ka24 engine died & won't restart....pls help

[richard bb]

was driving a 1990 240sx with a ka24 engine when the engine died & won't restart.
the engine is tumbling, and i'm getting spark on the plugs, as well as current in the injectors. so i'm baffled as to why it won't start.......i'm currently doing searches on the net as to solutions, but haven't come up with any as yet. can someone pls help..

[josho]

Same thing happened to me last week. My coilpack plug came unplugged... might wanna check that.

[richard bb]

thanks josho, but i'm getting current on the spark plugs.........believe me, got a damn good shock off it.... so that means that the coil pack is fine.

[breadbox]

More info on the car. Auto or 5spd? Hatch or coupe?

If its an auto, sometime you have to start it in neutral.

Fuel? you hear the pump priming? You say its tumbling so you mean starter is good.

Also how do your battery terminals look?

[NYIntensity]

Got a CEL? If so, what's the code on the ECU?

You've got spark, which is good (if you've checked ALL the plugs...). Now for fuel. When you turn your ignition to 'On' (but before you get to 'Start'), do you hear your fuel pump prime? If you can't hear it, check your fuel pump fuse. Something else (since you might just not be able to hear it, is to pull the fuel line off your injector rail, get a friend to hold an empty can or cup and put the line in the container, then turn the ignition (just to 'On', you don't need to go to 'Start'). If fuel gets in the cup, then the problem is either 1) not fuel, or 2) in your injectors.

What does your distributor cap look like? If the nodes are corroded/white, it's probably a good idea to replace it (or if you don't know the last time were changed/if they actually say 'Nissan' on them) you should replace them. Cap, rotor, wires and plugs will be under $100.00 at CarQuest. Just because you're getting spark doesn't mean you're getting GOOD spark.

Your coolant temperature sensor could also be messed up, but that would typically result in a CEL.

[richard bb]

the car is an auto transmission fastback. it is tumbling fine, meaning that the battery terminals are good & so is the starter.
i didn't open the distributor cap as yet, because i'm getting a proper spark on the plugs...... i'm also getting gas to the injectors.........that's why i'm soooo bafled.

[NYIntensity]

the car is an auto transmission fastback. it is tumbling fine, meaning that the battery terminals are good & so is the starter.
i didn't open the distributor cap as yet, because i'm getting a proper spark on the plugs...... i'm also getting gas to the injectors.........that's why i'm soooo bafled.

Don't be so sure on "proper" spark. You're just getting "spark". What's the gap? Should be at .44 I believe. Do you have to hold the ignition for a second before you 'get' spark? It should spark almost immediately.

How are you sure the gas you're smelling in the cylinders (I'm assuming that's how you know you're getting gas to the injectors) isn't old gas? It could also be too MUCH gas, which would lead me to believe the problem is your CTS.

I'd check the dizzy first, then go from there. If it's OEM, replace it. Do the rotor too. If your plugs aren't higher-end, replace those.

You didn't answer my question about the check engine light...

[richard bb]

my temperature sensor was changed 8 months ago, so i'm assuming that it's ok.........but will need to verify that.
are there any sensors that may cause this car to not start ?

[NYIntensity]

about a hundred (exaggerating), but they should all throw a code.

[richard bb]

i'm using platinum spark plugs, and they're only a few months old...... a
as soon as the engine tumbles, i'm getting a spark and the intensity looks good/ normal.
i really don't know anything about the engine check light..........how do i do that, and what do i look for ?

[richard bb]

this is what happened:
was driving down the highway, when the engine just died and won't restart. at first i thought the timing chain had burst, so towed the car home.....but the chain is fine.

[richard bb]

i'm sure gas is flowing to the injectors because i removed the gas line going into the injector rail. when i tumbled the car, gas flowed out....i also unplugged the jacks plugging into the injectors, and got a reading on each one while tumbling the engine.....meaning that the injectors are getting both current & gas.

[Dattebayo]

Wtf is tumbling? lol

I would check the fpr and coolant temp sensor.

[richard bb]

what is fpr, and where do i find it?

[Dattebayo]

Nevermind, it's probably not the issue.

I would check the plugs, maybe you were running lean and you blew out all the gaps.

[NYIntensity]

interesting-starting-issue-fuel-pump-fpr-t492018.html

and PS -

[richard bb]

can you blow out the gaps on platinum plugs ?

[Dattebayo]

Well why are you using platinum instead of copper? Any reason?

[richard bb]

i had an rx7 and the ngk copper wouldn't last long on the rotary engine......then i tried the bosch platinum.
had no problems after that, and they don't need regaping.......ever.
so i now swear by them

[Taylor008]

Nissans don't take bosch too kindly. I would get a set of NGK coppers and throw them in just to try it. Is your car lowered? Tire may have eaten through your harness..

Good luck!

[richard bb]

i'm willing to try anything at this point, so ok i'll try the ngk coppers.
the car is original height, but i'll also check the harness.......thanks guys.
but if there's anything else that you all can think of, pls let me know...