'91 keeps stalling, can't find the problem.

[blink0r]

My baby seems to be dying, it's terrible.

Whenever i start her up, she runs ok for a few minutes. After about 5+ minutes of idling, she starts to sputter and the gear shifter shakes pretty violently. Once i start driving, she seems hesitant in the higher rpms (3,000+). Whenever i'm in neutral OR when i put in the clutch, the rpms rise and drop very rapidly and she'll usually stall.

My car used to stall whenever i put the clutch in, and it was a vacuum leak... but this seems to be a bigger problem because of the violent idle.

Any ideas? I can't really afford to take it to a garage to get them to check it out, but i might be able to afford to put her on a scope, but who knows how much that'll cost.

Thanks guys.

[crazeddriver]

Is it running rich at all? Cause if it is then there might be something in the MAFS cause thats what happened to mine it ran rough and it cut out when i puched in the clutch. just take a wrench or something hard and hit the MAFS a few times.. It worked with me.

[leper421]

Did you check the ECU codes?

[PapaSmurf2k3]

check the ECU codes, and if you can check your fuel pressure. It sounds like you could have a bad fuel pump, or some sort of blockage that isnt letting fuel get through.

[blink0r]

How do i do all this? I live on my own and don't really know what i'm doing. I'd rather not take it to a garage to get it checked out.

[vwluv10338]

I am currently working on my honda which had a similar problem. Just something to check but my honda was stalling whenever I put the clutch in because it wiped a thrust bearing and spit them into the oil pan. Therefore, whenever I pushed the clutch in the crank would be forced into the block causing the engine to stall. However, there was no violent idle or hesitation. Just something to think about.

Eric

[racerx]

the symptoms you are describing sound like a bad mass air flow sensor like someone said earlier. Thier is really no way to check it without a scanner. You can try hitting it w/ something(not to hard!) and see if your rpm's get erratic. This can smetimes tell you if it's bad. Kinda like shaking a light bulb. There's a filament in there that can break and make contact intermittently

[PapaSmurf2k3]

There is a way to check ECU codes without a scanner, the 240sx is a self-diagnosing car/computer. You have to remove your passenger side kick panel to get to the computer, and then I forget what to do next (something like flip a switch that puts it into diagnostic mode) and the check engine light will blink, giving you a code number, and then you look up the code number to find out what is up. Someone els please elaborate on this, since ive only done it like 2x on my car

[racerx]

you're absolutely right I completely forgot about that. It's a nice feature on nissan ECUs I've actually never done on the 240 cuz I have a scanner now. Go get a Haynes Manual. I know they suck but they're cheap and will break down how to do it and give you the codes