Starting Issue

[VectorVA]

Hey guys, I have a little bit of a problem. Sometimes, my 1992 240sx with the KA24DE will not start. The engine is turning its just not firing. It only happens occasionally and usually later in the day, more specifically when I get off work. Sometimes it will just take a few tries and it will start but it will struggle. I did notice some white smoke coming out the back but only briefly after it was started and it would only be a small puff, then I didnt see anymore. If it wont start, usually I can let it sit for awhile and come back to it, it will fire just fine.

155k milage and still running strong except for this one issue. Once I get the thing started It runs just fine.

I have a suspicion of what is causing it but I want to see what you guys come up with before I go and try and fix it.

[InsanityInc]

Give the car some gas and try to start it the next time it does it. If it starts that way, tell us how it starts (loud backfiringish/misfire noises, starts up normally, etc)

[VectorVA]

Yeah, that will work sometimes, but it will start rough. Last time I tried that but it would died right after it started, made a kind of bumbling noise that I guess was backfire although it sounded a little different, might have been misfire. I also saw some smoke come out the back when It fired up.

By the way, I already checked the timing and its at the fourth dot from top dead center, I guess it would be +40 and thats what my fsm says it should be.
Modified by VectorVA at 9:51 PM 6/29/2005

[Sileighty_Star]

It might be the fuel pump, I had the same problem.

[240Kid4]

I am having that same problem. It starts fine when it is cold but when it is hot it doesn't start untill the third try. I am getting a new battery, sparks, wirers, and a new starter. After i get those installed and see how it goes.

[Florida240sx]

Maybe clogged fuel filter?I had that problem once.

[DjPantsSpecR]

sorry i cant help with your specific issue, but to 240kid4: 240s unfortunately have hot starting problems. if you have your old service manuel that came with the car originally it says when starting the motor after its already hot you should have your foot to the floor. so when the car came out nissan already knew it had a problem, so before you invest money in things you dont need do your research. However, i think everyone needs a good set of plugs and wires. also i think you need to make sure you wait a few seconds after you turn the car on until you crank it, ive noticed that when you let the fuel pressure rise a little the hard starting problems start to diminish

VectorVA: maybe you have a fueling problem like a leaky or sticking injector. i only say that because you say if you wait around and then come back to it, it starts fine.

[VectorVA]

Well, I was able to get it started and drive it home yesterday. It’s a miracle that I got it home, it would drop rpms real quick and would idle around 500rpm which is weird because it should idle at 700rpm. It would also sound and feel like it was struggling to idle when I would come to a light.

This weekend I'm going to replace the fuel filter and give it a fresh tank of gas. I'm pretty low on gas and if the gas is bad or I have crap in my tank combined with an old filter I think it could be what’s causing these crappy starts.