Smooth idle, stumbles on throttle

Forum for the Xterra, Frontier and Hardbody, the smaller workhorses of the Nissan lineup!
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JarredH
Posts: 50
Joined: Fri Jan 23, 2015 1:08 am
Car: 1991 Nissan D21. 2WD, FS5W71C. KA24E.
1995 Nissan D21 SE. 4WD, FS5R30A. VG30E.
Location: NorCal Home, stationed at Guam

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So, last year I started taking my VG30E apart for a head reseal and header install. I got everything put back together, headers on, new gaskets on everything, Timing belt on correctly, and I THINK the distributor back in correctly. I goto start it, and it idles smooth as it always did. But when I give it throttle, it stumbles on it's face and takes a few blips to get up in speed, but it's just not doing well. Let it idle, and it's back to smooth.

I didn't label the fuel injector harness, just layed it in back how it wanted to go, so that's my suspect right now. It's got a O2 sensor, and the exhaust only goes past that a foot, so I'm going to extend that out in case that's causing an issue. Checked the timing belt again, everything lines up. New spark plugs, new oil, new filters on fuel, intake, and oil, dielectric grease on all coil and wire connections for ignition, checked the wires are going to the right spots, check everything is tight, etc.

Is there anything else I should check? I've been gone seven months and can't quite remember all that I did. I need to get it running so I can move next month, and I'd rather not have to sell it as is.


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AZhitman
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Does it idle smooth with the MAF unplugged?

You can check injectors by pulling each plug and comparing condition, but I'd lean more towards a vac leak or MAF (or TPS, if it has one)

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Desert Rat
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agree....look for vac leaks first....might be something simple

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JarredH
Posts: 50
Joined: Fri Jan 23, 2015 1:08 am
Car: 1991 Nissan D21. 2WD, FS5W71C. KA24E.
1995 Nissan D21 SE. 4WD, FS5R30A. VG30E.
Location: NorCal Home, stationed at Guam

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Major exhaust leak just before O2 sensor. Going to clean up the flange tomorrow so it seals better. Could just be that.

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JarredH
Posts: 50
Joined: Fri Jan 23, 2015 1:08 am
Car: 1991 Nissan D21. 2WD, FS5W71C. KA24E.
1995 Nissan D21 SE. 4WD, FS5R30A. VG30E.
Location: NorCal Home, stationed at Guam

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Figured it out. Crank pulley was bolted up wrong, and I had the wrong instructions for the dizzy installation. Now it's just a matter of timing it, and fixing the major header leak, damn dipstick tube is in the way of the gasket.

nalz
Posts: 44
Joined: Wed Jan 22, 2014 12:06 pm
Car: 1993 D21 Hardbody 2.4L 5spd 4x2
Location: Dallas,Tx

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Thanks for posting with the final resolution!

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JarredH
Posts: 50
Joined: Fri Jan 23, 2015 1:08 am
Car: 1991 Nissan D21. 2WD, FS5W71C. KA24E.
1995 Nissan D21 SE. 4WD, FS5R30A. VG30E.
Location: NorCal Home, stationed at Guam

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Yeah, no problem. I hate looking for solutions, and just seeing people post that it was fixed, but no explanation. Hopefully some day someone sees this and it helps, I didn't think it was timing because it idled smooth, I was thinking fuel. But nope. That f*** pulley.

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