Sentra GXE 1.8L auto - loss of power. Help?

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whammo77
Posts: 7
Joined: Tue Sep 23, 2014 4:53 pm
Car: 2001 Nissan Sentra GXE

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Hey everyone. Needing some help here please:

My Sentra runs great when idling, even after it is warmed up. When you first start it after it hasn't been run for hours, it has lots of pep. But when it gets up to normal operating temperature, it becomes doggy, sluggish, and lacks acceleration especially in the lower rpm ranges. I also noticed it kind of "pulsates" when trying to accelerate. I can't hear any changes in the engine pitch, but you can feel the pulsating (it only does this after warmed up). Once up to over 3000 rpm it picks up a little and has better pep. I went ahead and changed out the spark plugs, changed the air filter, and put a bottle of Berryman's fuel injector cleaner in the tank. All this helped a little, but not alot. So I took it to my local mechanic whom I have used for years, and he checked it out and ended up cleaning the Mass Airflow Sensor. He said it was pretty dirty. I drove it after he cleaned the MAF, and you can tell it did make it better by about 40%, but the problem still exists. Before taking it back to my mechanic and spending even more money, I was wondering if there was anything else I should check for? There are no check engine lights on, and my mechanic checked the computer and said there are no codes in it. The car starts great, idles great, but is struggling in acceleration and it "pulsates" after it reaches normal operating temperatures. I can get up to highway speeds but it takes a while. The car really struggles in overdrive tho even at 70. Not sure what to check next..... :gotme

Also, the car only has 105,000 miles on it, and is in great shape. I checked for recalls on it and can find none. I know some of these have some cam/crank sensor problems, but this one doesn't show to be one of the ones affected. I have heard that Nissan hasn't been entirely honest about that tho.

Any help y'all can provide here would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

We are in Oklahoma, so we are not at high elevations (1,200 ft above sea level)


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PapaSmurf2k3
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Car: 2017 Corvette, 2018 Focus ST, 1993 240sx truck KA Turbo.
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A bad coolant temp sensor or a vacuum leak could cause what you're talking about, although usually the vacuum leak would cause a funky idle, and be better under throttle... kinda the opposite of what you're talking about now.

It wouldn't hurt to have a compression check done too (with engine hot).

whammo77
Posts: 7
Joined: Tue Sep 23, 2014 4:53 pm
Car: 2001 Nissan Sentra GXE

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Temp sensor.... hmmmm Without just throwing parts and moneyat the car, how can you go about determining if that is the problem?

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PapaSmurf2k3
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Posts: 19000
Joined: Thu Nov 21, 2002 3:20 pm
Car: 2017 Corvette, 2018 Focus ST, 1993 240sx truck KA Turbo.
Location: Merrimack, NH

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You could probably check it with a multi meter. Not sure what the specifications are, but they are probably in the factory service manual.
www.nicoclub.com/fsm

whammo77
Posts: 7
Joined: Tue Sep 23, 2014 4:53 pm
Car: 2001 Nissan Sentra GXE

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I did a ton of reading today, and I'm pretty convinced it is the MAF. One thing I read was that you have to unhook the neg battery terminal for about 20 minutes AFTER you clean the MAF to reset the computer. I wasn't sure if my mechanic did that, so I went ahead and did it. I then took it for a drive and it is doing WAY better. It's still not at 100%, but it is much better than it was. I think I am going to take the MAF back off this weekend, give it another good cleaning, and see if it helps. If not, I will just go ahead and invest in a new one.

I appreciate your help sir!

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PapaSmurf2k3
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Posts: 19000
Joined: Thu Nov 21, 2002 3:20 pm
Car: 2017 Corvette, 2018 Focus ST, 1993 240sx truck KA Turbo.
Location: Merrimack, NH

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Sweet!

So far you're pretty low cost! It should even get better the more you drive it and your ECU recalibrates the fuel curves, etc.

whammo77
Posts: 7
Joined: Tue Sep 23, 2014 4:53 pm
Car: 2001 Nissan Sentra GXE

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Well, like I said, it isn't perfect, but it's good enough that I am going to try taking the highway to work again tomorrow (I have been taking the back roads...). These cars have so many dang gadgets and widgets on them now days that I sometimes just get lost on what to look for. I grew up working on Chevy's... particularly the 350, and it's just a whole different ball game. I'm hoping you are correct and that the ECU recalibrates the fuel curves and she smoothes on out and picks up more gusto. If not, I will be ultra particular in cleaning that little turd this weekend and I'll try again.If it doesn't work, then I'll go ahead and spend the bucks on a new one....

Bishwo370
Posts: 12
Joined: Thu May 30, 2019 12:15 am
Car: 2013 Nissan Sentra
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I guess, I have same issue.
I have nissan Sentra 2013, I took it second hand, I have already drove more than 4000km, yesterday while driving, Suddenly, Acceleration is not working or very slight acceleration while pressing very hard, RPM meter showing 3000 but no pickup at all. Only difference while it is during normal drive is I saw Sport light turned on in the display. But I know this car don't have sports mode, it is a basic model.

After parking safely, I turned off the Engine and turned on again after 10 second then it is normally working.


What may be happened? I got this situation twice till now. once last month and once yesterday.

Thanks & regards.


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