Nissan Repair: car problems, nissan altima, intake air temperature

Question
QUESTION: My 98 nissan altima has been sputtering when im at an idle for the past month and now it stalled and wont start back up.

ANSWER: Hi Regina -

First we have to determine whether this is caused by lack of fuel or spark.

Pull out a spark plug boot, insert a screwdriver into the boot until it wedges firmly against the metal terminal inside. Have a helper try and start the engine while the screwdriver shaft is held about 1/4" from any metal surface. There should be a spark jumping between metal surfaces.

Let me know how this goes -

Mahalo
Calvin

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I checked for fuel and pump is working and im getting spark. I had a diagnostic done at shop and I was told it was my distributor. The car runs but now when i accelerate it sputters like the maf sensor is going bad. It stops when i reach about 40 mph. What could it be now?

ANSWER: Hi Regina -

Was the distributor changed? Or just the ignition module in the distributor? Is that why the engine runs now?

Do you have the check engine light on?

If not, then try doing a tune up on the car (replace spark plugs, wires, cap and rotor for the distributor of you have not already.

If it was the MAF the check engine light is on.

Hope this helps -
aloha
calvin

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Yes the distributor was replaced and my check engine light is still on. I had Auotzone run a hand held diagnostic to see what codes came up and these were the codes P0300, P0750, P0505, and P0110. The shop that worked on my car supposedly ran a diagnostic and thats why the distributor was changed. The plugs, wires, cap and rotor was not. I dont know what to do now.

Answer
Hi Regina -

First of all, I will give you the meaning of the codes:

P0300 - Random/multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0750 - Shift solenoid A malfunction
P0505 - Idle control system malfunction
P0110 - Intake air temperature circuit malfunction

Secondly did Autozone clear these codes after they pulled it? Just that some of the codes could be old or nuisance codes.

The key code right here is the random misfire. If that is a recent code, the answer may be just the tune up (replacing plugs, wires, cap and rotor). These all could cause the misfire and chain react to the other codes if left too long. BTW, I find it strange that the distributor was replaced but not the cap and rotor.

It is difficult to diagnose sight unseen. I really wish I had the car right in front of me, but I guess this is the best we can do with what we got. Try the above and let me know -

hope this helps -
aloha
calvin