Engine stumbles and bucks!

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PalmerWMD
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Car: 2004 350Z

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W/O warning my engine suddenly started stumbling and bucking like an old muscle car engine.

Sound and vibration very reminicent of that.Almost like the valve overlap was off..I immediately called the dealer but they are booked to dec 10th, shut off the engine to check oil (in case I suddenly sprung a leak and also the VVT is oil pressure actuated).

Assorted Background info.

-Engine started back up and ran like a champ after a 8 min shutoff.-Oil at the full mark-1 quart short oil was yesterday.-Engine has 90,000 miles with good oil change habits up to 80,000 miles, and excellent oil change habits (under 3k w/ syn oil and hi end filters) since then (When I bought car engine had 80k miles)-cam guides, cam guide tensioners, oil pump chain/tensioners replaced at T3 10,000 miles ago-newer (last 3 years) knock sensors-newer ox sensors-original injectors ( car was in RFG states its entire life)-2 days ago gassed up at a fishy gas station after the track with everybody from the meet, everyone was low, so we picked the first gas station. pumps very very old as shown by their slow pumping speed so I surmise the tanks were as well.-newer thermostat/radiator no overheating evident-JWT ECU-air filter new-newer fuel filter

This is all contributing info that I can think of, that could possibly be pertinent.I have a couple of things I can speculate about as to causes

Any thoughts as to cause and possible fixes would be greatly appreciated

Fred....:)

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DAEDALUS
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Sorry to hear Fred. No warning lights?
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AZhitman
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It's called GUILT Fred. You're gonna go blind if you keep flogging your Q that way.:D

Mine did that once - Wouldn't run w/o stalling. Shut it off for an hour and it's been fine ever since. New fuel filter and intake cleaning just in case...
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PalmerWMD
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Car: 2004 350Z

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daedalus:No engine lights of any kind.

AZ:I had a couple fo worst case szenarios dancing in my head..:oface

I will keep a careful eye on it.I think yesterday I detected an ever so slight hint at bucking, but since it was non recurring I put it off as a road undulation.

Fred....:)
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Mayhem_J30
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i'm sure you already checked but did any CEL's come up? sounds fuel related though, either not firing for whatever reason or not getting fuel.

it's rebelling for treating it so mean at the track.
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911/Q45
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I'm guessing bad gas, the slow pumping rate=clogged pump filters to me.
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PalmerWMD
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I am thinking fuel or injector related...

Tomorrow I might put in a new fuel filter just in case ("old" one is under 10 months old OEM unit).but only if I get a chance to pick up an OEM filter.I had a BG44k injector rail flush at T3 together with the new filter early this year.

Fred...:)
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PalmerWMD
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911/Q45 wrote:I'm guessing bad gas, the slow pumping rate=clogged pump filters to me.


I was wondering about that too, that's why I included that bit of info.I am glad someone else is thinking in same direction.

Fred...:)

PS: But I am stil speculating here.. after all injectors are still original too :(
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Mayhem_J30
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maybe all those full throttle runs at the track broke loose some debris and clogged an injector...
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911/Q45
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I think a bad injector will give you a check engine light, I'll bet some good gas will clear it right up.
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Jberger
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Fred, I've been through the same senario twice. I checked everything, MAF, Injectors, Fuel Filter, and was just about the change the coils.

Ended up being bad gas (as close as I can tell). Had a nice long road trip and a bottle of 44K. Cleared everything up.

Hope you have the same luck pal!
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Eswift
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i would vote for the bad gas/clogged fuel filter/debris-shook-up scenario. injectors with out of spec ohms usually trigger the warning light.
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firstq
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I am not sure about injectors problems showing up as CELs - on my 92Q (pre OBD II), 2 injectors went dead with no CELs - but checking injector resistance is easy (of course under no load).

Why not check the fuel pressure (if indeed fuel filter is to be blamed for this before replacing it?).

Goodluck...
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PalmerWMD
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firstq wrote:Why not check the fuel pressure (if indeed fuel filter is to be blamed for this before replacing it?.


I can't reproduce the symptom, happened in a major way onlu once not again since yesteerday.

Will replace fuel filter just to be safe.(I wont have a chance to get an OEM filter:(, I wonder is a dirty OEM filter better than a replacement non OEm new)..

Fred...:)
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Q451990
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I'd cut the old filter open... that'll tell you a lot. Might also get rid of that batch of gas before you replace the filter.

Heath
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AZhitman
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Car: 58 L210, 63 Bluebird RHD, 64 NL320, 65 SPL310, 66 411 RHD, 67 WRL411, 68 510 SR20, 75 280Z RB25, 77 620 SR20, 79 B310, 90 S13, 92 SE-R, 92 Silvia Qs, 98 S14.
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Fred - Sounds like what mine did 8 months back. Hasn't happened again.
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paintwgn
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Have you checked for vacuum leaks?
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mrazc01
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Joined: Tue Nov 19, 2002 9:49 am
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I am having much of the same issue with my '96 G20. It has stumbled and stalled twice over the last 3 months. It has also started to lurch when in reverse, and also when stopped in drive. I have had a few different mechanics look at it, but to no avail. I have had a new fuel filter put in, and also a new alternator because my ligths were dimming at the same time that this problem was occurring. I just got back the car today, but I am not optimistic that it was the alternator. The mechanics all told me that the alternator can effect just abuot everything in these highly computerized cars, and that the alternator wasn't putting out all the power it should have. Hope you figure out what is wrong. When you do, please let me know, because I am having the same intermitent problems.:mad:
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PalmerWMD
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Car: 2004 350Z

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Changed fuel filter put in isoheet.Hasn't happened again even tho car has been standing 1.5 days.

Fred....:)
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mrazc01
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Joined: Tue Nov 19, 2002 9:49 am
Car: Puters

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Tried the fuel filter already. Don't know what an isosheet is. I am thoroughly perplexed. Like I said, two days ago, same crap. I am a bit angry. I don't have the cash for an Infiniti tech at the moment. Will have to wait a month. Will update you guys.
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PalmerWMD
Posts: 18382
Joined: Mon Apr 29, 2002 3:14 pm
Car: 2004 350Z

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isoheet is a gas line drier.kinda like HEET only with isopropyl alcohol in it (important), takes water out of your tank.

fred...:)
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PalmerWMD
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Car: 2004 350Z

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Nissan techs should be just fine with your car as it shares it s engine with some Nissan models.

Fred...:)
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