Questions and Answers
Pathfinder Timing Belt
Q. Hello, I have a 1988 Nissan Pathfinder SE 320,000 original miles, V-6 engine, manual 5 speed, Carb.
I recently changed the timing belt myself for the second time. Now that I have everything back together, the car engine will turn but will not start. I've tried the following,
- Adjusted the engine to top dead center and put the distributor rotor in the #1 position
- Checked that the electric coil to the distributor shoots a spark, (and it does)
- Purchased a new distributor cap/rotor, spark plugs and wires
- I'm getting fuel to the engine because while turning over the spent fuel is discharged
All is failing. Thoughts??? I know that there is a lot of miles on this guy, but I love the car!
Thanks in advance for your time!!!!
JimA. When you set the engine on TDC, were you TDC on the compression stroke or the exhaust stroke? If you were on the compression stroke and had all the marks lined up, then it should start right up. if it was on the exhaust stroke, then you have problems. Everything will be 180 degrees off and it will never start. But more importantly, that is an interference engine which means that the valves and pistons occupy the same place in the combustion chamber at different times. If the timing is 180 degrees off, it will bend almost every valve in the engine.
Since you have been cranking it over, do a compression test. If this is the case, you'll see it in the results.
