number of pathfinder problems

[lyaboy07]

hey, im new to this forum but ive been reading up on it quite a bit lately to try and resolve a few issues ive been having with my pathfinder, and i was hoping to get some advice.my first and biggest problem is the fact that it doesnt run. Ive changed the plugs,wires, fuel and air filter and checked the distributor cap and rotor. It looks fine and actually fairly new. Ive added 5 gallonsof gas and added fuel stabilizer and still. nothing. i turn the key and it turns over fine, it just doesnt fire. it used to start and run for a few seconds then dog out. now it doesnt start at all.

another problem is the driver side low beam wont shut off, i have to take the fuse out for it to turn off. thats another mystery to me.the heated seatsdont seem to work. the switch is hooked up but nothing happens when i turn it on, the fuse is perfectly fine. idk what thats about either.

and my last and final problem just happened a few minutes ago, i went out to my garage and saw the security led flashing pretty damn fast for normal. i opened the door and all of a sudden the alarm went off, for a ong time. now i didnt even know i had an alarm! and i obviously have no remote to shut it off so all i could do is disconnect the battery. The only thing i want to do in this situation is unhook the security system so it doesnt do that again.

again any help anyone could lend me would be awesome bc as of right now im shooting in the dark
Modified by lyaboy07 at 6:23 PM 2/17/2009

[pathfinder9035]

well check your fuel pump and the fuse..well the fuse first.

[lyaboy07]

The fuse was fine, and the pump actually does soundlike its lagging. i turn the key and it switches on but it engages for alot longer than it should. at first i thought maybe air in the lines from changing the fuel filter but it lags every time. is there a way to test it with out removing it?

[Chuck Tribolet]

The alarm should shut off if you put the key in the ignition and turn the ignitionon.

Does it have spark? That's the first thing to test. Pull a plug, ground the part that touches block, and crank. If it has spark, does it get fuel? Crankit with a plug out and snif. Do this outdoors away from something, don'tsmoke, and make sure that the plug wire you pullled can't arc to ground.

Find the headlight relay and pull it to shut the headlight off. Easier than the battery.

Check the fuse for your bun warmers. Dunno where it is.

[lyaboy07]

ok, i checked the spark. it was there, but it seemed weak so i went ahead and changed the plug wires, distributor cap and rotor. the spark is great now. the fuel pump is engaging fine and the end of the plugs are wet and smell like gas. i even sprayed some ether into the intake and it still didnt fire!!! what could be the issue here? even if i had a compression problem i would have seen a flame? or something??i know my fair share about cars(for my age) and my dads been a mechanic since he was my age and hes just as stumped...

somone help me!!!!!

[lyaboy07]

also i took care of the headlight and heated seats problem. the security problem i just un hooked the battery, made sure the system was switched off and disconnected the switch...i know the truck wont run while its in safetymode but everything else works fine and the engine is getting spark still...so any kind of advice/tips would be great

[SixGuns]

10 bucks says it's your spark. Something went wrong...either your plug/wire change didn't go according to plan and you're sparking on the wrong cylinders at the wrong time, or your timing is off and you are not igniting your fuel 'cause there's no compression to speak of when the spark hits. Double and tripple check your alignment between #1 cylinder on the distributor and #1 actual and go from there....check it against a manual, not off memory. Let me know when you've verified that everything is on the nuts (have a timing light? use it..or borrow one and use that) and we'll go from there.

[lyaboy07]

ok, but the thing is i changed the plug wires originally back when it would run and then just stop. but i think maybe the distributor may be off somehow. maybe the clamp was vibrated loose and it shifted. does anyone know which way turning the distributor will retard and advance it? and i dont have a timing light now but ill pick one up with this weeks paycheck

[SixGuns]

How long, exactly, would the engine run after starting? You talking like it turns over and when you release the key it dies off? If that's the case, your starter solenoid is shot. In answer to the distributor question, traditionally, turn it to clockwise to advance the timing, counterclockwise to retard. That's how it was on my old Nova and Eclipse...not exactly certain on yours, but I see no reason why it would be any different. Again, consult your manual and there will be a diagram....and in this case, I mean like a Hayes or Chiltons.

[lyaboy07]

it would run until i gave it gas, then it would stall. which i figured was bad plugs and a bad fuel filter, so i changed both and it sputtered once but didnt start again after that. so i checked the distributor cap and saw a small crack so i replaced that and the rotor. still nothing. like i said the fuel pump is fine and its got plenty of spark,compression, and fuel delivery. so the only thing it could be is the ignition timing.

[SixGuns]

Yep, that sounds like your problem then...with this sort of thing, you just gotta retrace the steps you performed..'cause if it was good to go before you started monkeying with it, you probably changed something..in this case, your distributor was probably not properly fastened and while replacing the cap & rotor, you probably inadvertantly retarded the timing. Check that and I'll bet you'll find it fires.

[lyaboy07]

yea thats what i was thinking happened...ill check it tomorrow, i would have today but we just got 4 inches of wet snow and i cant exactly drive my truck into the garage. so for now im a driveway mechanic during a upstate ny winter...fun

[lyaboy07]

ok so i adjusted the timing a little and got it running, its running rough right now but it will actually sustain and idle just fine.the problem is i was able to turn it by hand which to me doesnt seem right, i was just wondering where exactly is the clamp or locking mechanism that holds the rotor in place? so i can adjust better and fine tune it?
Modified by lyaboy07 at 8:37 AM 2/23/2009