3 day old Versa have starting problem already :(

[Special-K]

Been reading forums here for a while before purchasing a Versa. Love the car it's perfect for me, but disappointed that car giving me problems already.

Day 1: after paying 15k d/o from dealership with full tank of gas no problems at all.Day 2: took 1hr drive out of town shopping for stuff with friend and back. Later that night when getting in car to go home took 2 tries to start engine, thought was just cold engine had problems starting up.Day 3: Started up car in morning to go to bank wouldn't start until after 4th try. All day same problem.

Now whenever I park the car for more than 5mins after turning off engine it has the problem of starting up. Can't bring the car into dealership till Friday when I'm off so wondering if you guys can tell me if I did something wrong before then. I haven't touched the engine or anything. Just filled up full tank of gas after the long trip when it was on E. Used mid-grade gas from Shell thinking I didn't want the regular grade because I wanted to keep the car better and supreme is just too much. This car doesn't need premium right? Or is this a common problem?

Anyone know if I can return the car since I only bought it 3 days ago? I'm going to go to another dealership to buy the same car if possible to get my money back. Maybe I got a bad Versa

[Andrews Chalmers]

Buying "higher grade" gasoline doesn't improve the car's condition. The Versa's engine is not designed for higher compression ratios and the higher activation energy found in higher octane gasoline does not do anything to help the engine.

Your problem sounds like a defective fuel pump, which has been a common problem in several Nissan models (whoever is manufacturing the pumps should lose the contract) - in the meantime, instead of cranking four times. Crank once - wait - then crank again.

[srellim234]

Many Versas since they came out in 2007 have had problems with the fuel pressure regulator. You can read a little more about it here:

zerothread?id=369281

Nissan issued an NTB bulletin to the dealers and it is referred to on Nissan's help site. Have the dealer look up NTB07-094 since the problem has been going on for the 2007, 2008 AND 2009 model years. They'll replace the defective part under warranty and you shouldn't have any more problems.

[fjwagner]

amazing that this problem has not been rectified by Nissan. We had that issue a year ago November in our 2008.

[mightyversa]

Buying "higher grade" gasoline doesn't improve the car's condition. The Versa's engine is not designed for higher compression ratios and the higher activation energy found in higher octane gasoline does not do anything to help the engine.

Your problem sounds like a defective fuel pump, which has been a common problem in several Nissan models (whoever is manufacturing the pumps should lose the contract) - in the meantime, instead of cranking four times. Crank once - wait - then crank again.

Yeah Higher Octane Fuel's only carry one extra principle than Regular, its harder to combust!! Some companies might put a bit more addiditive in for a cleaner burn, but thats pretty much the only difference. For the most part it's just a way for the oil companies to give consumers a choice that makes them feel thrifty or superior depending on what your emotional needs are in the gas purchasing area.

You can use it in older cars to stop ping and knocks however!!

[Special-K]

Wow so indeed it's a common problem. I'll make sure and mention that I think it's the fuel pump so they won't be wasting time to guess it's another problem. Until then I will wait crank and pause and crank again till it starts.

Well I admit I had a guilt issue when I was pumping up gas. Always drove mom's car which required premium. Now I know regular all the way!

Thanks everyone!

[1_Sleek_Versa]

Hi!

My Versa SL was brand new and had the same problem. Very long engine strating, if it ever hapenned. lol

The dealer changed the fuel pump and pressure regulator.

Only two more problems to fix; 25 mpg highway gas mileage and not starting at all below -15C.

Good luck with yours.

[Slither]

I-Seek (others) I feel sorry for you/you make me feel guilty...

I've had my V for 2 1/2 years now and its always started 1st time. Never left me stuck anywhere. In all honesty I don't think I've yet had to crank twice.

I heard 20 K let go by Nissan..?

[JimBobWay]

I've taken my 2007 in for the TSB on the regulator. They replaced it and it worked great with the updated and improved model. IT worked great for one month and now it's worst than what it was!

Since I no longer have a warantee on this thing, I'm looking for aftermarket regulators and or pumps. Anybody have ideas on who sells IMPROVED stuff? THere's got to be someone racing these things, or at least riceing them up a bit. So who's got the skinny on fuel supply?

[Special-K]

Took the car in today. Dropped it off in the morning and was given a rental (Saturn Auras are crappy cars). They checked it and said indeed was fuel pressure regulator, but not the fuel pump. They didn't admit it was a common problem, but they had the item in stock and my car was ready after a few hrs of dropping off. Somehow I have a feeling I will be going back to get that fuel pump like you guys said. Hopefully not though.

Loving my V always!

[fjwagner]

Yeah Higher Octane Fuel's only carry one extra principle than Regular, its harder to combust!! Some companies might put a bit more addiditive in for a cleaner burn, but thats pretty much the only difference. For the most part it's just a way for the oil companies to give consumers a choice that makes them feel thrifty or superior depending on what your emotional needs are in the gas purchasing area.

wrong. many car manufacturer's require the higher octane and the cars do run better on them. Other than that, the rest is choice. companies will not make a product if there is no demand. As always, so easy to blame things on the oil companies. PS. There is a reason that higher octane fuel is designed to combust later.

If a low-octane fuel is used in a high-performance engine, it will combust too early because of this extra energy, thus causing preignition.

So extra octane is added to the fuel to keep it from combusting before the opportune time.

[iluvmyVersa08]

Hey,

I bought my Versa in April 2008, and have never had one problem starting it. But if I ever experience that problem it is good to know what it might be. I can't believe though that you experienced the problem when it was only a few days old.

Ash

[razzlerdazzle08]

At work we had a 08 rental that would do that. If you turn the key to acc for atleast 5 seconds turn it back off and turn it back on it should start perfectly. I herd it was regulator then a relay but im going more with regulator. You will not have nothing to worry about once you fix it. Versas are alot of vehicle for the money. Its a common issue.

[jwerty1]

Nissan technician hereIve seen this problem plenty of times, not much since mid 08the fuel pressure regulator was bleeding off fuel pressure when shutoffthere are no problems with the fuel pump, that i've seenthe fuel pressure regulator is mounted on the fuel pump assy and the fuel pump assy needs to be removed to replace the regulator, but so far that i've seen replacement of the regulator fixes the hard start problem

I also own a Versa

also keep in mind the batteries on these cars are kind of weak from the factory and don't like to crank in very low temperatures

My 08 Versa has started everytime except once when it was really cold, I had to crank a 2nd time, but it did start

the battery only has like 410 cca vs. most cars of like 550cca