Dealer says to press in gas pedal when starting!

[^xero^]

Hey everyone,

I'm a total newbie who just came across a 96 240sx for sale and pretty close to buying it. I had it out from the dealer for a day or two and it ran great although couldn't drive very much because of snow. I tried to start it last Saturday to go to the dealers to sign the papers and it woudn't start.

So they towed it in to a nissan dealer and it turns out the mechanic who serviced it before I took it from the dealer put too much oil in.

So, no big deal but then they tell me that nissan put out a bulletin about this car and when you start it you are suppose to depress the gas pedal half way. ANybody ever hear of this? I couldn't find any reference to it on this site or nissans. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

[KDashy]

You used to have to do that when you started a carburated car, but I dont know of any problem with the 240 that needs you to depress the gas pedal halfway.

Although my car sometimes doesnt start unless I put it in neutral (I have an auto). Some sensor problem I'm guessing.

[Dammitboy]

Don't know bout' a 96', but my FSM for my 92' says DO NOT depress the pedal.

[bcar240]

He might be confused. The guy who sold me my first 240 said it had a carb, and I was too noob then to realize HE didn't know what he was talking about. But any 96 should be injected, so I am not sure what the deal is with that.

[574-240sx]

old 240Zs were carbed. Some stupid people get confused. many car dealer don't know a thing about a car but can some how sell them.

[Red coupe]

Im with them and further more Id question that it wouldnt start because of two much oil, its just seems like the drag on the crank wouldn't be so much that the engine couldnt start...not realy sure, i mean I guess it would be harder to turn it over but...when you were cranking it to try and get it to start did it crank realy slow or around normal speed?

[black s13]

too much oil will not make a car not start. period. they messed something else up, and bull****ted you to cover it up. have fun with that car...

[Bruno240]

fuel injjected cars do not need you to pump the gas pedal. Maybe if you have a fuel problem but in normal situations there is no need to pump it at all.

[^xero^]

Thanks for the replies.

So I picked the car up today from the dealer and it is running great. They said that overfilling the oil had fouled the plugs and that they even had the wrong plugs in. You guys think they are just feeding me a line? Does that story seem plausible? How serious could it be with it running so great now? Could they be hiding something?

He gave me a print out of the "Service Bulletin" I refered to in my first post. It only addresses starting in weather "around or below 32F" and it goes on to say you need to depress the accelerator pedal 1/3 the way to the floor. It is titled "Cold Weather Starting Tips" and reference #"PI95-005". This could apply since it had been into the teens that night before but I doubt siense I had it for two days and started every day with no problem until third day.

Can somebody recommend a mechanic in the denver area that is familier with this vehicle? I really want to buy it but sounds like I need to get someone to look at it. If they are knowledgable I wont mind paying whatever is reasonable.

[gniknave]

So, no big deal but then they tell me that nissan put out a bulletin about this car and when you start it you are suppose to depress the gas pedal half way. ANybody ever hear of this? I couldn't find any reference to it on this site or nissans. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Actually I have read this service bulletin recently (I'll find it word for word and post it). Basically it applies to all Nissan cars for cold weather starting. To sum it up, it says to depress the acceletator 1/3 way down upon starting in cold weather (40 degrees or below if I recall), but don't hold it down once the engine is running. It also says to NEVER rev the engine while cold, and to let the car warm for at least 5 minutes (til normal temp is recommended) before driving off. Again, I'll find this and post it tomorrow.

...oops, I see you got a copy of it...nevermind!

[^xero^]

Yes that is the document. well, at least I know they didn't fabricate a document. lol

So do you think the story about the overfilled oil fouling the plugs is credible? Also maybe that the wrong plugs could have played a part? I have been ripped off so many times in the past from dealers and shops I am really paranoid about getting the shaft from these guys.

[Red coupe]

I dunno man, oil only normaly gets into the cylinder by being splashed on to the walls by the conecting rod via a small squirt hole near the top of the big end...That kinda leaves the piston over it blocking the spark plug...if they over filled by say a few quarts it would cause problems but different ones. the crankshaft is spinning realy fast, and it makes alot of wind, if the oil is to close it can become frothy, for lack of a better word... and oil bubbles don't pump very well. the crankshaft could also be hitting the oil aswell, which can take away some power, but I wouldn't think even close to enough to make it not start. I don't know much about spark plugs other then that you should have the right ones gapped to factory specs, and that changing the gap can affect the power. I don't know however, how much of a change it would take to make it not run...

[Arrow]

Fouled plugs WILL make it so that the car won't start... I had that problem with my 240... well, the car would start (if I pumped the gas) for a second and then would stall....... I'm not sure about overfilling oil or anything... it could be that the combination of having too much oil and having fouled plugs would provide enough friction and a lack of spark wouldn't allow it to start. But I think that another problem might have caused the plugs to get fouled (either an air intake leak or something else... gap could be an issue)

Hope this helps you any!

[Red coupe]

...They said that overfilling the oil had fouled the plugs...

yeah if thay had just said that the plugs were bad that be one thing but it seems kinda weird that they would say it was from having to much oil...

[themadscientist]

You do not have to pump a fuel injected car.dealer is an idiot, mechanic is an idiot, I don't like the vibe from these gys man.

[MAXIMUS Nismo]

You do not have to pump a fuel injected car.dealer is an idiot, mechanic is an idiot, I don't like the vibe from these gys man.

the article never says anything about pumping the gas pedal, it mentions depressing and holding it 1/3 way.

[themadscientist]

pump it, depress it, stroke it lovingly while trying to unhook it's bra in the dark, whatever. Point is you shouldn't have to touch it.

[240marcuSX]

LOL ^ theres no arguing with that.

[hannibal]

Take it to another Nissan dealer. Tell them you thinking of buying the car (I wouldnt mention that its from another dealer). You can usually pay for an inspection ($50-100). Dont know how great the inspection would be, but I'm sure you could ask them to look into the problem.If they used a thick oil in those low temperatures, that could add to the problem.

[Juujai]

well i have a 91 fastback and i think it doesnt apply to you but ill give it a shot. i had trouble with a dirty aiv valve and that also caused the car to start weird. normal it would start like this ah heh heh hmmmm and it goes right. before i took the valve out it kept clicking and choking before it started. and i did find holding the gas pedal down while starting to be useful haha. well i think the problem was the aiv was shooting exhaust gases into the car and its really close to the o2 sensor. not too sure though but the problem is gone =)

AND if anything you got the lemon law

[boost_creep]

i just recently tslked to a guy at work with a 2003 altima v6..the car wouldnt start on a cold day...he got it towed and the dealer gave him this line about the pedal...if u ask me it doesnt make any sense in a fuel inj. system to depress the pedal..thats just me...and this is a 2003 too...wtf is goin on??...just my two cents

[574-240sx]

03 altima V6 is drive by wire. Thats a whole different problem in the new sentra/altima/maxima, I believe that has to do with faulty TPS and other thing that I was told by my freind who is a Nissan Mechanic. I was just to lazy to listen to the whole thing.