Start-up problems at 400 miles?

[ldyjam]

We had the start up problem at about 2,000 miles. I took it in along with some print outs from this forum and told them it might be the fuel pump. They said they had never heard of any of this, they kept it for two days running tests and then decided to change the fuel pump. This worked great for 2 weeks and another 1,000 miles and then it suddenly started doing it AGAIN!!!! I just took it back today and the mechanic told me they have THREE Versa's waiting for fuel pumps including one off the showroom floor!!!!!!! Now the wait for a fuel pump is 2-3 weeks and I have to "get on a list" What a pain!! Two more times and we can turn it in under the Lemon Law!

[slickrick2k1]

Hi all,

About 500 miles in, car is experiencing same thing. Thanks to all for your help. this will make it easier to convince dealer not to dilly-dally on the replacement.

[savsunshine]

My Versa has been doing this for MONTHS and the 4 times I've taken it into the dealer they said it has cranked appropriately and they can't do anything to it until they actually "hear it." I informed them about all the information I had read about the fuel pump and they said they had heard of no issues with the versa. I am SO frustrated, did anyone else have this many problems just trying to get it taken care of? It's so frustrating to have a car that doesn't want to start everytime! UGH.

[ldyjam]

I took in print outs from this forum to my dealer so he couldn't say it was just me! I wouldn't be surprised if the next time you take it in they are fully aware of it. I would also try calling Nissan at 1-800-NISSAN-1 and making a complaint. The squeaky wheel gets the oil!!

Like I had said before when I took mine in 2 weeks ago nobody knew anything, now they have three waiting for fuel pumps. I also talked to another dealer who I bought it from and they had not heard anything either, but once they started calling around trying to find a pump they soon found out that they were about the only ones who didn't know!

[Ever Victorious]

I've just noticed a bit of a pattern. The BULK (but not all) of those that have posted with this problem are in the South, Texas, or California... places where the weather gets significantly warmer. I'm wondering if this might be a heat related failure? (Yes, the few of you in the more northern climates would be exceptions).

(for the record, neither of my 2 V's, totalling 11,000 miles, ever hesitated or failed to fire right up)

[seize]

I've wondered about the heat issue too. I live in Minneapolis, but it has been awfully hot this summer. But I've tried making a mental note of when it happens to me. It seems fairly random and doesn't matter how long the car has been sitting or how hot it is. Sometimes it's after 5 minutes, sometimes it'll sit overnight and be fine. Sometimes it's boiling outside and it starts up great, sometimes it's midnight and cooled down and sputters. I can never predict when it's going to happen or how bad it's going to be. Just yesterday was the the first time it took 3 tries to get it going.

I'm leaving it overnight at the dealership since i've taken it in three times now and haven't been able to make it do in front of them. The dealer said he's not heard of anything and can't even make the call to get the part until they can prove it's a problem. I should have just got it replaced on my road trip when another dealer saw and thought he could fix the problem.

I haven't even broke 2000 miles yet. I obviously need to be taking more road trips, heh.

[savsunshine]

I've also tried to take a mental note of when my car malfunctions, and there is really no real connections. I dropped it off this last time Tuesday and have gotten no response from them. For the people who HAVE had their fuel pump replaced did your car actually not start while it was at the dealership? Or did they take your word for it? I'm at my wits end here.

[ldyjam]

The first time I had my V checked out they didn't find anything on the first day, they kept it for another day and found the problem. The diagnosis on the invoice says:

perform cold soak & check fuel pressure @ 35 PSI out of specreplaced fuel pump assembly, rechk pressure @ 51 PSI ok

The problem started again 2 weeks later so I took it to my original dealer (they were the only ones who would give me a loaner). It had been having the problem every time I started it until of course I took it in. They said that all day they found nothing. After it passed all other inspections, they let it run for about 30 minutes and then waited another 30 minutes before starting it again. It did not start so they took it back for more checking and are supposed to get back to me later today.

If I were you I would print out some stuff from this forum, take it with you, call the 800 number and demand that they try harder!!!! This is obviously turning into a big problem!! We are just at the start of it. THey are quickly going from dumbfounded to oh yeah we know!

