97 Pathfinder. PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[4mulasvaliant]

Hey guys Im new to the site, and mainly here because I need some help. I have always been an old school muscle car guy so all the sensors and stuff on this thing have me scratching my head trying to figure out whats wrong with my wifes truck.

Its a 97 pathfinder 3.3 ltr 4x4

When I started it after leaving the mall the other day it idled rough so I shut it off and restarted it. I was able to get about 5 minutes before it just died. I was still rolling and put it in nuetral and restarted it. As soon as I put it back in gear it would die. It did this atleast 5 times within half a block. I got to my destination which was just around the corner from where I had all these issues and it died again.I was able to get it to start again, but if I hit the gas rapidly it would die. If I brought the RPMs up slowly it would run all the way up to 5-6000 rpms.If I brought it up slowly to say 4000 then hit the gas quickly it wouldnt die but would hesitate real quick then rev up. Also if I put it in gear (put a load on it) it would die also.

So here is what my thoughts were and what I have done already with no luck.1st I thought it was acting like it was starving for fuel, so I changed the filter. Didnt work!2nd Checked cap and rotor and replaced because of carbon tracks. No solution there either.3rd Checked spark and it is blue and seems OK.4th Replace the fuel pump thinking it had only enough pressure to sustain idleing. No fix there either!5th I used the Haynes Book I have to check all the ignition system (primary and secondary igniton systems etc.) and all checked OK.6th I have had the Left rear O2 sesor for a while now so I put that in today. Still nothing. I didnt think that was the problem but figured it needed to be replaced any how.

So here is what I will check next. I have the battery charging tonight and I am going to attempt to get to the Crank Positioning Sensor tomorrow. After that I will have exausted all of my ideas.

At this point Imgetting desperate. Please buys if there is someone who has an idea fill me in! Thx guys Ill be checking this periodically tonight and in the morning aswell. Donnie

Modified by 4mulasvaliant at 6:58 PM 12/27/2007

Modified by 4mulasvaliant at 7:11 PM 12/28/2007

Modified by 4mulasvaliant at 7:20 PM 12/28/2007
Modified by 4mulasvaliant at 6:32 PM 12/30/2007

[4mulasvaliant]

No one knows? please guys I need to get this figured out. The other half is growing impatient! lol

[SnowSurfLax]

Wow. I'd say that's just a big

Are you getting an SES light? I'd pull the codes and find out what they are. (they're stickied in this forum so you can find out what they mean).

You replaced the dizzy, but how's the timing? Maybe you're having some issues with the injectors.

I think at this point you should find a mechanic you trust. It'd probably be cheaper in the long run rather than trying to replace the thing piece by piece.

Hope that helps!

[88pathoffroad]

1. Pull ECU error codes. Troubleshoot as needed.

2. Clean the MAF sensor.

3. Clean the throttlebody.

All easily done and a common source of some driveability problems.

[4mulasvaliant]

Turns out it was the coil! It was shooting the spark out the side of the housing that goes up to the cap. Never would have seen it if I hadnt been checking the cam sensor. I had the ignition on and was spinning the rotor and a spark came out the side and grounded to the dist housing. There is an actuall hole. It has apparently been doing it for a while now, but just got bad enough to stop running. It explains why no code was popped, and why it would occasionally start.

Thx for all your input guys. Later.