[Dblanchard1278]

Hey guy's

I have a problem with an 88 nissan sentra my friend just bought, she said when she got on the freeway and got the car up to 45mph the car acted like ut was running out of gas. My friend put gas in the car and it still acted the same way. I would guess it's either the fuel filter or pvc valve but I don't know what exactly would cause this, if any one can help with suggestions or idea's I would greatly appriciate it.

Thanks.

 

[octaneman]

Hi Dblanchard1278


The engine is being starved of fuel it's either the fuel filter is being blocked or fuel pump is dying. To correct the problem fuel system has to be tested to see if enough gas is getting to the engine.

 

[Dblanchard1278]

Well my friend said the car started chugging when she got it to 45 and tried to run the ac. How would I check the fuel system? And are there any other things that can be checked that would cause this?

 

[octaneman]

To check the fuel system you will need a fuel pressure gage tester and hook it up to the fuel pump inlet port. Once you get a reading you use your car specs to determine the correct fuel pressure. Before you start off spending any money on tools and parts, start off by checking the basic tune up components; cap, rotor, wires, plugs, air filter, gas filter. Fouled or worn plugs and filters can cause similar drivability problems and should be checked out first.

 

[kjms1]

being its a 88 it isnt going to hurt anything to replace the fuel filter ... probably needs a new one anyways

one quick test
warm the car up and go to the exhaust tail pipe and see if the exhaust feels really hot
if real hot look under the car and see if the converter is red hot

Doesnt that 88 Nissan have carburetor ... if it is you can do a volume fuel test which will give you a pretty good idea if you have good fuel pressure
PLAYING WITH FUEL CAN BE DANGEROUS
remove fuel line from carb attach some rubber hose to the line about 2 (or less) feet long get a 2 liter bottle and put the end of hose in it ... have some one start the car and be ready to turn it off .... you should see a good stream of fuel coming out of the hose and should get a qt. of fuel in several seconds (5 or 10)

 

[Dblanchard1278]

Ok assuming it is the fuel filter, which I remember a car my mother had once 16 years ago had the same symptoms as this one. But I knew it was a clogged fuel line because the car sat so long that the gas tank rusted on the inside which caused the fuel filyer to clog up. If it is the fuel filter then, where would the fuel filter be located on this car?

 

[Midnight Tech]

Engine compartment, rear drivers side - under the master cylinder.

 

[Dblanchard1278]

ok ty guys I'll take a look at it and see if its the problem

 

[Racebait308]

That sounds like a timing chain problem.

 

[Dblanchard1278]

Ok I haven't been able to check the fuel filter yet because of funds and I recieved a new symptom to the mess as the car will not start. As of now I'm 60 plus miles from the car and trying to get idea's on what to try first when I get up there again to do some thing? I'm hoping it isn't the last suggestion because that would cost a bit of money and time if I did it my self. As far as the things that might have an influence would be cap or plugs, fuel filter, fuel pump (Due to the inability to see how much gas is in the car), spark plug wires. What do I start with first here?

 

[kjms1]

check for spark at the spark plug wire

i told you in my post above how to check for fuel

you need spark & fuel to cause combustion ... thats first, then you need every thing to be in time with each other to run

 

[Dblanchard1278]

Ok I'll make sure to check those two things first and I'll reply with the results, it may take some time to do this as I have to wait till I get back out there again. Sorry for askin again but I wasn't sure if this was caused by something else and my friend is getting more deppressed as she watched her hope go up in smoke.

 

[herminshs]

Most of the time either the internal coil or the module goes bad on these sentras, which are all located on the distributor itself....the fact that she was on the highway and the car was sputering at normal cruising speed and that all of the sudden the car don't start is a pretty strong indicator..

 

[kjms1]

Dblanchard

checking spark and fuel are the 2 of the easiest thing to check first

every one has there owe thoughts on what the problem is and they are all just ... but we need to start with some simple test first before we get in to the harder test or spending money needlessly