[tletram]

When I brought my car in for service the dealership acknowledged that they had several Versa's come in with the same problem and that it required a new fuel pump.

The invoice does say that it was tested. It also lists "found pump not holding fuel pressure". It does not refer to a psi measurement though.

I spoke with Nissan Canada and they informed me that there is no recall as a faulty fuel pump is not a "safety issue". I can't remember the CSR's exact words as to why they have not even issued a service bulletin or campaign so that dealers and customers are more aware and didn't really get an answer I was satisfied with. What he basically alluded to was that there are not enough reported instances of the problem to warrant one or that they don't know how wide spread the problem it is.

[bhoybobby]

Versa SL in Cambridge:

I've been having this problem for two weeks. The dealer wants the car for the day. Oh well a wasted day. Hopefully the'll order the part

As for the excessive windnoise I'm experiencing, is Nissan addressing/acknowledging this this?

Bobby Cameron

[lain]

im so glad my windows are manual

[seize]

Finally made some progress: After sitting overnight at the dealership, my Versa finally showed problems to the service department. They said it was the fuel pump. It sits for a while, it loses pressure, and then it's hard to start. And I just saw the other posting saying dealers are being notified of the problem.

Parts on order, being installed by the end of the week. Finally!

[Ever Victorious]

As for the excessive windnoise I'm experiencing, is Nissan addressing/acknowledging this this?

That depends on what you mean by "excessive wind noise". I don't find that there is any sort of "excessive" wind noise unless I roll down my windows at highway speeds.

However, my first V definitely had a "wind noise" problem, even with the windows rolled up. It turns out that the robot that assembles the doors down south of the border dented the driver's door panel at the mirror mount, so that when the mirror was mounted, there was a small dimple opening a gap under the mirror and into the door. This gap would collect all the rushing air at 40+MPH and make a lot of noise.

So the first think you should check is any where that a mirror, window, or door crease exists, and make sure all the panels and joints are smooth. If they're dimpled or dented, you WILL get noise.

[crazybitch]

Yeah, well good luck with that. My car has been sitting at the dealerships service department for over a month now. I drove it for six days and it quit starting on me. Lucky me... I had to make my first car payment yesterday. Less than 500 miles, too.

I can't even get anyone to give me any kind of recovery date for the stinking gasket that they say is backordered.

I honestly can't even comment as to whether I love my car or not. I can't even remember what the inside of it looks like at this point in time.

As for fuel economy, I can't comment on that either. I'm driving a loaner Xterra which is a gas hog like you wouldn't believe.

Right now, they have about five business days to fix my car and then it is legally considered a "lemon".

This is my first brand new car and I think the whole scenario is a joke.

Good luck to ya...

[matt_a]

Yeah, well good luck with that. My car has been sitting at the dealerships service department for over a month now. I drove it for six days and it quit starting on me. Lucky me... I had to make my first car payment yesterday. Less than 500 miles, too.

I can't even get anyone to give me any kind of recovery date for the stinking gasket that they say is backordered.

I honestly can't even comment as to whether I love my car or not. I can't even remember what the inside of it looks like at this point in time.

As for fuel economy, I can't comment on that either. I'm driving a loaner Xterra which is a gas hog like you wouldn't believe.

Right now, they have about five business days to fix my car and then it is legally considered a "lemon".

This is my first brand new car and I think the whole scenario is a joke.

Good luck to ya...

Wow...that sucks! I'm sorry to hear that you're going through that with your first new car. I hope they get it straight for you soon. The Versa really is a good car.

[BillyBeaneBall]

Agreed, I wish you could get your car back

[Ever Victorious]

Wow... that dealer sounds extra.. special.

As for fuel economy... either read my fuel economy thread, or my sig. That will make you drool compared to the Xterra.

Ever Victorious: Two Versas, No Lemons.

[versa23]

My Versa is also having the start-up problem. I live in Illinois and the temperature lately has been at around 70-80 degrees. It doesn't happen all the time, but about a month after I started driving it, I would have to turn the key twice. I don't think this is normal or acceptable, so I will also be contacting my dealer about this.

