2001 Pathfinder Stalled Right After Start Up

[Sir_Belamy]

Almost a proud new owner of a used 2001 Nissan Pathfinder LE 162K. Running great for about 2 days. Then today I take a drive for about 25K and have to take the keys out of the ignition to open a gate. I try starting it up and then boggs down imediately. Try again and same thing...(now I'm pissed.) So I go inside call a tow truck...guy arrives and hour later...try again and it starts.

I call the dealer and he asks what kind of gas did I put in ....well 87 Octane from Shell...and he claims that is likely my problem.

Drove the car home put in my driveway and drove out with a gerry can and bought 25 litres of Sunoco 91 and put in some gas line antifreeze (It was about -12C today.)and so far so good.

O.K no more bad gas but I thought that lower Octane would just affect performance...not cause it to fail?

My fear is that this is going to be an intermittent problem. Any ideas on what to look for would be greatly appreciated.

[nissandoms47]

maybe it just being so cold outside. before starting it, turn it to the ACC position, you should hear kind of a whine/buzzing noise, thats the fuel pump pressurizing the line. i think maybe it was just laking a but of fuel there for a second.

[Sir_Belamy]

I don't think it was the the cold because it was much milder today (about -3C) and it did it again.

This time I was at Costco getting an oil change and when the tech drove it out to the parking lot he turned the ignition off and handed me the keys. I got in the truck and on the first start attempt it bogged down like it did previously....I gave it about 10 seconds and this time around it started normally on the second try.

It seems to occur following simultaneous engine starts ie. within a few minutes.

It sounds like the engine is flooding...any ideas on why this is happening????

No check engine lights or anything....has anyone seen this before?

[Sir_Belamy]

I also do not hear anything at all when I turn the key to the ACC position....does this mean no pressurization is occuring???...if this is my problem, wouldn't the truck never start at all?

[nissandoms47]

are you inside when you turn the key to ACC? if not open the door and get in a fairly quiet place and listen. it does it on my 96 r50 i figured it would be the same. im assuming the same fuel pump and what not.

[Sir_Belamy]

There is no noise whatsoever...

It does sound like something having to do with the fuel pressurization...I am going to start by replacing the fuel filter and getting a fuel pressurization test done.

Could also be low battery ....maybe not enough there is not enough charge when re-starting immediately for the fuel pump to pressurize... I suppose so I will get that checked too and take it from there.

Anything else I should be checking?

[nissandoms47]

what kind of oil did you have put in it? and what was the temperature of the engine when you started it and it was having these problems?

[Sir_Belamy]

5 W 30 and it the temperature was below the mid range of the temperature indicator.

[nissandoms47]

humm i dunno. change that fuel filter and see what happens.