car idle surges and drops power when shifting

[cam3]

So I parked at my friends and when I went to leave my car would turn over but wouldn't start. I left the ignition on to restart the security system and it started rough and died, turned it over again and had to rev it up jus to keep it running. After I left and started driving it would drop rpms like it was going to die when I would shift and step back on the gas. When I got cruising I tried stomping on it and it felt like it was going to stall at first then would grab and slowly pick up speed. It has no pick up behind it. When I would push in the clutch at stops it would idle up and down between 1000 and 2000 rpm. I'm guessing this is not a security system issue, thinking maybe a computer issue or possibly fuel pump problem?

I just remembered it has been acting a little funny every once in awhile the past couple weeks after starting it. I could tell the exhaust didn't sound right, it sounded a little laggy and sorta rumbled weird ig lol. It would do it completely random and usually stop after warming up. It had the stuttering sounding exhaust and no power when it would decide to act up. But nothing compared to how bad it it is now.. and the rough idle and it not wanting to start just now came into play after a couple weeks of it doing this.

PLEASE HELP! I tried explaining the best I could!

[NolimitZ32]

DO you have a CEL? If so check the codes. Sounds like a A/F issue, possibly O2. Really without having codes you will have to check inputs and outputs on all air induction, exhaust, and fuel components.

[cam3]

It's a OBD 1 plug right? I only have a OBD 2 reader :/

I went out and tried to start it today and its back to just cranking and won't fire up..

[t.mcginley.jr]

You don't need to plug anything in to read OBD1 error codes. It takes all of 5 minutes, you just need a screw driver really:

http://www.nicoclub.com/archives/nissan ... ostic.html

[cam3]

I just ran the ecu test and it says no malfunctions. Must be a problem with getting spark? I can hear the fuel pump kick on when I turn the key so it has to be getting gas just no spark or maybe not enough air?

[cam3]

I'm wondering if maybe my timing belt slipped a tooth? Would that cause it to run like that? I can't get it to start at all now, just the one time and now it's just cranking without actually firing..

[NolimitZ32]

Perhaps, I've never had the belt slip on me (knock on wood) so not much experience with troubleshooting that.

[cam3]

Idk what it is but I went out and out started right up with no problems today. Running like normal but I'm still leery on actually driving it and it not wanting to start again.

[solaire]

Almost sounds like a MAF sensor reading incorrectly. It won't throw a CEL because it's within specs but it won't be reading right for conditions causing lack of power, stumble etc. Most of the issues worse under load. Coming and going like that maybe PTU connections or the PTU itself? CAS acting up will throw codes. Have you checked plugs yet to see if any are fouled or anything?

[cam3]

Yeah I just changed all the plugs the other day and some of them were really dirty and even the coilovers were really dirty besides the back two by the firewall. And I've been driving it the past week now. I'll go out in the morning and it'll start right up no problem I'll go for a drive or run errands and it runs fine. I don't shut it off unless I'm home tho because it's still randomly just not starting after a drive. Sometimes it will sometimes it won't.. it's really getting annoying too when it's getting so nice out and I can't even enjoy the t-tops :/

[cam3]

I checked the fuel pump too by popping off the hose after the fuel filter and it seemed to have pretty decent flow out the hose so I figure it's got good fuel pressure. I saw some other guy said it was his ignition coil relay on another post so I swapped my relay with the a/c relay and it didn't change anything. Ig I could check the spark and make sure it's getting spark on all cylinders next but I need to figure out the cause of this ASAP! I hate being scared to drive my z because of the fear of being stranded if it doesn't start..