Nissan Repair: 85 Nissan Max. 3.0 RPM DROP & STALL, point screwdriver, fuel injection system

Question
Dear Von,

I've had my 85 Maxima for over a year.  Recently, and more and more frequently, the car's RMP gauge will fluctuate erratically, dropping to 0. As I am trying to keep the car from stalling there is a kicking sound coming from the back. Sometimes the car will catch and the RMPs will go back to normal, other times (like when I am in traffic or at a light), the car will stall. It stalls on various occasions, pulling out of a lot, at lights, even on the freeway going 55+MPH! It doesn't seem to just occur in certain circumstances, but very randomly. Recently (as in last weekend, I've gotten new sprk plugs, cap. rotor & wires and a new fuel injection system (a recall) replaced. This mornining the problem still occured. Dealership thought FIS would solve prob., but no. What do you think?
Many Thanks,
Carrie

Answer
Check the distributor for oil inside the pickup. It is under the rotor and below the cover that the rotor sits above.  A cross point screwdriver is all that is needed after you get the cap and rotor off.  If the seal is blown the oil gets into the bottom of the distributor and that is what causes the miss and the drop in RPM.  If you do not have oil under the cover in the distributor I would be checking the intake hose between the air intake meter and the throttle body.  If this hose is cracked unmetered air will enter the engine and it will sputter, as you describe, and sometimes die.