Brendan

Ok so did a few things today: -Changed the fuel filter -Cleaned the MAF with contact cleaner and qtip -Fully cleaned throttle body -Adjusted throttle cable The above made no difference to the starting issue. Still starts up and dies. The gas pedal to the floor when starting still starts it up every time. When its started though, the car seems a bit more responsive than before. This could be to the cleaned TB or the tightened cable though. The clogged cats is pretty much ruled out, the car runs well when its started. Does anyone else have any ideas? The idle is still a bit lumpy.

Thanks, will that work on a 98 though? I see you have an 01. I will definitely look into it though. Ok cool so I guess the distributor is out then. The air filter is clean I checked it. The fuel pressure was checked while the car was running. For the cat, im guessing i just rev the car and have someone check how much pressure there is at the tailpipe?

So I started the truck up this morning by having the gas pedal to the floor. The truck started right up to 1000 rpm when I let go and stayed there till it warmed up. I think its an air/intake issue now. Maybe the mix is wrong when the car is cold? I will try the following: -Clean the throttle body -Clean the MAF -Adjust the throttle cable -Clean IACV

Hello everyone, Recently my 98 Pathfinder has been having some issues. When I go to start it up cold, the car will fire right up and go to 1000 rpm, then sputter and die. When I would crank the car after this it wont start, and It smells like fuel (for sure flooded). I could get it going again by pulling the fuel pump relay, starting the truck up on residual fuel, then quickly putting the relay back in to keep it running. I brought it to the dealer and they said it was the fuel pump relay, so they changed it and the truck ran well for a few days. The problem started happening again a few weeks later. This time I figured it was the fuel pump so I changed it out with a new OEM denso one. This still has not fixed the issue. As well, the old trick of pulling the fuel pump relay doesn't work anymore. As well, when it does get going, the car idles fairly well but sometimes the car shakes a little and the idle goes a bit off. The trucks performance has also started diminishing, I will give it gas and it takes a long time before it starts reacting. There is also no check engine light and no codes. I'm using a cheapy HF OBDII scanner. So far I have done: -Changed fuel pump as stated before -Checked fuel pressure at the pump and at the injectors, all normal -checked all fuses, in the engine bay and in the car -Swapped out fuel pump relay with working ones -Changed the cap and rotor -Changed spark plug wires -Spark plugs are fairly new <15000 miles, still look good and gapped correctly I will be changing the fuel filter in a few days, but i doubt that's the issue since the fuel pressure is good. I will also try checking the timing. I am thinking now maybe it could be the distributor? Maybe the spark isnt strong enough on cold starts? I had another thought it might be the temp sensor, but I am not sure. I dont know why it isnt showing any codes, how can I reset the ECU? Thanks in advance!

The plug is actually 13mm. A 1/2 ratchet will fit, but be a little loose. Road salt has rusted the crap out of mine, so I wanted to be careful. I got this kit: Drain plug kit

Hmm, I should try that, but I think I will try and see if the dizzy is getting power with a test light.

It was working before?? Do they just go like that?

Theres no damn reason why this thing shouldn't spark!!! Is there a fuse or something that could have blown? That to me is the only explanation for what is happening. I marked the dizzy and tried turning it every which way and couldn't get a thing. I don't know what to do anymore. All of my spark plug wires are going to the right places.

Hmm, might check my wires, but heres a pic of the dizzy, it seems to be pointing right before piston 1. I really didnt mess with it during the installation, but my theory is that the timing might have to be adjusted to the new belt because the old one was stretched? Also I confirmed that there are 40 teeth between the cams and 43 between the rh cam and crank, Is it ok to start putting things back together?

What do you suggest I do?

Im baffled guys, Everything is plugged in, new spark plugs, no spark. What could it possibly be? Which fuses should I check and how can I check/reset the timing without the engine running? All I could find in the fsm is checking it with the engine running. Thanks!

pics taken when engine was at tdc, might not of been directly on but close to it. I smell gas after I crank it, so I'm just not getting any spark. Help me out! How can I change the timing when the cap only goes on one way?

pics1

Thanks guys! I had alot of other stuff to do today, I will make sure the dotted line is on the right side, and ill reset my distributor cap. Thanks alot, I almost gave up and had it towed! Ill get some more pictures up asap.

Thats great to hear, ill take some pics of the sensors and connections tomorrow! Thanks!

Have some pics, You can see that one side lines up, while the other does not. Would this be enough to throw off the spark completely? It doesn't make any sense to me!

Yeah, everything is hooked up, and I have the belt installed correctly, I just cant get any spark.

Im having a b*tch of a time replacing the timing belt on my 98 pathfinder. I made sure that piston 1 is at tdc by turning the crank pulley clockwise to the first mark. Cam marks line up fine when the belt is off, but when i put it on, the crank and lh cam has not moved, but the rh cam has moved 1/2 a tooth. I have no idea what to do anymore. Im getting zero spark, everything is connected. I tested that by using an inline spark tester. I saw that the distributor is run off of the cam, so i guess even when the pulley is a 1/2 tooth off it wont run, because it has to be perfect? Please help me, I really need to get this car back on the road.

Thanks! Ill check that stuff out tonight!

Yeah thats connected, didnt touch that. Ill check it out tonight sometime and report back. Thanks for the replies

Belts are all off,rad out, hoses out, fan clutch off, just the timing belt is installed. I figured if I had enough power in the battery I would be able to start the engine up for a few seconds to make sure its running properly?Im pretty sure I connected all of the sensors, ie temp, maf, etc. Does something else need to be spinning in order for the motor to start like the alt?

Hi guys, Im new here, and I have a question about my timing belt install on my 98 pathfinder. I followed all of the directions in the how to section, and now before I put back all of the parts I want to start the car for a couple seconds to make sure that it runs. I cant seem to be able to start it, my batt has a full charge and it just keeps on cranking. Is there something preventing me from starting the car in this state, like having no alternator? Im sure ive hooked up all of the sensors, so what could it be? Thanks alot!