Questions and Answers

Nissan Pulsar NX Died On The Road Q. Hello, I have a 1988 Nissan Pulsar NX 1.6 liter twin cam engine with 146,000 miles. It cut off and will not start again. It was running great until one Sunday on my way to church I put a full tank of gas in it. On my way there and back, about 55 miles round trip, I noticed it was running funny and there was hesitation at higher speeds on the highway, over 60 mph.

On my way back about a mile from home while I was at a stoplight the car cut off. It had never done this before. It restarted immediately and I went home. I looked under the hood and checked the oil. I noticed it needed a quart by the dipstick so I went ahead and put two quarts in there.

I then went on to the grocery store, about 24 miles round trip. The car was still running funny at higher speeds. On my way back from the grocery store at a stoplight the car cut off again and it took about five tries to get it cranked again. I pulled in to a gas station parking lot and about halfway across the parking lot it cut off.

So I let it sit for about 10 minutes while I walked across the street to the auto parts store. I put another quart of oil in it thought it didn't need it. The car cranked up and I got about ½ mile down the road before it cut off again. This time it didn't restart and hasn't since.

Before this day the car was running great and wasn't noisy when stopped at traffic lights. At this point when I try to start the car it acts like it wants to start but won't and at the same time I trying to start it the dashboard lights as well as the dome light get really dim. The stereo system also reset back to 12:00 on the clock along with all the settings in it going back to default at this point. I get a clicking sound with all of this until I release the key.

At the point the lights get bright again and the radio starts back playing. I have tried a new battery and alternator. I haven't tried a starter because I've never heard of a starter making a car cut off. Please help.

Thanks,
Rickie

A. The first thing you have to do is drain two quarts of oil out of the engine. That 1.6 liter will not tolerate being two quarts over full. You'll burn up the engine.

You are correct in that a starter will not kill an engine. But from what you describe I would have to say you have a fuel problem. Most likely a bad fuel pump. A fuel pressure test will confirm this.

What you can do is take a vacuum line off the intake manifold and shoot a healthy shot of carburetor cleaner into the intake. Replace the vacuum line and try to start it. if it starts and runs, we know it is a fuel problem and not an electrical problem.

If it doesn't start, then you are probably looking at a bad Crank Angle Sensor. Check the codes in the computer and see what you have.