[EdKrull]

My Versa is also having the start-up problem. I live in Illinois and the temperature lately has been at around 70-80 degrees. It doesn't happen all the time, but about a month after I started driving it, I would have to turn the key twice. I don't think this is normal or acceptable, so I will also be contacting my dealer about this.

Yep. get your information together, and make sure the Service Manager you are dealing with has heard about this before you take it in. Save yourself the extra trip or two...

[crazybitch]

I finally got my car back today. They had it for nearly five weeks "waiting" for the part. Whatever... I managed to get two months worth of free gas from the dealership, since they put me in a ridiculous SUV to drive around temporarily (for five weeks). I also got my next two car payments paid by Nissan.

Personally, I think it all has something to do with being a single woman. My appliance repair guy tried to scam me out of $150 last week. I couldn't get anywhere with the dealership or Nissan until my dad stepped in for me a couple weeks ago.

As for getting my car back, it's fixed and drives like a dream.

I live in Illinois, too, and my car isn't the only one at my dearlership with this problem, or so they say...

[rainerng]

Dealer installed the fuel pump today and it's been working good.

[BillyBeaneBall]

I'm gonna ask this here since I got no reply the last time I asked it...it may be no one has an answer and that's cool too...just want to to make sure.

My new V has 2500 miles on it. When I start up it seems like sometimes it takes a second longer than it should to catch and turn over. Is this a symptom of the fuel pump going bad? Because if it is I'm just gonna go in and have them order the pump now so hopefully by the time I need it, they'll already have it since it takes so long to get...

My first V didn't seem to take as long to start...but maybe I'm just being paranoid because of this thread....I don't know :

[Ever Victorious]

The symptom of this problem is that when you try to start the car, it turns over but doesn't start on the first try. You have to turn it over for a while, wait, and try again, then it starts.

[BillyBeaneBall]

OK....so prior to it ever occurring everythiing is normal then? Good to know...I think I'm just being paranoid...

[ldyjam]

I wouldn't say you are paranoid! The fuel pump doesn't hold the pressure so that is why it does not start right away. Once you turn the key to start you are building up the pressure that should already be there, so it will eventually start. I would take it in and have them change the fuel pump. We replaced the fuel pump twice within two months of buying our versa. The second pump seems to be doing good so far, but I won't be surprised if it doe sit again.

[RedWhale]

Just wanted to add my car to the list of those having random startup problems. Had it while trying a cold start in the morning and restarts after quick stops (for fuel, food, shopping, etc). I have a 07 man. SL sedan purchased 1.5 months ago in Las Vegas. Bought it with 6 miles on it, problem started at 700 and currently at 1200. I'll be calling my dealer soon after a couple of weeks of denial that I had the dreaded fuel pump problem.

I've been wondering why this isn't stickied as this seems to be the most serious and common problem facing new versa owners throughout the USA. Could there at least be a thread detailing exactly what to do in the event of events of this type to help out V owners? Just a thought.

[guffman]

New guy here. I'm glad I found this place. Thought you would all like to know, according to the head of service at my dealer, there will be a recall on the fuel pumps in the near future (depends on how long it takes production to catch up). He was told that they found the gates(?) to be faulty. They're not holding pressure when the engine is turned off as they should. He also was told that the cars will always start. It's just a matter of building up the pressure.

[NewToVersa]

Is the problem only on the 2007 Versa? Just bought a 2008 one. My dealer in Montreal Canada never heard of the problem. Maybe it's the gas in the US or vapor lock...

[matttail]

The problem seems to be only with early production 07 cars. So your 08 is probably safe.

[alonsorules8]

Not true my 08 Versa has the fuel pump problem and tomorrow i goes in to be put on the list to have it replaced. It takes at least 1- seconds to build pressure and then starts or even after 10 seconds it takes 2 different crank cycles to start.

My problems with the fuel pump started at 200 miles on the car and now I sit at 1450 miles. I was hoping it would go away but no such luck.

p.s. I love my Versa everything else about it is awesome including 33 mpg average I'm getting