Fuel pressure question, and a rather funny story to go along with it

[rj7777]

The main question I have (actually my mechanic has) is what psi should the pump be pushing? My car's been down for a while, and we're back to fuel.

Okay, the funny story that goes along with all of this:

Put the car (94 J30, 95K miles) in the garage after running around town. Next day, it'll turn over, but won't catch. Neighbor comes over, diagnoses a fuel pickup problem, finds the pump is working, I ask the forums for sensor locations (thanks for the diagram, BTW), he's going to come over the next day and try to figure it out, ends up in the hospital. Okay, that part's not funny, but he's okay now.

I decide to get it towed to the Nissan dealer. Tow truck is coming to the house in a raging snowstorm, slides into a ditch and has to be towed out. Tow truck pulls it out of the garage onto the flat bed (I got to ride in the car on the way up, that was a cool ride) and gets it to Nissan.

4 days later, Nissan service finally looks at it. They tell me I have a blown head gasket, cracked block, no fluids in it (just checked them the week before), the car's not worth anything, but they'll give me $1K for it. Hmmmmmm--something's not right here. I ask the service guy to fax me over a copy of the diagnostics--he hangs up on me and won't return my calls. Hmmmmm again.....

He finally tells me that the tech opened the hood, said the head gasket's blown, closed the hood. Never did anything else. Told him that the car's going to be towed over to this leetle bitty garage. Get a call back from the business office telling me I owe $700 for diagnostics. Had to tell them that they weren't done, and they tried holding the car hostage until I told them that I had asked for a copy of the diagnostics, so maybe they should too.

So, got it over to this great honest mechanic, who's busier than the proverbial one-armed paper hanger. It sits there for a couple of weeks, but at least my baby's on the waiting list. He calls me today--no carbon in the radiator, no oil in the water, no water in the oil, and we're back to fuel pickup issues. Interesting, since Nissan told me there were no fluids anywhere to be found...

Anyway, he managed to get it started, and he said it had been running for about an hour and purring like a kitten. He's going to change the fuel filter, but wants to know what the pressure should be, because it's possible that the fuel pressure isn't high enough which is making it impossible to start.

So, I've been driving this rental Dodge around. Took a trip to the Valley last weekend, hit a bobcat and almost hit an elk. Maybe that's why the car decided to break--didn't want the run-in's with wildlife!

[NismoChi]

36.3 psi at idling with fuel pressure regulator vacuum connected, 43.4 psi with is disconnected. Engine Coolant temp sensor may be your hard to start problem.

[brandonjustice93J30]

I had a similar problem with a Mitsu dealer in Indy. Thermostst stuck on the interstate, warped the head.

I had it towed to the closest dealer since that was my insurance's policy.

Dealer diagnosed what I thought it was, but told me $3000. to repair the head.

I told them no that was outrageous and why wasnt it covered under warranty since it only had 86k and the drive train was covered to 100k

They tried telling me that due to my intake, I sucked water into the engine and i voided the warranty. They said the block was full of water. I just said umm duh, head is warped from overheating and there was water in the antifreeze. they just gave me a blank look and said $3000 to repair.

I told them no, and they said well it's $600 for diagnostics, storage, etc. i tried to fight that and in the process, they stripped my radio, took a taillight for an employees car and left it outside in the winter with the head off of the engine.

I called my insurance to have them look at it and the dealer told me if I tried to place the blame on the dealer they would say they had witnesses that I stripped the car and the body damage and missing panels were like that before I brought it in.

My insurance wouldnt do anything about it said it was between the dealer and me and if I wanted to get a lawyer I could but if I didnt have definite proof and witnesses of my own it would be a hard case to make.

So the car now sits waiting on a new engine and other parts.

[Jakw]

...So the car now sits waiting on a new engine and other parts.

WOW would I be pissed.

[brandonjustice93J30]

Yeah I was just slightly....

it's been about 5-6 years so I'm not as hot about it now. But at the time I was furious. It was right when the EVO's were coming to the lots and I had an idea to destroy every one they had, since they were leaving the lot about as soon as they were coming in. Or set the building on fire. But I figured it's not going to hurt the dealer and I'm sure they will get it in the end someday when another customer screws them.

[yodawill2000]

Wowzers..I'm afraid I would loose it and Torch that building !!!

Thats just plain Crooked !!

[naladude911]

You should report those Nissan ppl to Nissan HQ lol. My car gets serviced (since I dont have parts) at a very reliable and honest Nissan dealership.