Sporadic cold weather stalling

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danblackracing
Posts: 7
Joined: Sat Jan 23, 2010 5:30 am
Car: Modified 2009 Nissan Cube and 2009 Nissan Versa
Location: Western NY
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Ok here is a crazy one. My Versa Base is at a dealership now. What do you thinkn this issue is?

We have a 2009 Nissan Versa base 1.6L, currently with 59,000 miles. Bought in June 2009; it’s been a perfect car with no issues other than these split second power loss incidents that started in the Winter of 2012.

Driver Habits
• Conditions: 70% highway, 29% suburbs, 1% city
• Maintenance: book is followed and filled out faithfully
• Gas in Winter is kept above 33%

Winter 2012-2013: Split second engine operation loss during

• While driving at about 40-60, average throttle input, flat road, the engine loses power for a split second and then runs fine. No time to see if there are any dash light warnings or dash light loss.
• Occurs on only on days under 50 degrees
• Occurrences:
o Generally 1once per day
o Twice it happened twice in one day
o About 8 occurrences total during the winter of 2012-2013 (early Spring)
• ATTEMPTS TO RESOLVE:
o Dry gas during cold spells
o Higher octane during cold spells


March 7, 2013: Complete Engine Start Failure

• Sporadic blips of engine failure (less than a second) a few days before this
• At home, car would not turn over from a cold start.
• Temperature: 44 degrees
• Unusual noises coming from car; VERY loud squealing when trying to start it; called Roadside ASAP
• ATTEMPTS TO RESOLVE:
o Brought to Dorschel in Spring 201: Battery recommended by tech and we replaced it with the proper amperage battery.
• Car still presented on split second engine operation loss just under two weeks later


November 12, 2013: Split second engine operation loss

• While driving at about 50, average throttle input, flat road, the engine loses power for a split second and then ran fine. No time to see if there are any dash light warnings or dash light loss.
• Engine: warm
• Temperature: 34degrees
• Occurrences: once
• ATTEMPTS TO RESOLVE:
o Dry gas
o Higher octane fuel


November 18, 2013

Driver Incident:
1. I stepped on the brake to slow down while still in 5th gear car would not accelerate. I glanced at the dash and the DASH LIGHTS WERE NOT LIT.
Car felt like it had less power than normal.
2. As I started to pull off to the side of the road the ENGINE SHUT DOWN.
3. After I was safely off the road I looked at the dash and the brake, check engine and the other usual dash lights CAME ON as if I just put the key in an turned the ignition cylinder.
4. I waited a couple seconds and started car up. It ran fine with no issues with staling or accelerating on the way home.

I tried to recreate the same scenario while braking again and could not duplicate the same situation. I thought it might be a problem with the alternator so I turned my radio off, and turned my headlights on (my headlights were off when issue occurred). I got no reaction from this, no lights in the car dimming or flashing at a low volume. Other notes:
•Speed: 5mph
•Engine: warm
•Temperature: 45 degrees
•This car is peppy and it felt like it had less power than normal.
•Current gear when issue occurred…fifth gear.
•ATTEMPTS TO RESOLVE:
o Dry gas during cold spells
o Higher octane during cold spells

November 24, 2013

• Seven sporadic blips of engine failure (less than a second) in less than two miles ten minutes after engine start.
• 18 degrees, nighttime
• Car started and driven 1.2 miles to a restaurant
• In idle for 3 min at a drive thru; cold engine light goes off
• A minute later, drove away from drive through
• Meanwhile, driving down road at 28-35MPH, steady second and third gear cruising down open road. Car hesitated 6 times I the 25-34 M.P.H. range.

November 25, 2013
• 20 degrees, nighttime
• Car felt like it had less power than normal later in the day.

November 27, 2013
• Sat in idle for 10 minutes while shoveling the driveway
• 33 degrees, nighttime
• Stalled while driving and wont start
• Called Roadside


The dealer is CLUELESS. I say its the fuel pressure regulator... :mad:


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danblackracing
Posts: 7
Joined: Sat Jan 23, 2010 5:30 am
Car: Modified 2009 Nissan Cube and 2009 Nissan Versa
Location: Western NY
Contact:

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This turned out to be a corroded ground cable at the transmission housing.

The dealer took a car home for a couple of days to finally experience the issue. They discovered that there was high resistance coming up the ground cable.

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centralcoaster33
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Joined: Tue Apr 05, 2005 10:41 am
Car: 240SX #5-1997
Location: Central Coast, CA

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I'm glad this is fixed. Was this really a four year long issue?

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danblackracing
Posts: 7
Joined: Sat Jan 23, 2010 5:30 am
Car: Modified 2009 Nissan Cube and 2009 Nissan Versa
Location: Western NY
Contact:

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No, two consecutive Winters (2012-2013). Resolved in the Spring of 2014. I just realized I never let you all know what happened. 🙄😶😥 Apologies!


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