hesitation - 96 infiniti I30

[billg]

I am looking at buying a 96 Infiniti I30. It has 80k miles on it and seems to be in great shape. I am lucky enough to drive it for a few days before buying it, but I have noticed one problem. About once a day for the past 4 days, when I start moving from a stop sign or stop light, the engine just dies like it is getting no gas. The tack just drops to almost a stall but if I flutter the gas pedel I can can seem to get it going. I think it only happens after the engine it warm. Today it was raining and it happend serveral times. It also seems to be worse if I am stock in traffic. For the first time today. I know this sounds funny but I seem to think that if I turn the engine off and restart it, I think the problem goes away for a while but I am not sure of that.

[phenryiv1]

Has the fuel filter been replaced recently? How about the PCV valve? How old are the plugs? Are they real NGK plugs?

[billg]

Thanks for the reply. Very good questions and I do not know the answer to any of them. The car was picked up at a dealers auction, without any maintance recoreds. A freind of mine will sell it to me for about $5500, not including fixing this one problem.

I drove the car to work this morning and it ran great. I know that when I drive it home tonight in traffic, I will see the problem again.

I guess I should try the lower cost items you mentioned, since they would be good to change anyway.

It seems there are a lot of similar problems like this on the forums. I have seen a lot of the following suggestions but there doesn't seem to be a definate answer. O2 sensor, MFA element, Knock sensors, throttle body and planum, EGR value, Coolant temp sensor, Engine timing, fuel injectors.

Any thought of these casuing this problem. I pretty sure this problem only happen when the engine is hot and mostly when i get in stop and go traffic.

[phenryiv1]

The parts that I mentioned can be replaced for under $50 and in an hour or 2 with hand tools. Also, cleaning the throttle body is a good idea that only costs $0.59 and just wastes a few old towels. That could be a culprit as well.

[phenryiv1]

You can get the fuel filter at any nissan dealer fro $12-15, or spend a fet bucks more and get a Z32 filter. I used the stock filter and it was fine.

The PCV filter can be bught at the dealer as well. Some of the NICO supporting dealers will give you a good deal.

Lastly, go with NGK copper or Platinum plugs. Coppers are good fro 30K, plats 60K. The coopers are less than 1/2 as much, and work just as well, btu they have to be replaced more often. I have pNGK iridium, btu will switch to coppers on my next tune-up.

I used carb/throttle bodyt cleaner to do the throttle body. Cheap and easy. One afternoon to do a nice tune-up for under $50. Dealer wants about $300.

[billg]

I will try what you are suggesting. But i did find out something new today. I decided to drive my car home today with the AC off to see if it had an effect on the problem. I went all the way home for the first time without a problem. During the day I talked to someone on the phone who saw a technical bulletin about the condensation for the AC dripping on some component in the car and causing a simlar hesitation. I can remember what part it was but will find out tomorrow. Are there any web sites that have infiniti technical bulletins that i can look this up myself.

[maxnix]

http://www.nissan-techinfo.com/infiniti/ has the manuals and TSB you can download for a one day subscription fee of $20.

NHTSB has poorly scanned TSB copies also.

[VA99Q45]

If you go to an Infiniti dealer with the VIN number, you can ask them to print out all the maintenance records that the car had serviced at Infiniti dealer.