Nissan Repair: 97 Nissan Altima, fuel pressure gauge, air intake hose

Question
I have a Altima with over 200,000 of trouble free driving, thats all changed in the last couple of thousand.  It started on a ocasion to sputter at low rpms but would cruise with no problem and would accelerate fine. Slowly the sputter turned to stalling.  Now it acts like its starving for fuel and bogs out if you don't feather the throttle.  All of this has been intermitted till a couple of weeks ago.  I've tested all of the sensors, replaced just because the MAF, temp sensors, coil, distribitor, TPS, 2 sets of wires and plugs, new rotor cap and rotor, fuel filter, fuel injectors (4) new, and all gaskets for the head up, cleaned and inspected all of the hoses above and below the intake manifold, checked the power steering sensor. My distribitor had no oil in it.  Checked and cleaned the grounds from the battery to the engine and body.  Inspected all of the related fuses and relays for contact.  The computer flashes a 55 code and my odbII scanner dosn't pickup any codes or pending codes.  In the monitor mode it shows the timing advancing from a low of 20 degrees to about 38 will driving, throttle position moves from 0% to 50 or 60%. 02 sensors are producing the correct voltage, vaccume averages about 20 inches, fuel pressure at idle is 38 psi and about 43 at cruise.  I,ve taped the fuel pressure gauge and vaccume gauge to the window along with several feet of clear line so I could see the quality of the fuel stream.  Everything appears perfect and within specs but the darn thing will die in its tracks with all instruments reading OK.  PS, weather seems to have no effect on it.  I hate to send it to the scap yard for it burns no oil and looks and drives fine other than whats decribed above.  Any ideas?  A computer cost more than the cars value.

G O Baker

Answer
G O Baker,

I would check the air intake hose for cracks.  When the car stalls out the pressure is fine so you are probably looking at electrical if the intake hose if in good order.  The transistorized ignition module by the coil could be going out too.  If you are not picking up any codes you are looking at temporary electrical problems.  So, I would check resistance in the coil and the components related to the ignition.  A Haynes manual gives you the readings you need to check for.