94 Altima problem!

[ek_122003]

Hi everyone,

A friend of mine has a 94 Nissan Altima (automatic transmission).The car wouldn't start today. It cranked and it sounded like the engine was trying to start, but it was as if something just wouldn't connect.

The fuel pump works, however I'm not sure how good it is, but it buzzes when the ignition is ON.

Here is the interesting part: When I pumped the gas pedal while cranking the car it did start and ran after that. However, it began smoking from the engine compartment (we had the hood open) and from the tail pipe. We were not sure as to why and it looked bad so we shut it off.

The car then started fine without any need to press the gas at all. But there is now smoke coming out so we are confused as to why that would be.

The oil looks kind of yellow- brownish.....The coolant level is close to Low but there is coolant in the car.The distributor was recently changed, the plugs are recent, and some of the air intake, airflow parts as well.

My friend said just a couple of days ago the car felt like it was losing power while driving. She would push the gas pedal hard and it just wouldn't go much faster at all....(And there was some strange sound as well)

Then when the car sat overnight, the next mornign it wouldn't start. It wouldn't start until I pumped the gas pedal a few times while cranking it. However, now it smokes from the engine.

We were worried that this is bad so we shut it off. Personally I would have let the car run for a while and maybe the smoke would go away as it runs for a little and warms up but since it's not my car I couldn't do that.

My question is what could this be? And what about the smoke?

Back a few months ago this same car wouldn't start when the gas tank was very close to empty (very close but not completely). It started as soon as we put a can of gas in. It was very cold then (-10 to -20 C)

The car has gas to the Full mark now.I would think the fuel pump is weak or there is some other issue like the fuel pressure regulator, fuel filter or fuel injectors.

But what I don't get is the smoking????? That's what concerns me the most. It was the stinky type smoke coming form some part of the engine compartment. I think a bit of bluish smoke blew out from the tailpipe right when I started it while pumping the gas pedal. The smoke from the engine continued as the car ran for about 30 seconds and we then shut it off, being unsure of what it is.

Any ideas?I would really appreciate some help!

Thank you!

[driftingmy240sx]

almost sounds like a bad head gasket. however with not being present i dont want to condemn an expessive part to replace. the blueish smoke from the tail pipe sounds fuel related. as t what is smoking under the hood it could be anything from a small leak (oil or coolant) to something major. could you see where the smoke under the hood was coming from (like by the xhaust, belts, etc?)?

[3Q Jay]

yes, where is the smoke coming from, and is it immediate on start, or delayed (like something hot enough to 'burn off' a liquid)?

suggest you buy a fuel pressure gage and take readings to verify correct pump/filter operation.

[NM50]

Does the oil look like a milkshake?

[98Altima]

Hi ek_122003,

My 98 Altima (~130K miles now) has almost the same problem as your friend's. Only difference is that I did not notice smoke from the hood. The car drives fine everyday. However, if you let the car idle for one day, it would not start unless you pedal the gas. Once it started, you do not need to pedal gas again next time. I notice something is reflecting light (like water) inside the engine when I was changing spark plugs myself last time. If that is the case, how come water got into the engine? Let me know if you find out something and I will do the same. Thanks!

[driftingmy240sx]

you may not have a problem. you might be seeing fuel. if it is coolant / water the only way for it to get in there is a cracked block or head or a faile head gasket

[98Altima]

Hi,

Thanks for the reply. I brought my car to the garage. The technician said my spark plugs are not the correct type. I will get new ones to see whether it will get better.

[3Q Jay]

many Q45s are killed by inexperienced shops/owners/techs and one interesting subtle cause is use of non-NGK plugs. the altima seems a bit more forgiving, but be wary about what the 'garage' is telling you on your spark plugs.

NGK BKR6E-11 only for you.

[98Altima]

Thanks for the reply. Went to the NAPA store. They sold me NGK BKR5E-11. Online search also gave the same number. Will this work also?

[3Q Jay]

ooooh, fat fingered it---my bad. 5E is correct standard heat range.6E is a colder plug.