QuestionQUESTION: Very much like in this case: http://en.allexperts.com/q/Nissan-Repair-825/2000-Nissan-Pathfinder-Dies.htm
This is my Wives car. She told me yesterday that she was having trouble getting it started. That she thought the battery might be dying. I told her I would check it today. I did check it, I put the volt meter on the battery and it was at 12.6 and when i had her crank it, the voltage dropped to 9.8. It would not turn over right away, but it did turn over. So I figured we would ride down to my favorite auto parts store and have then run a charging system diagnostic to see if the battery was failing. They did and they said it was failing. I had them give me prices on batterys that were for the car and we left, thinking we could check for a better price elsewhere. As we started to head down the road, I stopped at a stop sign, and as I started to pull away, she died on me. I cranked her over and again, as I started to pull off, she dies on me. I cranked her a third time and she stayed started and I turned around to go back to the auto parts store to get a new battery. After we got the new battery, we left and were heading down the road and it happened again three more times and then fourth time she would not restart. I called my uncle and he came out and both he and i were thinking it might be a fuel pump issue, but I have never had a pump stop working over time, they either work or don't. He found a green pressure testing site on the right of the throttle body, though he was looking for one on the fuel rail but could not find one there. He hit the pin in the valve and there was no pressure with the key on, off, or trying to crank it.
As was answered in the above thread, it could be several things, not just the fuel pump. I need to know how to go about trouble shooting this and figuring out what it is that needs fixed/replaced, especially since a replacement fuel pump is only available to me through the dealer for over $300. How can I check the relay? the ignition coil? Is there a fuel pressure valve other than the green capped one my uncle tested?
The Check Engine light is not on, so I do not know how I could get a code without it.
Thank you very much
Mike
ANSWER: Mike,
Nissan and most manufacturer deleted the schrader valve so you have to purchase an adapter kit to check the fuel pressure. It could be the fuel pump but you will need to check for pressure and actuation before you buy one. The green cap one is just for vapor vent and does nothing to check for pressure. Most parts stores have the adapters for about $20 bucks. Without the check engine light coming on I could only assume to check the fuel pump. You could have another issue like the mass airflow sensor being defective. It will not show a code most of the time it is bad. Get a Haynes Manual for the proceure and a digital volt ohm meter to check the unit following the instructions in the book. If it is defective replace it. You did not indicate if the car dies at idle or when running? Email me back on that and we'll narrow it down.
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QUESTION: Sorry, It died on me three times when stopped, I let off the break, placed foot on throttle and it died as it was supposed to start to move forward. I got her turned around, and headed back to the auto parts store to replace the battery they just declared was bad, thinking it was something to do with the electrical messing with the electronic fuel system. I got it back to the auto parts store, replaced the battery, and headed out. I got about a mile farther than the last time and it dies the same way at a red light, it would restart, but as I would give her gas, she would die. (it was a wet day, but not too cold, maybe high 50s low 60s, but dropping. After I finally got her to start and got going, I had her turned around on a side road to head back to the auto parts store and as we were driving, she lost power, b8ut stayed running for us to coast about a block then she died and I was able to get her over to the shoulder. On the shoulder I was not able to get her to start again.
I will start by getting a Haynes and one of those adapter kits you mentioned. Is there a proper name for the adapter kit? I have a very reliable multi meter I can test with, so once I get the Haynes I will post back what the results are.
I want to thank you for taking the time out and helping out folks like me in this manor. This is a very cool thing you are doing. Happy holidays to you and yours.
AnswerMike,
Merry Christmas to you and yours too. The kit is called a fuel pressure test adapter kit. It sort of a pain since they must not have saved that much money not putting on a test port. My new adapter kit is under the tree. Harbor Freight for $80 bucks... What I have now is just an assortment of ones that I have had to purchase to test cars I have worked on. It looks like a schrader valve with a tee for inserting it, in line, with the fuel line, at the engines fuel rail.
