200SX vacuum advance

[YellowPreludeR]

i was wondering about something. My car will not go faster than 85 mph because of some unknown source. I seems that when i reach past about 4200rpm different for every gear 1st gear i can go higher and 5th gear is less RPM ~4000 it seems to stop accelerating. The car sounds either like the timing might be off or the valves arent opening and closing fast enough. There is no rev limiter and i can hold in the clutch and rev to 5/6000 RPM easily but i cant actually go that high when in a gear. The car runs great just after those specific RPM spots, the engine makes a sound as if it dosent want to go any faster. Any suggestions would help. i.e. timing....springs...ect. check my other topics about 200SX stuff. Thanks-Alex Ruc-

[YellowPreludeR]

any suggestions?

[YellowPreludeR]

the guys at the nissan dealership are being no help cause all they want is my money and im still stuck with this problem. anyone with some experience who might know can just throw something out and ill try it. lemme know. thanks.

[themadscientist]

Dealerships suck. I haven't worked on a CA SOHC in a while but one thing I remember about them is the twin plugs and the double-race distributor cap. These engines will run as long as one of the two plugs are firing, I'm betting you are running on the exhuast plugs only. Just a shot in the dark sight unseen but I have seen two CA18i engines with crusty tore up caps doing just what you describe. I would do a cap and rotor change if you have not already with a new set of plugs then reset the timing and idle speed(I responded to you timing post). If that does not fix it I would change the fuel filter, it could be leaning out due to a clogged filter but my $.02 is the cap and rotor are crusty.

[YellowPreludeR]

how do i go about cleaning out the fuel filter? where is it exactly located? im still waiting on my manual to be shipped to my house so im relying on you super smart people (i mean that seriously) to help me out. Is it located under the back seat or in the trunk?

[themadscientist]

You can't clean the filter, just replace it. I have wrenched on a 200SX once and it wasn't the fuel filter I was working on. Find your fuel rail and injectors, follow the supply line to the filter. It should be on the strut tower or firewall.

[Nathan]

Your thinking of a fuel pump...the fuel filter is where TMS said it will be and it looks like a canister that has a fuel line going in one end and out the other.

[YellowPreludeR]

read my first post. I dont think it is the fuel pump or filter. It just seems to be stopping after a certain RPM like i said. i dont think its the spark plugs even though i just broke one in my engine and spent an hour trying to ghetto rig it out. I dont know why it would do that. Try and think of whaat else it could be and lemm know. Im hinting more on the timing but i havent started with that yet. Lemme know cause i got another post about thee timing that i need to know. Read it and tell me where i need to go on the timing mark to get it where i need to go. Is maybe the vacuum advanve screwing up?

[YellowPreludeR]

any other suggestions

[themadscientist]

I'm betting you are running on the exhuast plugs only. Just a shot in the dark sight unseen but I have seen two CA18i engines with crusty tore up caps doing just what you describe. my $.02 is the cap and rotor are crusty.

what that guy said.

[YellowPreludeR]

ill play around with the cap and get a new one or something tomorrow thanks

[themadscientist]

Take it off and look at it before you buy one, them goobers is spensive! if it's all crusty and corroded in there I would recommend replacing the cap and rotor.

[YellowPreludeR]

um...what am i looking for exactly? when does it turn to the pont where i need to buy a new one? can i scrub that crap off and re-use it?

[themadscientist]

if there is deep chalky buildup on the contacts inside the cap it's done. DO NOT scrape it off, if you do you will increase the gap between the rotor and the contact and the car will likely not run at all. If it looks as bad as i expect it will just carefully put it back on and limp it to the store for a new one.

[YellowPreludeR]

ill just go to the junk yard, they got a 200 with like 80K miles on it. engine also looks clean. If anyone needs another CA20E or CA18DET engine block or other parts from one, lemme know. Do i just need a new cap or other parts?

[themadscientist]

why would you buy another engine? do you want it or do you think you need it? If the cap is crap you need to by a new distributor cap and rotor.

[YellowPreludeR]

ye ill go to the junkyard and get one and see if its a good condition...if not ill just buy a new one. im saying of people need parts to buy....from a 200SX 85 i have one that i can get parts and sell.

[themadscientist]

Caps are not something you salvage off a junk engine, if you need one buy it new.

[YellowPreludeR]

price of a new one? approxametly?

[themadscientist]

about $50.00 here but I'm 3000 miles from Pep Boys.

[YellowPreludeR]

we will see tomorowmorning i gotta get 8 new sparkplugs. its that time of the cars life when new spark is due.