Nissan Repair: No spark, advance auto parts, nissan sentra

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i have a 95 nissan sentra. i was driving the other day when the car just died. we looked at the spark plugs and there is no spark at all. We turned the distributor by hand and it wouldnt turn but when u try and start the car it spins i was told that ruled out my timing belt because it turns over. kinda like when its cold out and your car wont start. They said it would back fire and sound horrible and it doesnt. Someone else said it may be my ignition module but found out you have to buy a whole distributor. But I dont know if that is it or if it could be something else. Pleaseeeeeeeeeeee Help ( any cheap fix ideas would be great too =-)
Answer -
Kim,

If you have no spark and the timing belt is good then I would say the distributor is not sensing the signal to the coil to fire the plugs.  Your distributor is probably getting oil in it and that has coated the optical pickup.  I think what you need is a rebuilt distributor.

Ok but let me ask ya this once you take the distributor out dont you have to reset the timing if so how the heck do ya do that  Thanks for the quick response to =-)


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Kim,

The distributor has a drive dog and can only be installed straight up or 180 degrees out.  So, mark where it is and install the new one the same way.  There are two bolts that hold the distributor on.  All you have to do is install the new one in the same place the old one came out.  You can mark it with a marker and install the new one in the same place.

I am sorry to keep bugging you but I have another question and I hope that you can answer it for me. I was looking at purchasing a new distributor and installing it because I was told by a Nissan dealership that the ignition module and distributor are one piece. However, when I looked online at advance auto parts they were selling a distributor for my car but it said w/o module. I am assuming this is the ignition module. I also say an ignition module on their site that was designed to work with the Nissan Sentra and it was being sold seperately. Just to be clear, Is the distributor and ignition module for a 1995 Nissan Sentra GXE all one piece or may they be purchased seperately? The only reason I am planning to replace the distributor is because I believe the ignition module is bad. Thanks for all your help and I hope to hear from you soon.

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Kim,

You have the ability to purchase the module seperate in the aftermarket.  The dealer likes to change the unit as a complete assembly.  I would replace both and be done with it as the electrical components are designed to fail at about the same time.  A car is suppose to last ten years and it is ten years.  If you replace the module the distributor will soon follow.  Just my opinion.  If you want to take the less expensive route replace the module and then see if it runs and if not then get the distributor.  But, if there is no spark what so ever...  replace the module first.