87 sentra : E16I Sentra strating issues

[DeathBy240SX]

I just bought an 1987 Sentra with the carbed E16I engine. When I test drove it, I boosted it and it started and ran fine. I went to pick it up and I boosted it, ran OK but the idle was surging a bit and then fell to around 500 rpms. I kept my foot on the gas a bit, as I thought it might just be the battery losing power so I tried to keep the idle higher.

I got it to a gas station put $20 in and put in a half litre of oil as it was a bit low. I didnt turn it off as I didnt want to have to boost it again. Just as I was about to leave the car died.

We tried for about an hour to get it started again, push starting it, putting gas in the carb, and boosting it. It caught a few times but it idled very high then died out after a few seconds.

I went back the next day and put a new battery in. It will turn over now but wont catch at all. I'm assuming it has no spark as we put gas in the carb again and it changed nothing.

So where should I start? I have already replaced the spark plugs as they needed to be anyway.

Should I got a new distrubutor and plug wires? Or does it sound more like a timing problem?

The timing belt was apparantly replaced last year and the car was parked a short time later. The seller maintains it is because of stale gas, but I know that isnt the case.

I only paid $300 for the car, so I am not going to take it in to a dealer or anything.

Another question, do repair manuals usually include the procedure to pull the codes off the ECU? I havent been able to find any info about that online.

Thanks!

[NISTECH]

You pull the codes by flipping a switch in the ECM. It is located under the seat. But first start by cranking it and checking for spark at the plug wires, if none then check for spark at the cap. If those check ok you need to determine if the carb has fuel and is dispersing it. There is a site glass on the passenger side of the carb. The fuel should be in the middle of that. Be aware if you find the carb is bad and cant be rebuilt nissan doesnt have any more as I used the last one in the country yesterday .

Seriously did though.

[DeathBy240SX]

I pulled the ECM out but I didnt notice a switch on it anywhere. I'll check it out again tomorrow.

How do I check for spark at the cap? Multimeter? If no spark there is it likely to be the ignition coil?

For the spark plug wires, I know the firing order goes 1,3,2,4. I put the #1 wire on the top right plug on the distributer, 3 on the top right, 2 on the bottom right and 4 on the bottom left.. I think. That is when you are looking at the top off the dist cap. Is that correct?

[NISTECH]

firing order is wrong , its 1342. To check for spark at the cap you just pull the coil wire off and see if it archs to ground.

[DeathBy240SX]

I had the firing order correct, I am just wasnt thinking when I was typing.

Anyway, tested for spark at the cap like you said, nothing. It wouldn't arc.

I picked up a coil from the wrecker and that didnt help either. Still wont start.

I tested both the ignition fuses and they are fine. What else should I check?

Also, the piping that runs from the intake tubing down to the exhaust manifold is cracked and falling right apart. No seal at all. Will this cause problems? It goes from the exhaust manifold up to the plastic intake tubing and into a little valve.

There is also one vacuum line that leads to nowhere. If you are looking down at the air filter from the front of the car it is coming out of the bottom of the filter pan at around 7 or 8 oclock. Any idea where that should go?

Thanks in advance.

[NISTECH]

The hose on the front is your PAIR hose. It will have 0 effect on drivability. It is for emissions only. The hose coming out of your air cleaner is a drain. It hooks to nothing. Well if your not getting spark it is either the ECM [ not very likely though] or it could be your crank angle sensor in the distributor.

[DeathBy240SX]

Is there any way to test an ignition coil?

To replace the crank angle sensor do I need to replace the whole distributor?

Are there any other ignition components (module?) that it could be?

Thanks again for all your help!

[Nismo_Freak]

SR20VE time

[NISTECH]

Is there any way to test an ignition coil?

Yes you can check its resistance and see if its within spec. I do not know the specs off the top of my head. If you have a manual it will list those specs.

To replace the crank angle sensor do I need to replace the whole distributor?

Yes

Are there any other ignition components (module?) that it could be?

Yes , ignition module [trigger unit]

[DeathBy240SX]

So where is this mysterious ignition module?

[NISTECH]

Dont know that off the top of my head , can look at the one at the shop tomorrow and get back to you.

[DeathBy240SX]

After looking, I am assuming its the thing pretty much attached to the coil??

[NISTECH]

Yea it can be attached to the coil. On some of the cars it was on the fire wall so I didnt want to send you looking all over for it..lol Its pretty small.

[DeathBy240SX]

I tried pulling codes off of it today., but the sheet I have says the cars needs to be running to pull codes. I tried to start it, turn it over and set the dial on the ECU to diagnosis mode. I got nothing.

I also replaced the distributor. I pulled the rotor off, but the new rotor I bought doesnt fit on, the stem is too wide. Is this the wrong dist.? It fits in the same, but still wont start.

[NISTECH]

It could be the wrong one. There were options on some of the nissans ,either mitsubishi or hitachi distributor.

[DeathBy240SX]

Will a Mitsu distrubutor work on a car that came with a hitachi stock? Or vice versa?

[NISTECH]

I dont think so , I have never tried but when I have replaced the whole units in service I have always been asked which one I needed by the parts guys. So the assumtion is made they wont work.

[DeathBy240SX]

New distributor. No spark.

I did a bit more research and people complained about bad starter motors. Is that a possibility even though it is still turning over?

[NISTECH]

A starter will not eliminate spark. This is starting to look like ECM. Do you know anyone with a DSO to check signal pulse to the trig from the ECM or even signal pulse from the crank angle sensor to the ECM?

I gotta ask though as I didnt before. Your car doesnt have any aftermarket alarm equipment on it does it?