Issues Starting

[XiphosM3]

Hey all, new here.

Having an issue with my wifes '97 Altima. Problems started last night when she was a few minutes from home. The car started becoming gutless. I drove it into the garage and it seemed like it was missing a cylinder, had bad idle, and pulsating exhaust. The next morning it would not start. It would turn over, but would not start up.

So we started working and we did the following:

- All spark plugs and boots in good condition
- MAF was cleaned
- Battery voltage good
- All spark plugs firing, distributor appears to be working
- Injectors: All firing, no leaking, good cone shape
- Fuel pressure: 40psi
-COLD compression test (Now I know this was a cold test, but given that the numbers should still be close to eachother is concerning w/ C3):
C1: 95 (w/ oil 110)
C2: 100 (w/ oil 110)
C3: 85 (w/ oil 100)
C4: 100 (w/ oil 110)

Next guess is cam timing. We took off the valve cover, didn't see anything loose. The cam chain has about 1/4" of play up and down in between the cam sprockets. While rotating the engine over we watched the intake lobe to see when it was fully closing the valve. It appears to be closing about 65-75 degrees after bottom dead center on the compression stroke. Also the marks on the chain and the dimples on the sprockets do not line up. But the cams appear to be lined up with the crank. Picture attached.




What do you guys think?

[nissangirl74]

Suggestion: crank angle sensor?

Here's a link to the FSM for your car, hopefully you will find something in there to help you out.

Question for you: The color of your oil looks funky, almost as if it was burnt. Is that the lighting or are you running some type of special oil?

[XiphosM3]

Nissangirl, thanks for the quick response.

We did check the camshaft position sensor, resistance was within normal operating range and engine has not thrown any codes besides a knock sensor code. However, from what i've read, that knock sensor code could have come from unplugging the maf.

Its the camera, it was dark when i took the picture so the colors are a little off. It is engine sludge built up.

[XiphosM3]

Anyone else? Help.

[QR25DE]

I'd get the FSM and check the timing. Maybe it jumped a tooth? C3 compression seems a bit low. I'm thinking rings?

[wade001]

a bad cylinder is not likely going to make a car not start, run like sh*t but it would still run. does it crank over easily? I'd say in my opinion it's electrical. there are no codes? did you check the distributer timing?

[XiphosM3]

Did a leakdown test:

C1: 85psi
C2: 85psi
C3: 80psi
C4: 78psi

The strange part was that air was leaking through the throttle body and the exhaust on all cylinders. What are the chances that both intake and exhaust valves would bust?

[QR25DE]

Very slim, check timing?

[07wHiTE 3.5SE 6sPD]

how much miles on the motor? it could be a possibility that the chain stretched allowing the the chain to jump a tooth causing this headache. i agree with qr25 to double check the timing. also check to see if your getting spark from the distributor for each cylinder, use the screwdriver technique and see if it sparks when your close to the engine head.

[nissangirl74]

For some reason, the link to the FSM didn't post before. Sorry about that, here it is.
http://www.nicoclub.com/FSM/Altima/1997/

I agree with the others about checking your timing.