Nissan Repair: 1999 Nissan Pathfinder, nissan pathfinder, whole nine yards

Question
QUESTION: I purchased a 1999 Nissan Pathfinder from a family member who bought the truck new in 1999.  She kept it up excellent. It's now at 200,000 miles and started missing (jerking) while driving.. till one day it started and died on me.. I changed the wires, plugs, distributor cap fuel filter whole nine yards on the tune up.. It ran find for a day and started jerking again and stalled so we then got the distributor itself changed because the barrons within were all messed up... Now it run fine for a distance but after it warms up it starts jerking again and the smell of something burning after a long distance but no smoke appears... I need help ASAP I have spent over 500 in parts and 300 in labor and I am going out of my mind..I am so afraid to drive it thinking it will leave me side the road... Please help me

ANSWER: Keeva,

With 200,000 miles you need to look at that distributor you replaced to make sure there is not oil on the optical shutter wheel.  You can do this yourself.  Just remove the cap, rotor, rotor post and cover and see if there is oil on the optical shutter wheel.  If there is the new distributor has a blown seal.  I would be highly suspect of the distributor since I have seen many a rebuilt distributor that has a blown shaft seal right out of the box.  And, with the miles you have there is blowby that is aiding the situation.  Other causes could be a defective fuel pump, check the pressure.  Also, check the output of the coil to make sure the coil is not overheating and causing the miss.  Email me back and let me know what you find.

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QUESTION: I will relate this onto my mechanic and get him to check this ASAP.. Honest opinion with 200,000 miles and this problem do you think its time to put the truck to rest? Also my fiance drove the truck and it did not do nothing while he took it on a 30 mile ride. I am so fustrated because no one seems to be able to fix this and I am just terrified of being left on the side of the road. Some one mentioned it might be the catalic converter also oxygen sensors and someone told me my transmission is going out. All these are assumptions of course. I cant keep putting money into it like this.  I also put it on the computer and no codes were found. I am so stressed

Answer
Keeva,

If it were the converter it would display the problem every time it was driven.  That is, if the converter is partially melted it would heat up adn the car would have no power after a given speed.  Really bad converters, really melted inside, keep the engine from running all together.  My thought is you have another bad distributor.  If they, the shop, has an engine analyzer they can observe the engine and see what is going on while it is deiven.  No need to put more money into it without knowing what it is doing.  If you were in Las Vegas we could hook up the scanner and drive the vehicle until it acts up.  That is really what is required to find and correct the problem.