QuestionQUESTION: My 200sx ca18det will not start. Ever since i got it it has always been hard to start.(requires slight throttle to start hot or cold but worse when cold) When cold it runs quite rough for 10 seconds or so. Wont start at all now. Any suggestions
ANSWER: Caleb,
First, a tune up would be in order. Change the plugs, wires, cap and rotor. Fuel filter and air filter. Now, that being said, check the fuel pressure and check the ignition coil to make sure there is spark. Also, check the engine codes to make sure none has been set.
The ECU has a window on one side to view a red LED and a green LED - when checking fault codes, a red flash is worth 10, and a green flash is worth 1. So for example, the code to say that everything is functioning normally would be 5 red flashes and 5 green flashes - the code is 55.
The ECU has 5 modes of operation, for diagnostics codes, it has to be set to mode 3.
1. Make sure the screw next to the viewing window is turned clockwise.
2. Turn the ignition on
3. Both LEDs with flash once, then a pause, then a second time, then a pause, etc. etc. up to 5 times then will repeat the process. After is has flashed 3 times then turn the screw completely anti-clockwise. - this will select mode 3.
4. The LEDs will now flash codes. 55 means that everything is normal. The rest are written below.
5. When finished, turn the screw back to clockwise and the ECU will reset itself automatically.
Don't worry about the '5th cylinder misfire' and '6th cylinder misfire' or anything, the codes are the same for all Nissans.
11 Crank Angle Sensor/Camshaft Position Sensor.
12 Air Flow Meter/Mass Air Flow Sensor.
13 Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor.
14 Vehicle Speed Sensor.
21 Ignition Signal.
22 Fuel Pump.
23 Idle Switch.
24 Throttle Valve Switch.
25 Idle Speed Control Valve.
28 Cooling Fan Circuit.
31 ECM.
32 EGR Function.
33 Heated Oxygen Sensor.
34 Knock Sensor.
35 Exhaust Gas Temperature Sensor.
36 EGR Control-Back Pressure Transducer.
37 Knock Sensor.
38 Right hand bank Closed Loop (B2).
41 Intake Air Temperature Sensor.
42 Fuel Temperature Sensor.
43 Throttle Position Sensor.
45 Injector Leak.
47 Crankshaft Position Sensor.
51 Injector Circuit.
53 Oxygen Sensor.
54 A/T Control.
55 No Malfunction.
63 No. 6 Cylinder Misfire.
64 No. 5 Cylinder Misfire.
65 No. 4 Cylinder Misfire.
66 No. 3 Cylinder Misfire.
67 No. 2 Cylinder Misfire.
68 No. 1 Cylinder Misfire.
71 Random Misfire.
72 TWC Function right hand bank.
73 TWC Function right hand bank.
76 Fuel Injection System Function right hand bank.
77 Rear Heated Oxygen Sensor Circuit.
82 Crankshaft Position Sensor.
84 A/T Diagnosis Communication Line.
85 VTC Solenoid Valve Circuit.
86 Fuel Injection System Function right hand bank.
87 Canister Control Solenoid Valve Circuit.
91 Front Heated Oxygen Sensor Heater Circuit right hand bank.
94 TCC Solenoid Valve.
95 Crankshaft Position Sensor.
98 Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor.
101 Front Heated Oxygen Sensor Heater Circuit right hand bank.
103 Park/Neutral Position Switch Circuit.
105 EGR and EGR Canister Control Solenoid Valve Circuit.
108 Canister Purge Control Valve Circuit
Email me back if you need more and to let me know what you find.
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Forgot to say that the problem happened over night, was going the night before just fine, then the next morning it wouldn't start.
Checked ecu. Came up 55 no malfunction.
Have already got fuel pressure gauge and is reading 30psi and has no significant drop when the ignition is turned off.
Checked spark and is sparking good.
Spark plugs dry after been cranked so might indicate no/wrong injector signal?
Checked all fuses and found none blown.
AnswerCaleb,
Then you are going to have to do some wiring diagnostics to see if you have power to the coil and to make sure the plugs are firing. No error codes means this is back to basics. Is a wire shorted at the coil grounding it or the distributor is not allowing switching to occur. Get a test light and start tracking the circuits. Email me back. Electrical problems are always difficult. Also, if you have an aftermarket alarm or the factory one it could be part of the problem. And, I have seen cars this old have an ignition switch screw up and the ignition relay not work.
