Nissan Repair: 95 NISSAN QUEST, nissan quest, optical pickup

Question
MY 95 QUEST IS ACTING FUNNY, SOMETIMES WON'T START AT FIRST, TURNS OVER BUT DOES NOT START.  AND NOW IT BOGGS AND WON'T HARDLY GO AND THEN IT WILL GO.  REPLACED THE FUEL FILTER.

WILL TIMING BELT DO THIS? HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED IN AT LEAST 60,000 MILES. I AM GOING TO REPLACE IT I BELIEVE AND THEN MAYBE THE FUEL PUMP?

ANY WAY TO KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS?

THANKS, VIC MERRITT


Answer
Vic,

Check the distributor for oil on the optical pickup.  The distributor has a trigger that uses an LED to fire the plugs and the distributor gets old and the oil seal in the bottom leaks and oil gets on the sensor.  Take the cap, rotor, rotor post and cover off and under it you will see the pickup.  It looks like the LED on your computer mouse.  If there is oil in there you have found your problem.  Replace it with a rebuilt unit and you will be good to go.