raghu_66/4601689467/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/raghu_66/4601689463/
The above is the pic of my dist. rotor. I am being told that the center (axis) of the rotor as marked by the yellow line, is not precisely aligned with the index point, marked by the orange circle, where the spark jumps/carries on to and through the plug wires. And that this has happened because the timing belt has jumped a few teeth and hence the timing is off and hence theres no spark?? Better this than the timing belt breaking.
Does that diagnosis seem correct?
I really need some help here guys. I have no clue how to proceed as I am a novice and learning. Does the misalignment of the rotor got anything to do with timing advance? Or is it cause of incorrect timing due to broken teeth on the belt?
I am wondering if I should start with the cap and rotor or the whole dist. assembly or take it shop to have the timing belt looked at and replaced(?).
Any help would be appreciated.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/raghu_66/4601689467/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/raghu_66/4601689463/
The above is the pic of my dist. rotor. I am being told that the center (axis) of the rotor as marked by the yellow line, is not precisely aligned with the index point, marked by the orange circle, where the spark jumps/carries on to and through the plug wires. And that this has happened because the timing belt has jumped a few teeth and hence the timing is off and hence theres no spark?? Better this than the timing belt breaking.
Does that diagnosis seem correct?
I really need some help here guys. I have no clue how to proceed as I am a novice and learning. Does the misalignment of the rotor got anything to do with timing advance? Or is it cause of incorrect timing due to broken teeth on the belt?
I am wondering if I should start with the cap and rotor or the whole dist. assembly or take it shop to have the timing belt looked at and replaced(?).
Any help would be appreciated.
Re: 200 QX4....quit while driving...
I'm not sure how you adjust the timing on our pathys and q's but couldn't you adjust the timing. If you could adjust the timing then if it's the belt it will pull it's self back out of time and that would answer the question. I'm not sure if this is possible but someone else may be able to clarify this for you.
Re: 200 QX4....quit while driving...
Thanks for the reply.
I am not sure how to adjust the timing. I dont even know what tools are required or the HOW-TO.
Theoretically, all I can think of is rotate the crank until the piston in #1 reaches TDC and then see if the rotor is aligned correctly with the 'index point' where the sparks occurs. In this way, if the rotor is off, then it could indicate that the timing is off. Then again, the timing is obviously a few degrees before TDC. I dont know by how much and how to check that and what are the tools available etc.
Also, I am not sure how to troubleshoot the entire ignition system which is what I want to do before opening up to look at the timing belt. Any tips, advice?
Appreciate your help.
I am not sure how to adjust the timing. I dont even know what tools are required or the HOW-TO.
Theoretically, all I can think of is rotate the crank until the piston in #1 reaches TDC and then see if the rotor is aligned correctly with the 'index point' where the sparks occurs. In this way, if the rotor is off, then it could indicate that the timing is off. Then again, the timing is obviously a few degrees before TDC. I dont know by how much and how to check that and what are the tools available etc.
Also, I am not sure how to troubleshoot the entire ignition system which is what I want to do before opening up to look at the timing belt. Any tips, advice?
Appreciate your help.