Nissan Repair: 2006 nissan sentra vacuum leak, 2006 nissan sentra, nissan sentra

Question
QUESTION: hi,
my nissan sentra has about 90k miles on it and recently it has been giving me problems with starting and with acceleration.i have changed filters, changed oil, put engine fluid in and finally took it to check the engine light and got a code that stated that it had a vacuum leak.  my son told me that it is inexpensive and if we can find it we can fix it???  can you help me figure out what to do.  I can't afford taking it to the dealership to be repaired.  thanks

ANSWER: Hi Denise -

The easiest way to find a vacuum leak is to take some aerosol carburetor cleaner and lightly spray different parts of the engine. When you get to an area where you spray and the engine idle improves, you have found where the vacuum leak is coming from. It could be as simple as a rubber hose that has cracked or melted, or a vacuum run component that has gone bad.

Can you tell me if the car has performance issues? Like loss of power, rough idle, missing?

Thanks
aloha
calvin

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Calvin,
first, thanks so much for the quick response.  As far as performance issues, not until now.  Right before the check engine light came it the car was shutting off.  When I would start it and then drive and maybe stop at a light it would shut down.  But, it would start right back up again.  It did have a rough idle and when I would try to accelerate it would miss.  Now this morning I went out the start it and nothing!!!  Please, please help

Denise

Answer
Hi Denise -

When you say nothing, are you saying that the car has no sound now when you try to start it, or does it just crank and does not start?

Does this "shutting off" problem happen when the engine is warmed up, or when it is still cold too?

Thanks for sending me the info and being patient. It really helps as it is hard when I cannot be physically there.

Let me know -
aloha
calvin